SCOTTSDALE — Zack Wheeler had 10 days to analyze his market value and mull over the Mets’ one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer. In reality, Wheeler has danced with the possibility of no longer being a Met for months now. Finally, at the 5 p.m. deadline on Thursday, Wheeler rejected that offer to officially explore free agency. Even so, Wheeler’s days in Flushing may not be over. Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said earlier this week at the GM Meetings that he will “continue to have dialogue” with Wheeler and his agency, Jet Sports Management, in hopes of keeping the right-hander in a Mets uniform. Advertisement The Mets will receive draft-pick compensation if Wheeler signs with another team. Wheeler expressed an affinity for New York and the Mets throughout the 2019 season, but he enters free agency as one of the top starting pitchers available. He’s expected to draw plenty of interest from teams in need of rotation help — already, the Astros, Padres, Angels and White Sox have reportedly touched base with his camp – making Van Wagenen’s plans to hold onto Wheeler that much more ambitious. The 29-year-old right-hander from Smyrna, Georgia went 11-8 and posted a 3.96 ERA over 31 starts while setting career highs in strikeouts (195) and innings pitched (195.1) in 2019. The Mets had dabbled with the idea of trading Wheeler ahead of the July 31 deadline earlier this year, but Van Wagenen instead strengthened his rotation by acquiring right-hander Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays. Wheeler responded by posting a 1.80 ERA over his final six starts of 2019 — placing himself in an attractive position ahead of his free agency. Wheeler has been in the Mets organization since July 2011 — when the Amazin’s traded for then-outfielder/now-manager Carlos Beltran to the Giants in exchange for a 21-year-old minor-league righty with an electric arsenal. Wheeler made his MLB debut in 2013 and pitched two seasons before undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2015. He’s remained healthy for the past two seasons and figures to strengthen any rotation on which he lands. But his potential departure from New York would leave the Mets with a giant question mark in regards to their own starting five. In-house rotation upgrades include reliable relievers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman – though that would leave a big hole in the Mets’ already shaky bullpen. High-priced free-agent starters include Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg – and Van Wagenen has not indicated the Mets are serious about either of them. 2019 NL Cy Young finalist Hyun-Jin Ryu, lifelong Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner and 35-year-old Cole Hamels also highlight the free-agent class this winter. Van Wagenen’s top three targets this offseason are strengthening rotation depth, attempting to fix the bullpen and improving defense. The Mets GM will peek into the free-agent market to address all three of those issues, but he has also reiterated his confidence in internal options. As su
Now that Zack Wheeler rejected his qualifying offer, what does that mean for the Mets?
SCOTTSDALE — Zack Wheeler had 10 days to analyze his market value and mull over the Mets’ one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer. In reality, Wheeler has danced with the possibility of no longer being a Met for months now. Finally, at the 5 p.m. deadline on Thursday, Wheeler rejected that offer to officially explore free agency. Even so, Wheeler’s days in Flushing may not be over. Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said earlier this week at the GM Meetings that he will “continue to have dialogue” with Wheeler and his agency, Jet Sports Management, in hopes of keeping the right-hander in a Mets uniform. Advertisement The Mets will receive draft-pick compensation if Wheeler signs with another team. Wheeler expressed an affinity for New York and the Mets throughout the 2019 season, but he enters free agency as one of the top starting pitchers available. He’s expected to draw plenty of interest from teams in need of rotation help — already, the Astros, Padres, Angels and White Sox have reportedly touched base with his camp – making Van Wagenen’s plans to hold onto Wheeler that much more ambitious. The 29-year-old right-hander from Smyrna, Georgia went 11-8 and posted a 3.96 ERA over 31 starts while setting career highs in strikeouts (195) and innings pitched (195.1) in 2019. The Mets had dabbled with the idea of trading Wheeler ahead of the July 31 deadline earlier this year, but Van Wagenen instead strengthened his rotation by acquiring right-hander Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays. Wheeler responded by posting a 1.80 ERA over his final six starts of 2019 — placing himself in an attractive position ahead of his free agency. Wheeler has been in the Mets organization since July 2011 — when the Amazin’s traded for then-outfielder/now-manager Carlos Beltran to the Giants in exchange for a 21-year-old minor-league righty with an electric arsenal. Wheeler made his MLB debut in 2013 and pitched two seasons before undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2015. He’s remained healthy for the past two seasons and figures to strengthen any rotation on which he lands. But his potential departure from New York would leave the Mets with a giant question mark in regards to their own starting five. In-house rotation upgrades include reliable relievers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman – though that would leave a big hole in the Mets’ already shaky bullpen. High-priced free-agent starters include Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg – and Van Wagenen has not indicated the Mets are serious about either of them. 2019 NL Cy Young finalist Hyun-Jin Ryu, lifelong Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner and 35-year-old Cole Hamels also highlight the free-agent class this winter. Van Wagenen’s top three targets this offseason are strengthening rotation depth, attempting to fix the bullpen and improving defense. The Mets GM will peek into the free-agent market to address all three of those issues, but he has also reiterated his confidence in internal options. As su
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