TORONTO _ Thankfully for Zack Wheeler and the Mets, his trade value is not affected by the porous bullpen that won't hold any leads he provides.
The bullpen wasted a five-run lead in the eighth inning after another strong start by Wheeler in Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Wheeler allowed just two runs in 61/3 innings, but Robert Gsellman allowed a three-run game-tying homer in the seventh before Tim Peterson allowed a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth.
The Mets (33-49) blew 5-0 and 6-1 leads in a game when the opposing pitcher, Marco Estrada, recorded only one out.
Indications continue to be that the Mets ultimately will hold on to Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom, but Wheeler, along with Steven Matz, is an intriguing trade chip.
Wheeler ended May with a 5.40 ERA, and has since lowered it to 4.36 with a nice stretch of starts. His velocity has increased since the start of the season with the righty dialing his fastball up to 98-99 mph. He's also pitching deeper into games.
He deserved better than a no-decision Tuesday when he stymied the Blue Jays before the bullpen blew a multi-run lead when Wheeler was starting for the second straight outing.
Wheeler tossed three perfect inning to begin his night, and then worked his way out of several jams. He used a strikeout and a groundout after a runner reached third with one out in the fourth in a 5-0 game, and he struck out Teoscar Hernandez to end the fifth inning with runners on second and third and the Mets leading, 5-1.
The Blue Jays scored a run off him in the seventh, but the Mets were ahead 6-2 with two outs and no one on base when the bullpen proceeded to blow the lead.
Anthony Swarzak, the team's big offseason relief signing, continued his struggles by allowing three of the four batters he faced to reach base.
Gsellman then blew the lead by allowing a three-run homer to right to Yangervis Solarte that evened the game at 6. Gsellman now has six blown saves this year.
Tim Peterson allowed a two-out, two-run homer to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the eighth.
The Mets once led 5-0 through four innings thanks to two-run homers by Asdrubal Cabera and Devin Mesoraco, and a solo shot by Wilmer Flores in the seventh.
Michael Conforto grounded out to end the game while representing the go-ahead run.
Teams will not hold Wheeler's 2-6 record against him since records are affected by plenty of factors that he can't control, and teams have called about Wheeler, according to sources. The Mets have not ruled out potentially moving the 28-year-old, per a source.
For any move to happen, though, the Mets would have to feel that it makes their team better since they are not in fire-sale mode with their players under control. Players in the final years of their contracts like Cabrera, Jeurys Familia and Jerry Blevins are in a different scenario where the Mets will trade them to avoid losing them for nothing.
Part of the discussion with whether to trade Matz and Wheeler centers on the Mets' approach to the 2019 season. Even though the Mets will finish with a losing record this season, they do not view this team as devoid of talent, according to sources.
If the plan is to contend in 2019, the Mets' best roster features all these pitchers in the mix for one more shot at a playoff spot before Wheeler hits free agency. It seems unlikely that Wheeler could command a quality, MLB-ready pitcher in return.
There's also a cap on Wheeler's value since he is only under control through the 2019 season, and his injury history. Wheeler has now made 18 starts and thrown 95 innings this year, his most since his last healthy season in 2014.
Teams would also be investing in Wheeler based of a strong two months, and that is reason for teams to be cautious. One source from another organization estimated that the Mets may be able to receive a couple of second-tier prospects for Wheeler.
