New York Mets

New York Mets

New York Mets

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 18: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets reacts after the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Mets ace Jacob deGrom might soon become former Mets ace Jacob deGrom. If Heyman is correct, deGrom has told the Texas Rangers that he is interested in signing with them when free agency begins.

deGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mets, where he would have been paid $63 million.

Over the past couple of years deGrom has had his issues staying healthy. In 2021, deGrom was bothered by elbow and forearm issues that ended his season in July of that year. It was a major blow for the Mets who were in first place at the time, and for deGrom who was on pace to win his third Cy Young Award with an ERA at 1.08 going into July. This past season, deGrom missed more than half the season as he recovered from that same elbow injury.

When he returned, the Mets were in the middle of NL East division title race, and he pitched fairly well upon his return. In his second start back on August 7 against Atlanta, deGrom struck out 12 Braves. deGrom would hit a wall however in September, tossing to an ERA of 4.50 over the season’s final month.

Should he leave the Mets, his final start was a victory in the wild card round of the NL Playoffs against San Diego.

deGrom was the final piece of the Mets now infamous young starting rotation that featured Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Zach Wheeler, and Steven Matz. All have moved on with their careers, or have stumbled since the Mets won the NL Pennant in 2015. Harvey was last seen in Baltimore’s farm system despite battling his own demons from addiction. Matz is on his third team in St. Louis, Syndergaard is on his third team in Philadelphia. Wheeler has enjoyed the most success as the Phillies staff ace.

  • Mets Pitching Problems

    Should Jacob deGrom leave the Mets for the Rangers, or even the Atlanta Braves (another team he’s been linked to), it would create quiet the hole in the Mets rotation. The Mets wanted to have a rotation built around deGrom and Max Scherzer. Now it might just be the aging Scherzer in 2023.

  • Reason for Hope

    There is reason for hope that deGrom will ultimately decide to stay in Queens as GM Billy Eppler has stated there is a common interest between the Mets and their former ace.

  • Mixed reaction from Mets fans

    Some Mets fans are willing (yes, willing) to say good bye to the best pitcher the Mets have had since Doc Gooden. (We’re scratching our heads too).

    https://twitter.com/ChadSnaider/status/1590733508082749440?s=20&t=-1so17OXiyO-Q3fWN3I6nw

  • Other options

    Other fans say losing out on deGrom would open the door to other options.

  • deGrom in a Rangers uniform? What does it look like?

    By the way, the Mets host the Texas Rangers at Citi Field for three games at the end of August next year…

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