9/19/17

Tom Brennan - WHAT TO DO WITH HARVEY?

 
Tom Brennan - WHAT TO DO WITH HARVEY?

Boy was Matt Harvey great in 2012 and 2013 - and awfully darned good the year he returned from Tommy John surgery in 2015 too:  25-18 (only not better due to lack of offensive support), 2.53 ERA, 9.5 Ks per 9 IP, 1.00 WHIP.

But the past two seasons, 9-16 (not worse thanks only to good run support), and in 177 innings, he's allowed 6 runs per 9 innings, a WHIP of 1.57, and 7 Ks per 9 IP.  Injury prone, too.  That's a whole lot of bad road.  Bottom 10% starter stuff.

He is making $5.13 million this year.  Despite two straight dismal years, he likely would get at least a modest raise to (let's say) $6 million for 2018.

Is he worth it?  Or should he be non-tendered?  if the latter, you end up looking stupid if he rebounds in 2018.

Presumably he will have two more 2017 starts to give any indication that the past 2 years' substandard performance might be changing or even might change in 2018.

You're the GM - what do you do?

13 comments:

Reese Kaplan said...

Considering how thin they are at starting pitching, even a $6 million salary is not outrageous. It's clear they rushed him back instead of giving him ample time to heal (a pattern they appear about to repeat with Noah Syndergaard).

With an off-season to rest and recover, he might just turn the corner. (And if he does, then peddle him at the All-Star break and let someone else pay dearly for the rental).

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, unless Harvey reinjures himself in the next 2 starts, I agree - you almost HAVE to play this out and hope for the best.

I do, though, think it was his decision largely on when to start back with the Mets - I felt, after his last (bad) minor league outing, that he was at least 1 more minors rehab start from being ready (clear now he needed more than 1 start) and that he should have pitched down there until he was right or until whatever time period is allowed for rehab was fully used.

Mack Ade said...

Last chance, but I start him out in the pen

Tom Brennan said...

Giving it 100% in the pen might just work for him, Mack. One inning, no holds barred.

Anonymous said...

I put hm in AA in April and make him earn his way back..

Viper said...

Give him the money and see how he does in spring training. If he is still getting blown out of the water, just release him.

Anonymous said...

Agreed.....it is a relatively small sum for the potential that he still has. Best case, he is trade bait, worst case you move him to the bullpen or release him outright.

(I personally think he is toast, but I would love to be wrong)

Mike

Tom Brennan said...

Mike, I think we are ending up right about there, on consensus.

Anonymous said...

going into 2018 make him earn his spot on the team?
if not send him to vegas
karma is coming back to the guy who gave the middle finger to everyone on the way up
now poor matt is in a free for all and all his Happy Harvey Day fans are gone.
good lesson learned matt
you jackass

Unknown said...

Hey guys the WHOLE pitching staff less Jake has to prove themselves so it's going to be an interesting spring.

Anonymous said...

Odd, "way out there" thought......as I don my tin foil hat........but, do you think he could be doing this on purpose? You really can't put anything past Scott Boras (super agent and minion of Satan) and I think it is pretty well known that Matt isn't happy with the Mets.

Get released, go to a team you prefer and recover just in time for a big time contract??

Mike

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Mike:

That's why If Harvey doesn't want to perform, send him to Vegas.
Let him ride out his last season,and waste another year of his career!
Don't give him what he wants
TC has bent over and did everything this guy asks for

bgreg98180 said...

I would suggest planning to start both Harvey and Matz in the bullpen.
Both of them have proven their fragile nature as starting pitchers.
Begin the off season planning for them being members of the pen that can possibly prove themselves as a tandem duo serving as one spot in the rotation.
If they prove successful in the pen, begin to stretch them out..
If that is successful try piggy-backing them in a couple starts.
If that is successful....analyze wht and what the future possibilities are from there.