Yahoo Sports Mets can only watch Zack Wheeler in World Series now. What this means for Jacob deGrom
Close your eyes and visualize.
It's the pinnacle of the 2023 Major League Baseball postseason and the October chill has returned to the air. The stadium public-address system suddenly goes silent and the introduction for Lynard Skynard's "Simple Man" goes strumming over the speakers.
Jacob deGrom emerges from the dugout and takes the ball for Game 1 of the World Series... in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform.
Didn't mean to startle you, New York Mets fans, but in fact, that's the reality that will be tormenting the franchise in the opening game of this year's World Series come Friday night.
Zack Wheeler, who spent the first five seasons of his professional career with the Mets, will be harkening the Philadelphia Phillies back to the World Series for the first time since 2009 when he takes the mound in Game 2 against the Houston Astros.
Adding insult to injury is the presence of Noah Syndergaard, who started Game 3 of the World Series during the Mets' run in 2015, out of the Phillies' bullpen.
Wheeler, though, has been one of the driving forces behind the Phillies' improbable run from 87 wins and the playoff periphery to four victories away from the third World Series crown in franchise history. The 31-year-old right-hander has been brilliant throughout the run, securing a 1-1 record with a 1.78 ERA, 0.51 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 25.1 innings and four postseason starts.
If the Mets have their way, they will take lessons from how Wheeler got away to make sure they lock up deGrom this offseason.
Lessons from Zack Wheeler
The Mets did not exactly endear themselves toward Wheeler in the middle of his tenure with the team.
After being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the MLB Draft in 2009, the Georgia native was acquired by the Mets in a trade in 2011. He quickly ascended through the Mets' minor league system, ultimately making his major-league debut in 2013 and immediately showing promise, pitching to a 3.50 ERA with 271 strikeouts in 285.1 innings in 49 starts across his first two seasons.
Wheeler underwent Tommy John elbow surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow that he suffered during spring training in 2015. According to Mike Puma in his book, "If These Walls Could Talk, New York Mets," Wheeler was denied his request to join the team, then owned by Fred Wilpon, during their run to the World Series that season.
Four years later, Wheeler signed a five-year, $118 million free-agent deal with the rival Phillies ahead of the 2020 season.
With Steve Cohen, Billy Eppler and Buck Showalter leading the charge, the Mets have done their best to support and foster their relationship with deGrom, even after he voiced his intentions opt out of the final year of his five-year, $137.5 million contract.
When deGrom was shut down from throwing after his diagnosis of a stress reaction in his right scapula, he was able to return home to Florida to remain in touch with his family. And upon his return, deGrom was spotted in the outfield with his son.
Showalter voiced how he was careful to avoid bothering deGrom throughout his return, giving him space to attack the recovery process. The new regime has done its best to prove they value their ace, but now it will be up to deGrom and his agent to decide whether they want to stick with the only franchise he's known.
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Striking a balance
Wheeler missed the 2016 season after a handful of setbacks in his recovery from Tommy John, but proved that he had rebounded over the next few seasons with the Mets.
In the prime of his career, Wheeler pitched back-to-back seasons at 28 and 29 years old, throwing at least 182 innings and amassing at least 179 strikeouts in 2018 and 2019.
Since the COVID-shortened season, Wheeler has back-to-back seasons in Philadelphia with 26 starts or more.
The Mets had an opportunity to match the Phillies' offer for Wheeler. Now comes the conundrum with deGrom.
Over the past two seasons, while battling back, side, forearm and shoulder injuries, deGrom has only combined to pitch 156.1 innings. When he is on the field, deGrom is one of the most dynamic pitchers in the game. He has picked up a pair of Cy Young awards and has a lifetime ERA of 2.52 with a sub-1.00 WHIP.
But deGrom has not pitched more than 200 innings since 2019, and he'll be looking for a contract to rival the record $43.3 million-per-year deal inked by teammate Max Scherzer last offseason.
There is bound to be suitors for arguably the best pitcher to ever take the mound at Citi Field. But will the Mets be willing to match that type of commitment with uncertainty surrounding deGrom's durability and whether he can stay on the field to lead the Mets to a potential World Series.
Wheeler showed up during his contract year, while deGrom did not help his own cause.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Zack Wheeler: Former Mets pitcher in World Series with Phillies now
