Palladino: Steven Matz's Elbow Makes Zack Wheeler All But Untouchable
By Ernie Palladino
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There's no doubt that Sandy Alderson needs to find a bat to shake the Mets out of their offensive troubles. But he should silence immediately any thoughts of giving up Zack Wheeler for it.
Wheeler's name has popped up in recent days, particularly in media speculation surrounding the procurement of Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy. But given Steven Matz's sixth-inning exit from Saturday's brutal 4-3 loss to the NL-worst Braves because of elbow tightness, it would be a risky proposition to send Wheeler anywhere.
The hard-throwing right-hander has become quite an important person around here despite his absence. His return after Tommy John surgery won't happen until after the All-Star break, and his performance after that will likely follow the lines of most others not named Matt Harvey who have gone through such operations. That means a gradual, patient and careful progression toward effectiveness.
But the Mets can certainly live with that, and in the end may have to if the 25-year-old Matz's elbow tightness turns into something bigger than the twinges he felt as his pitch-count rose Saturday. Matz has undergone one elbow rebuild already. So the concern over another is always there, even as both Matz and manager Terry Collins downplayed the tightness after Saturday.
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He is a young Mets pitcher, after all. And given the recent history surrounding Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Wheeler, young pitchers who work in Flushing tend to break. Despite pitcher and manager shrugging off the latest eyebrow-raiser as just one of those things that happens during the season, Mets followers know too well that today's flareup can easily become tomorrow's surgical consultation.
Alderson needs to keep that in mind as he searches for that bat. Whether it's creating a package sweet enough to grab Lucroy, a .312 hitter the Brewers recently deemed untouchable, or upgrading David Wright's third-base position that Wilmer Flores now holds, the Mets' GM can't afford to make Wheeler part of that deal.
Rest assured, the thought progression Collins is going through now probably won't even be an issue once Wheeler comes back. At this point, old Bartolo Colon is the flashpoint. If all things stay constant, Wheeler could push Colon to the bullpen. That in itself would be a hard move if the 43-year-old Colon continues the effectiveness that has led him to a 3-0 record and 1.93 ERA over his last five starts.
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That issue would shift to Matz's spot if the left-hander's elbow continues to tighten, unless Collins will wants a steady diet of spot starter Logan Verrett.
Highly unlikely.
So Wheeler must stay regardless of what form he takes upon his return.
The Mets do have other options. Oft-injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud is scheduled to rejoin the team Tuesday in Kansas City. The rotator cuff issues that put him on the DL on April 25 appear to have subsided, and Collins expects to throw him immediately into an everyday role.
If d'Arnaud hits like he has in the past, Alderson can check off the catcher's box.
If Flores can add a few key hits to his power production, third base may not become an issue at all.
Likewise, if the Mets decided to splurge on Cuban free agent Yulieski Gurriel, they could get their upgrade for money alone. They'd spend a pile of cash, but it might be worth it to keep Wheeler around.
Whatever offensive plan Alderson has in mind, Wheeler should not be part of it. In light of Matz's episode Saturday, he has become too valuable to dangle as trade bait.
The Mets need him right where he is.
Follow Ernie on Twitter at @ErniePalladino
