Enjoy Harvey While You Can

Well, it appears that Matt Harvey will be gone in 2019 if not sooner.  According to Jon Heyman  of Today’s Knuckleball, a Mets impression of Harvey is, “He’s Gone.”

What we don’t know is why.  Is Harvey gone because he is intent on testing free agency?  Is Harvey gone because the Mets don’t like the negative media attention that surrounds him?  Is Harvey gone because there are clubhouse conflicts?  Is Harvey gone because the Mets just don’t want to spend the money?  Is Harvey gone because the Mets believe his early season struggles are more indicative of a decline than a mechanical issue? Fact is, we don’t know, and we may never know.

What we do know is that the Mets were lucky to have Harvey.  He was the first piece of the Mets turnaround when he burst on the scene in 2013.  He had amazing game after amazing game.  He almost pitched a perfect game against the White Sox, and he started the All Star Game.  His return in 2015 was a key part of the Mets winning the division and going to the World Series.  He almost willed the Mets to victory in Game 5.  Time and again, Harvey has delivered.  The hope is that he can help the Mets deliver a World Series title before he departs.

The hope now is that if the Mets are intent on moving on from Matt Harvey that they at least lock up Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.  Both players have been just as instrumental as Harvey has been in this great turnaround.  Unfortunately, according to Heyman, the Mets haven’t approached either one of them about a long term contract.    Hopefully, the Mets will.  This team is built on pitching, and they will need to keep some of these guys.  However, it seems like Harvey will not be one of them.

With that said, we should all enjoy Matt Harvey while we all can.