2020 MMO Report Card: Michael Wacha, RHP

Michael Wacha

Player data: 29 years old, B / TR / R
Primary statistics: 8 G, 7 GS, 1-4, 34 IP, 6.62ERA, 9.8 K / 9, 1.9 BB / 9, 1.559 WHIP
Advanced statistics: 64 ERA +, 5.25 FIP, -0.2 WAR

Free agent: 2021
Salary in 2020: $ 3 million

Grade: F

2020 Review

The most disappointing part of the New York Mets 2020 campaign was Michael WachaIn most cases, it was barely noticed. During the terrible time, his seven starts and 34 innings on the mound are not in his memory when he thinks of the depression the team has experienced in the past season. But it never gives him a pass to what was a completely unprofitable tenure in Mets uniforms.

When the team signs a 28-year-old former All-Star, Those who happen to be NLC SMVPs will expect it to be accompanied by great fanfare and excitement.But that’s not what happened at this time Former front office The signature was announced in December 2019.

Most people understood that the signature of another CAA client, which is not quite like the client who played a central role in the Cardinals team, which won 100 games in 2015.

Wacha, signed as the depth of the pitching staff, was given a highly incentive contract to significantly increase his salary based on the start and innings of each entry.He then made statement It seemed strange considering when they had just signed that the front office told them that if he was healthy he would be given a rotation spot. Rick Porcello A one-year contract to end the rotation.

Covid-19, everyone knows what happened in the coming months. Noah Snyder Guard Tommy John needs surgery, Marcus Stroman I opted out of the season. These things were unfortunate for Mets, but they proved that skeptics were wrong and provided Wacha with the opportunity to do more than most observers expected.

Eventually it didn’t happen.

With 7 starts, Wacha reached only once in 6 times. It will start on September 23rd for Raise. Five of his starts ended before five innings and gave up more runs than the innings thrown in three starts.

Starting the season’s first start of the season with five innings and one run with the Red Sox on July 27, Wacha allowed 25 runs on a pitch of 29 innings.

All in all, his numbers tell the story of a man who beats his opponent with a decent clip and limits his walk, but tends to give up long balls with barely visible numbers. His inability to hold the ball in the stadium is his greatest weakness on the mound.

His nine home runs allowed in 34 innings would be the pace of 43 home runs allowed if he threw 162 innings (the ones needed to win the league leader’s title with regular season parameters).

To make a prospect Justin Verlander He led the league in 2019 and was allowed 44 home runs in 258 innings. Had Wacha had 258 innings in 2020, he would have been at the allowed 68 home runs.

2021 Outlook

The 29-year-old, who has a track record like Wacha, is trying to seize an opportunity somewhere. The team is confident that they can correct the ship and return to pitching just a few seasons ago to sign a one-year incentive-based contract, just like last year. It’s not going to be the Mets.