New York Mets: Looking Ahead to 2017 at the Pitching Staff

The New York Mets pitching staff this year has been silver when it was touted to be gold. Changes are needed and moves need to be made for 2017

We all know the story that began the year. There was no team that could touch the New York Mets starting staff. The only serious question was about the strength of the bullpen and even that was sloughed off because they would hardly be needed. But as the season enters its final quarter, the anchor of the staff has been the 43-year-old, Bartolo Colon, who leads the team in wins this year.

And whether you charge the mediocrity of the starters to injuries, both big (Harvey) or small (Matz and Syndergaard), or to tired arms that couldn’t rebound from the stress of last year’s toll, it still doesn’t add up to their underwhelming performance this year. What began as a game in April with guesses and bar bets about which one would win the Cy Young, or which one will emerge as the ace of the staff, has now disintegrated into wondering if anyone besides Bartolo can even finish in double figure wins.

The team as a whole needs a shakeup and the pitching staff cannot escape from that. First and foremost has to be what to do with Matt Harvey, he of the rather unglamorous 29-28 lifetime record since joining the Mets. And does anyone doubt that his agent with the fangs, Scott Boras, won’t attempt to lead Harvey to the promised land in 2019, sending him on his way to a free spending team like the Los Angeles Dodgers or Los Angeles Angels?

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Trade him and trade him now while his value, despite this injury, is still rather high. Trade him exclusively for prospects to replenish the now depleted farm system. Do this and you get rid of a bunch of headaches too that result from Harvey’s immature and over inflated ego. Maybe someday he’ll grow up like Stephen Strasburg has this year, but I wouldn’t bet on it based on what Harvey’s shown us with his antics over the last year or so.

The next move has to do with Milwaukee’s apparent fixation on Zack Wheeler. Reports prior to the trade deadline this year indicated that the Brewers made another pass at the Mets to acquire him after last year’s deal fell through. Again, go for it. It would be nice if the Mets could showcase him for a start or before seasons end, but if the Brewers are truly hot for him, why can’t you ask for Ryan Braun straight up for Wheeler and say a Wilmer Flores or Juan Legares? The Brewers have been shopping Braun since their season self destructed before it even began. Just sayin’. However, this depends on how bad the elbow discomfort is for Wheeler. With a trip to Dr. James Andrews coming, his future is very uncertain.

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The rest of the staff stays pretty much intact. Although he still has a lot to learn about pitching (I didn’t say throwing) in the big leagues, Steven Matz gets a pass mainly because he’s the only lefty in the rotation. Both Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom are locked in and destined for stardom. They simply have too much talent.

And believe it or not, Colon should be welcomed back with open arms. Bartolo is like staying in a Holiday Inn. It’s not the fanciest hotel, but at least you know what you are getting. His 4:1 strikeouts to walks ratio is alone enough to keep sending him out there every fifth day. Plus, as an added bonus, we get to see him hit.

The bullpen isn’t really worth talking about. Teams overhaul their bullpen every year. These guys recycle between teams faster than a can of Coca Cola. The much overrated closers seem to emerge every year as reclamation projects of pitching coaches. Jeurys Familia will do, don’t sweat it.

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So not a major overhaul, but certainly some fine tuning is needed. Moving Harvey will raise some eyebrows, but don’t forget that this is the team that once moved Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver, guys that went on to be Hall Of Fame shoo-ins. Send him to Hollywood where he belongs and concentrate on all the good the team has in the remaining staff.

Next, and finally, we’ll do a recap to accent the changes the Mets should be thinking about even now for next year. It’s your move, Sandy.