Zack Wheeler to receive a qualifying offer, will he accept?

Following the trade for Marcus Stroman and the extension of Jacob deGrom, the Mets’ rotation has some key pieces to it. There are still a few kinks to work out, however. The team realizes this and is looking to hold it all together.

The team has decided to extend a $17.8 million qualifying offer to Zack Wheeler. He now has ten days to accept, and if not, he becomes a free agent. That would also mean the Mets would receive a 2020 MLB Draft-pick compensation if he was to head somewhere else.

Wheeler was brought into the fold following a trade with the San Fransisco Giants. Receiving Wheeler for now-manager Carlos Beltran, there was a lot of hype surrounding the sixth overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft. In his first few years with the team, Wheeler struggled to find his form. while also dealing with a plethora of injuries. This season, however, Wheeler managed to show what he can be. Back in July, Wheeler was 5-6 with a 4.11 ERA. By mid-September, he was 10-7 with a 3.39 ERA and ended the season with an 11-8 record and a 3.96 ERA. In his final six starts, he posted a 1.80 ERA.

The Mets are indeed interested in bringing him back, even if he rejects the qualifying offer. When asked if he was willing to provide Wheeler with a new contract, General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen was adamant they would. He stated following the Beltran press conference the team is and will continue to have an open dialogue with him.

The Mets have a bright future ahead of them, but there are plenty of opportunities out there for Wheeler. Will he test the free agent market, or will he continue to grow under the Mets and their new manager?