There was a time, not so long ago, where Happy Harvey Day meant hope and happiness for the New York Mets.
Matt Harvey was the future for the Mets. He was supposed to be the next Seaver and next Gooden.
Ultimately, though, he has become the next Tim Leary.
Harvey has been dismal since he came back from the disabled list. He allowed seven runs on 12 hits last night over four innings against the Maimi Marlins, which has been par for the course since returing with a 13.19 ERA.
It’s rock bottom for the former ace and he knows it.
“Everything. Everybody’s watching,” Harvey said to Marc Carig of Newsday. “I don’t really know what there is to say except for there is nothing to say. It’s terrible. It’s not fun. There’s really nothing to say. There’s no reason for questions. There’s no answers. There really isn’t. You’re going to write what you want to write, anyway. Obviously, it’s deserved. So whatever you want to write, there’s nothing to say.”
There really isn’t and it’s really simple. Tommy John and Thoracic Outlet Surgeries were too much for Harvey’s right arm. He is not and probably never will be the same pitcher. It’s a shame, but it’s a fact and the Mets need to accept this and move on.
That means after the season is over in two weeks and when it comes time to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players, general manager Sandy Alderson should decline the opportunity for Harvey and make him a free agent.
Harvey will be eligible for about a $6 million contract next year. Although that’s chump change by baseball standards, it’s not money well spent for the Mets. He’s too much of a question mark and too much of a risk in a rotation filled with risks.
Next year, figure Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard will be the Mets front liners, but then you have a bunch of question marks Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler are coming back from injuries and Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo and Rafael Montero are all question marks.
However, none of them are making money Harvey will and so the Mets can take the risk. Last season, the Mets divisional chances were torpedoed by Harvey’s poor start and this season his poor record contributed to the team’s decline.
And it might be better for Harvey as well. Maybe getting an invite from another organization will allow him to put these past few years behind him and learn how to pitch with the stuff his arm can give him. Consider this: Harvey may rebound and become a front-line pitcher again, but it probably won’t be with the Mets. If he does come back and have a good year, he will leave a free agent and if he doesn’t and have it with another team, all you did was give up one year. Big Deal.
It’s a sad situation, but the facts re there. Matt Harvey isn’t a major league pitcher right now. Heck, he’s not even good enough for the Long Island Ducks at this point.
So it’s now best for all parties. It’s time for the Mets and Matt Harvey to part ways.
Let Happy Harvey Day happen elsewhere.
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