Matt Harvey: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Regarding SP's Status

The New York Mets elected not to place pitcher Matt Harvey under an innings cap this season, allowing him to pitch into the playoffs, according to ESPN.com's Adam Rubin on Sept. 5. Harvey confirmed on Sept. 6 in the Players' Tribune that he would be available in the postseason. 

Harvey has pitched twice in the postseason, throwing 12.2 innings over two starts in which he posted a 2.84 ERA. He is slated to pitch in a potential Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.

There had been a debate regarding the pitcher's usage between the organization and Scott Boras, Harvey's agent, who advocated for a 180-inning cap, as advised by Dr. James Andrews.

Continue for updates.

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Boras Reportedly Bought Insurance for Harvey

Monday, Oct. 19

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported Boras purchased the insurance during the debate over Harvey's innings limit:

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The insurance is a two-tiered type, with a certain payout if there's a loss of earnings based on a slippage of performance, and a different payout if his promising career ends early.

It isn't known how much Harvey is insured for, though suffice it to say that it couldn't possibly cover the $200-million expectation on his talented right arm should he still be pitching like this when he makes it to free agency three years from now. The policy surely pays only a fraction of his earning potential.

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Harvey Absent from Workouts

Tuesday, Oct. 6

As the team gets ready to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said workouts are mandatory and didn't seem "super thrilled [Harvey] was the only player not to show," per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. 

Harvey said he was "caught in traffic," per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, which caused him to miss the session.

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Harvey Announces He'll Pitch in Playoffs

Sunday, Sept. 6

Speculation on if Harvey would appear in a possible postseason game for the Mets was put to rest on Sunday as Harvey announced he'll pitch in the playoffs, per the Players' Tribune (via Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal):

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Matt Harvey will pitch in the playoffs. http://t.co/DvH0XQBIyJ pic.twitter.com/Z7Jz2DSNc5

— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) September 6, 2015"

Harvey confirmed Andrews informed him of the 180-innings limit on his arm after Tommy John surgery on Saturday, per Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.

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Boras, Alderson at Odds Over Harvey's Innings Limit

Saturday, Sept. 5

"Dr. James Andrews, who performed Harvey's Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22, 2013, has recommended Harvey throw no more than 180 innings this season," Rubin's report stated. "Another expert, Los Angeles Dodgers team doctor Neal ElAttrache, has recommended a cap of 165 to Boras."

However, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Andrews does not always set strict innings caps in players coming off of Tommy John surgery.

"Three rival GMs say Dr. Andrews does not prescribe set limits post-Tommy John. 'He always says to watch and go on a case by case,' one says," according to the report.

However, Rosenthal spoke with Alderson to receive clarity on the situation and noted Alderson said, "Dr. Andrews gave him no absolute limit on Harvey, said there was no need for an absolute limit." 

"Alderson said Andrews talked about avoiding fatigue of season and not disrupting Harvey’s rhythm if he intended to pitch in playoffs," per Rosenthal. Rosenthal finally noted, "Drs. Andrews, [sic] El Attrache, Altchek all disagree on limit," after stating from Alderson that “he didn’t say 180 was the number. He was not categorical at all.”

“I’m sort of caught in the middle of it,” Andrews said on Sept. 4, per Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. “That’s their business. They both know what I’ve said, and I don’t want to get into it. The main thing is to do what’s best for Matt’s career. He really wants to play, and they’re in the playoffs. But it’s their problem.”

The New York Post's Mike Puma reported on Sept. 4 Alderson had chosen not to listen to Boras, or anyone else for that matter as it pertained to Harvey:

Boras, one of the biggest agents in the business, spoke with Heyman about Alderson's decision:

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This is not a dispute between representative and player, and club. This is about a doctor providing expert medical opinion regarding the safety and well being of the player. If the club chooses to violate the ethical standard of the medical opinion, that is strictly their prerogative. I'm not a medical doctor. I don't make these things up.

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Behind Harvey, a stellar pitching staff and the acquisition of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets are flirting with World Series aspirations for the first time since 2006. And it seems management is approaching this with a win-now mentality.

Follow Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) on Twitter. Stats courtesy of MLB.com.