NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 13: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets pitches during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on September 13, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
Let’s look at the latest Jacob deGrom rumors. Which three teams are the biggest threat to steal the pitcher away from the New York Mets in free agency?
The Jacob deGrom rumors will heat up soon enough. The New York Mets starter and two-time Cy Young Award winner is likely to opt-out of the final year of his contract and enter the free-agent market. Once he does so, deGrom will be as sought-after, if not more so, than Max Scherzer was last offseason.
That spells trouble for the New York Mets. Sure, Steve Cohen has enough money in his coffers to match any price that deGrom can find on the open market. But after being bounced in the Wild Card Round by the San Diego Padres despite having deGrom and Scherzer in the rotation, Cohen may decide rather to add a couple big boppers to the lineup than retain his injury-plagued pitcher.
Jacob deGrom will have his fair share of suitors, and all of them will undoubtedly have to have the financial means to do so. In short, don’t look for the Oakland A’s or Cincinnati Reds to make a play for deGrom. But these three franchises might.
3. Jacob deGrom rumors: Dodgers could sign the 2-time Cy Young winner away from the Mets.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, arguably the most well-run organization in baseball, is always looking to improve. It would not be surprising in the least if the Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman made a play for Jacob deGrom in free agency.
When it comes to financial resources, the Dodgers have it. LA is consistently among the biggest spenders in baseball year in and year out, so money is of little concern to the Dodgers when it comes to signing deGrom away from the Mets.
One also has to look at the state of Los Angeles’ starting rotation. Walker Buehler will miss all of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the trio of Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, and Tyler Anderson will all be free agents. LA’s going to need some fresh arms.
The Dodgers have to be one of the biggest threats to the Mets’ desire to retain deGrom’s services. Keep an eye on LA, especially if the Dodgers fall short of their World Series goal.