Zack Wheeler

The Mets plan to implement a six-man rotation again in 2016

Published Feb. 4, 2016 1:39 a.m. ET

foxsports

It appears as though the New York Mets will hold another on-and-off affair with a six-man rotation.

General manager Sandy Alderson tells ESPN.com that the Mets plan to "strategically use a sixth starter to keep their staff fresh."

New York implemented a six-man rotation primarily consisting of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colón, and rookies Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz with mixed reaction in 2016.

Although the format allowed the Mets to preserve their young arms, not everyone was thrilled with the unorthodox arrangement, particularly Harvey, who lamented that it threw off his usual schedule for preparing for a start.

Although Niese is no longer a Met, New York will still have an overloaded rotation this coming season, particularly if Colón, who has been re-signed, is a regular starter.

Slated to join the Mets' core of young starters (Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz) is 25-year-old right-hander Zack Wheeler, who is expected to be major-league ready this summer after having Tommy John surgery.

The report details that the Mets plan to enact a six-man rotation prior to Wheeler's arrival, and might even use spot starters to fill out the expanded rotation:

Alderson said spot starters will be used even during the first half of the season. Sean Gilmartin or Logan Verrett, depending on who makes the Opening Day roster, could be used in that capacity during the season's early months.

Mets starters logged the most innings in the NL last season (1,002.2), notching the fourth-lowest ERA (3.44), third-lowest WHIP (1.15) and third-lowest opponent average (.248) in the league as well.

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