The Mets will be activating Dillon Gee from the disabled list in time for their game against the Padres on Tuesday in San Diego.
At that point, the Mets will implement a six-man rotation which could last as long as two-plus months, Dan Warthen said on Wednesday at Citi Field.
The design, according to Warthen, includes shaving three starts off of each starting pitcher’s ledger. That will keep each starter under 30 starts for the year and keep Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom (and later, Steven Matz) under their respective innings limits.
Earlier this month, Harvey expressed some displeasure over the six-man rotation they used at the end of April, and Warthen said earlier this week all of the pitchers aired their frustrations over the decision to use the longer rotation for an extended period of time.
Certainly, it’s understandable why the pitchers all balked at this idea. These guys just want to pitch, they want to stay in their routines, and they want very little disruption to their everyday life.
A six-man rotation unquestionably alters their routines and rest periods, the latter certainly having a potential impact on their performances.
So, the question is, are the Mets at a greater or lesser advantage by having each of these gems pitch less frequently and in an unfamiliar routine?
Of course, it’s clear all of the changes in the rotation primarily circle around ensuring Harvey’s health. But Terry Collins said earlier this week they have to manage Syndergaard’s innings limit (approximately 170), deGrom will be pitching with an innings cap as well (and recently suffered through some hip and shoulder discomfort, too), and they need to find breaks for Bartolo Colon, who turned 42 on Sunday.
Of all the possible scenarios the Mets can outline to protect their assets, and get them all through the entire season and potential postseason rounds healthy and effectively, this option for Harvey and the other starters might be the lesser of all evils.
Harvey’s agent, Scott Boras, approves of the Mets approach to keep his client healthy.
“To the extent how you create a plan that’s going to keep Matt’s innings down, I think it’s necessary,” Boras told Mike Vorkunov of the Star Ledger. “I think it’s prudent. Certainly the talent that is on the Mets pitching staff allows the creation of a process that allows six pitchers to pitch.”
Boras knows such a decision has the team’s as well as his client’s best interests in mind.
“On a scenario where we’re working on a long-term view of both Matt’s interest and the Mets’ interests, I’m glad the Mets are thinking of ways to surround Matt with a program when they can keep his innings in a very, very manageable way,” Boras said.
It’s a give and a take of course, and there’s no reason why the Mets should not be proactive and protect the health of their assets as they know how. But there’s a fine line with trying to protect assets and ensuring they’re getting the most out of such a decision – only time will tell if this was the right call.
But nobody can fault the club for keeping the pitchers and their own best interests in mind.
You can read more about the team’s plan for the six-man rotation here.
Just Mets 