While the Mets would love to re-sign Jacob deGrom, one team could completely spoil their offseason.
Things are not shaping up well for the New York Mets early on in free agency whispers. Jacob deGrom, who opted out of his deal, reportedly would be open to returning to the Mets, but he has the agency to pursue options with other teams.
Apparently, he’s already dropping hints to other franchises that he’d be open to striking a deal with them.
Is it just to drive his price in New York up, or does he really want out?
Rangers and Jacob deGrom are mutually interested
The Texas Rangers and Jacob deGrom have mutual interest according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
“Jacob deGrom has let the Rangers know he is interested in them (as well as presumably the Mets and perhaps others), but Carlos Rodon may be a better fit for Texas ultimately.
The Rangers likely are still a year or two away from contending, and Rodon at 30 may work better than deGrom at 34. Rodon will have a bigger market — since deGrom is expected to seek $40 million plus, which will limit his field. Texas is expected to pursue all the best starters, and will likely sign multiple starters even after acquiring Jake Odorizzi in trade. Rangers baseball president Chris Young suggested they are considering all viable starters, including the top guys.”
The Rangers spent big last offseason and it didn’t exactly pay off. The additions of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager were not enough to get them to the postseason. They didn’t have great starting pitching and put up the ninth-worst ERA in the MLB, fourth-worst in the MLB.
deGrom in 11 starts this season had a 3.08 ERA which would have been the second-best on the Rangers staff in 2022.
As Heyman mentions, Carlos Rodon may be the better and more affordable fit, but the Rangers are expected to spend big dollars around pitching and could be a force next year if they do so. An ace like deGrom could change everything.
For the Mets, this will only drive the price up further if new General Manager Chris Young spends at all like the previous guard in Texas.
Could be a lot of smoke here, but it definitely signals that the Mets won’t have a cakewalk to get deGrom back in Queens.