WHEELS DOWN
Zack's season could be over as Amazin's begin to consider future for re-hot hurler
PHILADELPHIA — Jacob deGrom is hardly the only pitcher in the Mets rotation whose longterm future could soon become a subject of debate within the organization.
Of more immediacy is Zack Wheeler, headed into his last year of club control before potentially hitting free agency following the 2019 season. The staff ace deGrom isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season.
Wheeler’s status hardly seemed like a priority before this season began, but the righthander’s stock has skyrocketed, particularly since the All-Star break, to the point the Mets may consider buying out his final year of arbitration eligibility for a longer deal.
The Mets opted to keep the 28-year-old Wheeler at the trade deadline, unsatisfied with the offers they were receiving for him. Since the All-Star break he is 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA as he faces a possible shutdown for the season because of workload concerns. The pitcher was expected to convene with manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland before the Mets’ 5-2 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday and decide on a plan, but team officials were leaning toward calling it a season for Wheeler.
If the Mets don’t extend Wheeler this offseason, they still could opt to trade him or do nothing and let him head to free agency after next season.
“Part of the thinking for me is we are going to head into a new general manager and now with [Wheeler’s] performance I think we have just given the organization a chance to make that decision this fall, honestly with a better set of circumstances for us,” assistant GM John Ricco said.
Whereas deGrom has previously indicated he’s open to a long-term deal to remain with the club, Wheeler does not want his feelings known publicly.
Wheeler directed inquiries to his agent B.B. Abbott, who told The Post: “What the Mets organization did for Zack in standing by him and allowing him to continue as a starter is certainly something Zack appreciates.”
Wheeler began the season at Triple-A Las Vegas because team officials were unimpressed with his work in spring training, after his season ended last July with a stress reaction in his right arm. That shutdown followed two seasons of rehab from Tommy John surgery.
But Wheeler returned to the Mets from Las Vegas in early April and has taken a regular turn in the rotation since. Wheeler was 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA entering his start on June 1, but gradually improved over six weeks before going on his postAll-Star-break tear.
Wheeler won’t go as far as to say the season has unfolded about as well as he could have wanted.
“I should have started off the season here,” he said. “It would be nice to finish out the season, if that doesn’t happen. It would be nice to be in the Cy Young voting, so it could always be better. Hopefully next year that is where we will be.”
Ricco gives the credit for Wheeler’s revival to manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland, who have also overseen deGrom’s rise to National League Cy Young award contender and perhaps front-runner.
“When we brought in Dave and Mickey, a big part of that was try to do what they have done with Zack,” Ricco said. “Which is to take a guy who was a big-time prospect, and due to injury and had never really kind of reach his potential and they were charged with trying to help him do that and I think they have done that clearly with him.”