Starting pitcher Jacob deGrom has been one of the highlights in a down season for the Texas Rangers. At 33-36, the team is currently 3.5 games back in the American League wild-card standings.
They are trending toward being sellers at the trade deadline and will face significant questions about the future of the team less than two years after winning a World Series. With the Rangers facing an uncertain future, two MLB insiders discussed the possibility of deGrom leaving and heading back to a familiar place.
Mets Insiders Believe Jacob deGrom Returning Is Extremely Unlikely
New York Mets insiders Joe DeMayo and Connor Rogers discussed the possibility of the Mets trading for deGrom at the deadline. DeMayo believes a return for the franchise ace is unlikely, saying, “I don’t think deGrom has any interest in returning to the Mets again.”
The Rangers are under .500. Could Jacob deGrom be a trade deadline target for the Mets?@ConnorJRogers and @PSLToFlushing answer on The Mets Pod: https://t.co/fHyJ9AbUEu
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The Mets drafted deGrom in the ninth round in 2010 as a small school prospect who only started pitching full time in his junior year of college. He would blossom into arguably the most overpowering arm in baseball. DeGrom made four All-Star teams and won back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019.
However, deGrom left the Mets following the 2022 season and signed a five-year, $185 million deal with the Texas Rangers that includes a no-trade clause. He made just nine starts over the first two years of the deal due to undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career. Still, deGrom has been dominant when healthy with a 2.24 ERA for the team since signing the contract.
DeGrom appears headed to the All-Star Game for the first time as a member of the Rangers. He’s currently 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA. While he isn’t quite the dominating presence he was in New York, he is still one of the elite pitchers in the league.
Another day, another deGromination 👌
With strikeout number 9 on the night, Jacob deGrom sets a new Rangers record with 27 strikeouts in his first 3 starts in Texas!@Rangers | #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/HAEPdpDcLB
— FanDuel Sports Network Southwest (@FanDuelSN_SW) April 12, 2023
He’s averaging 97 mph on his fastball, and while his strikeout rate is down from his career norms, he’s making up for it by missing barrels and limiting hard contact. DeGrom’s signature slider has a positive run value of 8 this season, and opposing hitters are batting just .184 against it with a 37.5 percent whiff rate.
While it would be a great story for many fans if deGrom finished his career with the Mets, he seemed ready to move on in 2022 and acknowledged that part of his career is over. It could be argued the Mets don’t really need deGrom right now, and he would be more of a luxury.
The Mets currently lead MLB with a 2.80 team ERA. There is concern with National League Cy Young front-runner Kodai Senga going on the injured list with a strained hamstring, but Clay Holmes, David Peterson, and Griffin Canning have had excellent seasons.
The Mets also have reinforcements coming off the injured list in Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. That depth makes it unlikely the Mets will pursue a reunion with deGrom, despite how nice it would be for Mets fans to see the ace in their uniform once again.