Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |
With all the talk about a potential contract extension for Jacob deGrom, it has been easy to forget that another Mets pitcher, Zack Wheeler, is even closer to free agency.
DeGrom is under team control through the 2020 season, but Wheeler is set to enter the open market this fall. And while the Mets are actively discussing whether to make a long-term offer to deGrom, it is simply too early to say if they will do the same with Wheeler, according to major league sources.
Wheeler, 28, missed two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015, but emerged as dominant in the second half of last season. In his final 17 starts, he posted a 2.30 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He enters the season as the Mets' most reliable starter, after Cy Young Award winner deGrom.
The Mets value Wheeler enough to have held onto him at the trade deadline last season, when several teams showed interest, but remain undecided about the long-term.
Wheeler's desires remain unclear, too. His agent, B.B. Abbott, declined comment on Tuesday. The pitcher will surely be asked about his future when he reports to spring training.