Matt Harvey didn’t mince words earlier this week when asked for an assessment of the Mets’ potential rotation for 2013.
“Pretty damn good,” he said.
But the right-hander also was operating under the assumption R.A. Dickey will still be part of that mix. Remove a Cy Young winner from the equation, and a rotation that potentially could approach the Nationals’, Braves’ and Phillies’ for overall quality in the NL East next season would take a significant hit.
But as the Mets consider trading Dickey in the absence of a contract extension, they are pondering possible alternatives.
If Dickey is traded, Harvey, Johan Santana, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee would be the top four in the rotation heading to spring training, with several candidates for the final spot.
Top prospect Zack Wheeler this week was added to the 40-man roster but is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. Even so, a team official yesterday said it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for the right-hander to dazzle the Mets enough in spring training to earn a major league job.
The Mets would prefer to let Wheeler first receive a healthy dose of Triple-A exposure and allow him to follow the same script as Harvey, who was promoted to the majors for the final two months of the 2012 season.
Mike Pelfrey, who underwent Tommy John surgery and missed most of last season, won’t be tendered a contract, but the Mets are expected to pursue him as a free agent at a deeply discounted rate from the $5.6 million he earned in 2012.
But even if the Mets were to sign Pelfrey, there are questions whether he would be ready to start the season. Normal recovery time from Tommy John surgery is about 12 months, putting Pelfrey on course for May.
Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia are two other in-house candidates the Mets could consider for the rotation, but neither righty was particularly effective as a September call-up, and there is still debate within the organization if Mejia and Familia are better suited for the bullpen.
Chris Young never can be completely discounted from the mix given his strong relationship with general manager Sandy Alderson and team vice president Paul DePodesta, but the right-hander might be too pricey for the Mets after rebounding from shoulder surgery to start 20 games and go 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA.
Harvey said he is rooting for the Mets to keep Dickey.
“From the year he came off and everything he brings to the New York Mets, he’s a special guy,” Harvey said. “I know the negotiations are being taken care of elsewhere and everybody is looking for the best of the team and we all hope he’s back and hopefully we have a strong staff.”