Zack Wheeler has signed a $126 million contract extension to stay with the Phillies, as one of the top potential starting pitching free agents for next winter has already come off the board.
For C-Mac, Wheeler staying put in Philly means that the Mets need to strike now on a starting pitcher, not wait to see what top arms are still on the open market next offseason.
“Forget looking backwards, and how disappointing it is that you had Zack Wheeler and let him go…I think this deal speaks a lot about the Mets and why they should go out there this offseason, right now, today, and get Jordan Montgomery,” C-Mac said. “You cannot rely on next year’s free agency in the starting rotation. Zack Wheeler was probably going to be the cream of the crop along with Corbin Burnes. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”
With pitchers like Montgomery and Blake Snell taking so long to sign this offseason, C-Mac wonders if pending free agents will bite at a chance to sign extensions and avoid the waiting game of the open market, meaning the Mets need to start striking sooner than later.
“As these players see what’s going on, I think contract extensions become a lot more appealing,” C-Mac said. “Burnes in Baltimore, with new owners…maybe they make an extension offer before the season is over.”