Fansided

Breaking down the 5 most likely landing spots for Zack Wheeler

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 01, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 01, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after retiring the side in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals in Game Five of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after retiring the side in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals in Game Five of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Houston Astros

Right-hander Gerrit Cole was likely on his way out of Houston as soon as the World Series was over. Whatever chance the Astros had of convincing him to stay went up in smoke as soon as the controversy over the sign-stealing efforts exploded. Without a resolution on the franchise’s punishment and standing with the league going forward, there is no reason for Cole to commit the best years of his prime to them.

Despite the highly-credible accusations of cheating, the Astros should remain an attractive option for starting pitchers. Cole has his own reasons to stay away, namely his desire to return to the West Coast. Others, however, should still be open to the idea of allowing Houston’s analytics staff turn them into Cy Young contenders. It’s worked for Justin Verlander, Cole, Charlie Morton and Wade Miley and appeared to be working for Aaron Sanchez before his injury.

Wheeler works off a power fastball-slider combination, which makes him an ideal fit to work with the Astros’ magic spin-rate analysts. The right-hander is already one of the best in the league at suppressing hard contact. Wheeler gives up very few line drives on his 97-mph fastball and 91-mph slider.

The Astros have made a mess for themselves with their sign-stealing antics, but the league is unlikely to throw the book at them in a way that will hamper their chances to return to the World Series in 2020. The majority of their roster from 2019 is locked in, aside from Cole. They can’t replace him one-for-one with a free agent from this year’s class, but can get close by signing Wheeler.

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