As the final minutes ticked off the clock leading into the MLB trade deadline at 4 p.m., Zack Wheeler's name was among the names mentioned most in rumors and reports. SNY Insider Andy Martino reported that the Astros, Rays and Yankees were among the teams showing interest in the righty.
But the deadline came and went, and Wheeler remained a Met, and now the right-hander is looking forward to putting all the deadline drama behind him.
"I'm glad it's in the past. I'm glad it's over with," Wheeler said after the deadline. "Whatever happened, happened, but I'm just glad it's over with now.
"Brodie (Van Wagenen) called me right after the deadline and basically said I was staying here, that I was good and that they value me and let's go get a run at this, so that's what we're going to do."
Wheeler is no stranger to hearing his own name floated around at the trade deadline, but he admitted that his soon-to-be free agent status made it seem that this year, more than ever, would be the time he'd be dealt.
"It was all there for it to happen, and it just didn't happen. I was ready for it," said Wheeler. "Especially with me being a free agent after the year, I knew it might happen."
"Just because I'm a free agent after the season, I thought more than likely it would happen, just from being in baseball all these years, it's sort of what happens. I was kind of surprised but I'm happy to stay here with these guys, this group, and try to make a push for it."
So despite all the noise about the Mets possibly being sellers at the deadline, they instead chose to go after Marcus Stroman, landing perhaps the biggest fish in the trade deadline pond.
The Mets rotation is now set up to be as competitive as ever, and with the team currently on a five-game winning streak, Wheeler is excited about the possibilities ahead.
"This is one of the best rotations in baseball," Wheeler said. "It's been that way for years now, and with the addition of him it only gets better. Hopefully we can keep reeling off these wins and maybe make a push for it."
Wheeler's future with the Mets remains a mystery though. With his contract up after the season, the 29-year-old could still receiver a qualifying offer from the club after the season, but he's not worrying about any of that just yet.
"I'm concentrating on producing and doing well," Wheeler said. "So, I think we'll worry about that when the time comes. It's after the season so I'm not really worried about that right now."