Ex-Met: Watching this pitcher could help fix Matt Harvey

Matt Harvey’s demise is a “sad story,” according to a former Mets star pitcher, but it doesn’t have to signal the end of his career.

“I think there is more in there,” Bob Ojeda said Saturday. “His body betrayed him and really deprived him and us of what could have been a long, electric career. But his body, if healthy, I think he can still pitch.”

The 29-year-old Harvey was designated for assignment by the Mets on Saturday, a day after he refused to accept a demotion to the minor leagues. The onetime phenom will now wait to learn his fate, as the Mets have seven days to trade or release him.

In eight appearances for the Mets this season, four of which came in relief, Harvey was 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA.

Ojeda, a key member of the Mets’ last World Series winning team in 1986, suggested Harvey, who two years ago underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, use his down time to reevaluate how he plans to proceed as a pitcher. Gone are the days of Harvey blowing away opponents with 97-mph heat, but even at 92-94 mph, Ojeda says he can succeed.

“He needs to look at Jacob deGrom films,” Ojeda said. “Jacob deGrom doesn’t run every pitch up there 97, 98 mph. He can throw that hard, but he pitches. High-and-tight, low-and-away has worked for 150 years and that is what Jacob does.

“Matt can get there, but it’s not a switch you just flip. It’s not going to happen overnight, but I do have faith it can happen because that is a big, strong body and as long as it’s healthy it’s hard to give up on him.”

After a dismal 2017 season in which he posted a 6.70 ERA, Harvey was tendered a contract for $5.63 million, which might seem like wasted money, but Ojeda says the Mets can be defended for taking the gamble.

“Nobody wanted to see what we were seeing,” Ojeda said. “Nobody wanted to believe what we were seeing. It was like a freight train slowing down and took forever for people to believe that this is not good. I think there was concern somebody would grab him and he would show what he showed us in 2015, so I think it was protection and maybe it was a bit of loyalty, because of this guy, what he did in that 2013 season was amazing.”

The Rangers, who employ former Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen, could be a fit for Harvey.

“Go somewhere where there is not any pressure to be anything,” Ojeda said. “I don’t think he could ever shake the pressure of who he is in this town.”

Most of all, Ojeda says Harvey needs to finish his career on his own terms.

“Getting kicked out sucks,” Ojeda said. “Come back and have some success and get this taste out of his mouth because the human being underneath that uniform feels like garbage. He’s home right now like me and that sucks.”

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