Section 25 in the series analyzes the New York Mets

The biggest winner among the Mets’ whistles during baseball closure is probably Michael Wacha.

No longer facing the busyness of the six-month season, left-handed players, who have a history of shoulder problems, may have a better chance of reaching the finish line during a short schedule. Wacha suffered shoulder discomfort as recently as last September, preventing him from throwing a postseason for the Cardinals.

“You don’t want to include it in the initial 25-30,” said a talent evaluator from the National League club. “But more like 12-15 might be in a better wheelhouse, so I think a short season helps a man like him.”

Wacha, 28, went 6-7 with 4.76 ERA and 1,563 WHIP in 29 appearances last season for the Cardinals. From that appearance, five came as relievers, putting him in conversation for the swingman role when spring training began this season with the Mets.

But because the camp was suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the dynamics in the Mets pitching staff had changed: Noah Syndergaard underwent Tommy John’s operation on March 26 which would keep him out until 2021, leaving Wacha as a possible fifth starter, behind Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz and Rick Porcello.

But if the Mets want to be creative, they can move Seth Lugo into rotation, even at the cost of a bullpen. Lugo last season was the Mets’ best reliever, but maybe the Mets would be willing to experiment with Wacha in a multi-inning role.

“Wacha, I think this is the range to think he can be a big factor this year,” the talent assessor said. “Obviously, he will get a chance, but maybe he takes over the role that Lugo has. Maybe you can give Lugo more rest time and the two of them can handle that starting point, long help, middle help role.

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“I see that more [Wacha’s] role rather than trying to start him, because even with a short season he is a man who I think won’t be able to sustain his business over time because of his shoulders. I think in shorter bursts, and not that it cannot be extended by more than three or four innings at certain times, but I see it more in the role of Lugo than in the role of rotation. “

Wacha was an All-Star for the Cardinals in 2015, when he went 17-7 with 3.38 ERA, but three of the last four seasons were a struggle for him. In 2018 he posted some of his best numbers – a 3.20 ERA and 1,233 WHIP, but that only appeared 15 times, because he was ruled out by several oblique strains.

Wacha arrived at the Mets last winter with a full one-year incentive contract that guaranteed him $ 3 million. The Wacha contract can be a maximum of $ 10 million based on initial appearance and assistance. The contract has a “point” system embedded in it that will reward Wacha even if he is not a full-time start pitcher. Under that arrangement, Wacha received one point as a start or every appearance of relief from at least three innings. Bonuses start to accumulate once he reaches 10 points.

The Mets also signed Porcello last winter, but the former Cy Young Award winner was seen as a lower risk than Wacha.

“Whatever I get [Wacha] “It’s going to be sauce because I think he’s not the same person and hopefully he’s healthier,” said the talent assessor. know how to throw and all that stuff. You have two men there, Porcello is more a man you can discuss because he has no injuries. He really posted. “