Fansided

One free agent each MLB team needs to target this offseason

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning during Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 27, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning during Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 27, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 05: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets pitches during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 05: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets pitches during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

New York Mets: Zack Wheeler

The Mets made a bold statement at the trade deadline by holding onto Noah Syndergaard and acquiring Marcus Stroman. They were in the midst of an epic (and ultimately unsustainable) hot streak that pushed them back into playoff contention. By keeping the group together, the Mets made a statement that they planned to try and contend again in 2020.

To keep the group together, the Mets will have to re-sign right-hander Zack Wheeler. The 29-year-old is one of the most intriguing free agents on the market and figures to have a half-dozen suitors once he declines his qualifying offer. Wheeler has flashed number-one potential throughout his career and is finally stringing together healthy seasons.

A starting rotation of Jacob deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman, Wheeler and Steven Matz for an entire season would make the Mets a difficult team to beat. Few teams, not even the Astros or Nationals, can contend with that type of depth one to five in a rotation. The Mets were 34-21 in August and September after adding Stroman to the mix.

Wheeler is 44-38 with a 3.77 ERA in parts of five seasons in the big leagues, but is 41-31 with a 3.58 ERA in the four seasons where he has been healthy. His medical file will have plenty of red flags, but teams seem to have come around on the idea that he has put those health concerns behind him.

The Mets should have no excuses regarding money when it comes to re-signing Wheeler. Keeping their five-man rotation together would represent the least.

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