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.
Jacob deGrom has reportedly told the Rangers that he's interested in signing with them, per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/QZpQqMdXtr
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 10, 2022
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.