The Mets signed pitcher Michael Wacha to a one-year, $3 million deal guaranteed with an additional $7 million in potential incentives on Dec. 11, 2019.
Wacha, 28, had a 4.76 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 126.2 IP in 2019 for the St. Louis Cardinals, but has struggled with injures over the last few seasons. He hopes to stay healthy in 2020 after improving his conditioning in the offseason.
"This spring feels a little different, for sure," Wacha said. "I feel very healthy, very strong. I guess in 2018 knocked me out with that oblique injury, and that kind of carried over into the offseason where I was training and rehabbing that oblique all the way through the offseason in 2018-2019, and heading into Spring Training. It was nice to have a good offseason where I was fully healthy, fully recovered, and really got some good work done."
Wacha mentioned that he made a few adjustments to his workout routines, and feels like it's paying off.
"Just getting a little better understanding of how my body works and how it moves," Wacha said. "Did some different stuff in the weight room. Mechanical wise changed some little bit of stuff, little minor mechanics change that I think just helps my movements and my delivery moving a little bit better motion. I think that'll definitely help, and everything's been feeling good so far, so I'm very positive."
The righty will be fighting for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation with Rick Porcello, but feels lucky to join this pitching staff.
"This staff is unbelievable," Wacha said. "We got arms for days. It's very cool. I'm very happy to be over here, and excited to get to pitch alongside these guys, and get to learn from them. See what they think on the mound, and just getting after it, competing together."