With his last regular-season start scheduled for Thursday, Zack Wheeler says he’s treating it just like any other game. But with the right-hander set to hit free agency this offseason, he admitted to giving some thought to his uncertain future.
Wheeler, who leads the Mets with 11 wins this season, sounds ready to explore alternatives.
“I think you have to weigh your options when it gets to this point,” Wheeler told The Post before Wednesday’s matchup with the Marlins at Citi Field, with the Mets on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention. “I love it here and I definitely would listen to these guys. But I think you have to weigh all your options and see what’s best for me personally at that point.”
Thursday will be Wheeler’s 126th start for the Mets and possibly his last. The 29-year-old has been one of the most reliable starters this season, sitting just one win away from tying his career-high (12). He’s also two strikeouts away from tying his career-high (187) that he set in his second season with the Mets in 2014.
The Mets have helped shape Wheeler since they acquired him from the Giants — the franchise that drafted him sixth-overall in the 2009 MLB draft — and have held on to him for five seasons despite tossing his name in trade talks on several occasions. Wheeler was sidelined in 2015 and 2016 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
For the first time, it isn’t going to be the Mets’ decision on what to do with Wheeler. Manager Mickey Callaway expects him to be a hot commodity.
“That’s something that’s not my call,” Callaway said when asked if he sees Wheeler fitting into the Mets’ 2020 plans. “Obviously, every team is going to want a Zack Wheeler on their staff. He’s got supreme stuff, he’s hauled a lot of innings the last couple of years, he’s been healthy, made his starts, so everybody wants him.
“But we’ll see how the offseason goes, he has earned the right to go out there and see what he can do for himself and his family. He’s worked really hard and pitched us some pretty good baseball to go and test those waters. So, I’m happy that he gets to do that for the person and his family but everybody wants this guy I’m sure. We’ll see what happens.”
Wheeler said his season was more inconsistent than he would have liked, specifically referring to his struggles earlier in the year, when he posted a 4.69 ERA in the first half compared to a 2.77 mark in the second half. He mentioned how he worked on finding his glove-side strike, which he had trouble finding with his fastball, and then tweaking his off-speed pitch.
However, after cleaning things up as the season progressed, he feels like it showed.
In 187 ¹/₃ innings this season — another career-high for Wheeler — the Georgia native has thrown 185 strikeouts and posted a 3.99 ERA. He’s amassed a 44-37 record and a 3.78 ERA during his time with the Mets. If nothing else, Wheeler has consistently proven himself reliable in the Mets’ starting rotation when he’s been healthy.
Wheeler said he has “nothing but good words and good thoughts” about his time in New York, noting he has enjoyed it and hopes to finish strong regardless of what happens this upcoming offseason.
“Obviously you think about it,” Wheeler said of becoming a free agent. “But me personally, I don’t let it affect me. I don’t try to do too much or over-perform, I just go out there and try to trust my stuff. Like I said, I’m here and I’m just trying to win some ballgames for this team and I’m just doing the best that I can.”It’s a sticky situation for the Mets, who most recently attempted to test Wheeler’s trade value at this year’s July 31 deadline but never found the offer they were looking for despite heavy interest from the Rays and the Astros.
The Mets could extend Wheeler a qualifying offer (last year’s number was $17.9 million), which could chill his market by forcing a team that signs him to surrender a draft pick. If he accepted the qualifying offer, the Mets would retain him for the 2020 season, and if he declines, the team would set themselves up for draft-pick compensation.
But if Wheeler departs, the Mets will be down a strikeout-heavy starter with nothing in return.