By Jordan Long
The New York Mets cut ties with pitcher Matt Harvey. Harvey could have stayed with the Mets had he agreed to a minor-league assignment. He refused and the Mets had no choice but to let him go. According to chicagotribune.com, Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson said, “It’s the end of an era. And I used that term in broad senses. Matt has been a cornerstone certainly of my tenure here, a tremendous prospect at the time I arrived, tremendous accomplishments during the course of my tenure here. And it’s a very unfortunate, difficult conclusion.”. Now the Texas Rangers are interested in him.
Harvey hasn’t been the Mets best pitcher for a few years. His top season for them was in 2015 when he went 13-8 with an ERA of 2.71. That year he helped them go all the way to the World Series. 2016 was his worst year in terms of record. He was 4 and 10 with a 4.86 ERA. Last season Harvey went 5 and 7 with a 6.70 ERA.
The Mets were hoping for a better season from Harvey. It didn’t happen. He appeared in 8 games starting 4 of them with a record of 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA. The problem with Harvey is his command is off. He is leaving the ball where batters can hit on base. Luckily, Harvey isn’t giving up the long ball with 6 home runs.
The Mets were right to have him go down to the minor leagues. Harvey could work on his pitching and a chance to come back to show he is improved. Instead Harvey chose becoming a free agent. It will not help him with his pitching.
The Rangers so far are the only team looking to sign him. Dan Warthen, the Assistant Pitching Coach was the Mets’ pitching coach from 2008 to last season. He worked with Harvey from 2012 to 2017. Warthen knows how he pitches and hopefully, could help Harvey with his command to become a dominant pitcher again.
It would be a gamble for the Rangers. Harvey is not a starting pitcher anymore and may have to come out as a relief pitcher. Harvey may not want to do that but it is a way for him to stay in Major League Baseball.
Leave a Reply