The Mets have announced that pitcher Zack Wheeler has been shut down for the final week or so of the season due to shoulder stiffness.
"With what's happen with Matt, it's not time to take chances," Terry Collins explained.
Wheeler will not undergo any tests at this time because it is assumed that it is just shoulder fatigue. In his rookie season, the 23 year old went 7-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 17 starts after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in June.
This move is very cautious and I like it. Why risk running him out there when he would only be making one more start on the season anyway. I'm not too worried about the stiffness itself, as I expected he would fatigue a bit down the stretch. Wheeler threw a total of 168 2/3 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas and the Mets in 2013, and he threw 149 innings in the minors during the 2012 season, so he did increase his workload.
Overall, it was a very promising season for the young hurler. Despite his slight control problems, he showed the fans what he was capable of, and he certainly has the pitching arsenal to be a top-notch pitcher in this league for years to come.
I've trade possibilities regarding Wheeler, but I'm confident that they will not be dealing him this winter. I can see a lower grade prospect like Rafael Montero being dealt instead. The Mets do, after all, have a significant amount of pitching depth with or without Matt Harvey in 2014.
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