Jacob deGrom has hit another key marker in his injury recovery, as Mets GM Billy Eppler and manager Buck Showalter told reporters (including Deesha Thosar of The New York Daily News) that deGrom will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday with the Mets’ low-A affiliate. DeGrom is slated to toss two innings and roughly 25 pitches.
It will mark deGrom’s first official game action of any kind in almost a full year, as the former NL Cy Young Award winner tossed seven innings against the Brewers on July 7, 2021 before forearm problems prematurely ended his 2021 season. During Spring Training, deGrom was then set back by a stress reaction in his right shoulder, again keeping the ace on the sidelines.
Given the long layoff, deGrom has been slowly brought along, and that timeline won’t change now that he has embarked on his rehab assignment. Eppler compared deGrom’s planned workload for Sunday’s game to what would be expected from a pitcher in his first Spring Training outing, and the Mets plan to be fluid with deGrom’s schedule going forward (i.e. he might not pitch every five days). Even if all goes well, this elongated timeline means that deGrom will surely still be on the injured list until after the All-Star break, and he might not be fully ready to return to the big leagues until early in August.
Still, there does appear to be some light at the end of what has surely been a frustrating tunnel for deGrom. While the Mets are still in first place in the NL East even without their longtime ace (and other key players like Max Scherzer for long portions of the season), the Braves have moved to within 3.5 games of the division lead, and the Phillies have played much better baseball over the last month. Beyond just the NL East, the Mets will surely need their rotation in top form if they hope to continue their strong play into the postseason and then contend for a World Series title.
Given how aggressive the Mets were in the offseason, starting pitching is probably on the team’s deadline checklist even if deGrom progresses well in his rehab. At full strength, New York’s first-choice rotation of deGrom, Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker is among the best in the league, but health is certainly no guarantee. Eppler told Thosar and other media members that he is open to all possibilities at the deadline, and that owner Steve Cohen has no issue continuing to spend big in the right situation.
Gonna be a fun second half of baseball.
Who do the Mets get at the deadline?
Jack Parkman
Only a few get it. Good one my friend.
Why not Rube?? All he needs is some good reading material. I’m sure the Mets will cover up any complaints made by their female employees in regards to Rube’s literature of choice.
Think the sheep miss him.
Sidd Finch
Tuuu Timp (one for the real heads)
DeGrom won’t last long once he reaches the major league level. Notice how when he started throwing harder, injuries became non-stop ever since.
DeGrom is a better version of Rich Harden.
Great stuff, can’t stay healthy.
I get the idea of comparing deGrom to Harden, but I don’t really think it’s apt. deGrom has already thrown 300 more innings than Harden and has twice as much WAR. Prior to 2021, deGrom really didn’t have much in the way of injuries (he had TJ surgery three years before joining the big leagues). Four of his first six seasons, he threw over 190 innings, which is something Harden never did.
It doesn’t fit their narrative so they ignore the truth and will keep it up.
Well they did say that deGrom was a “better version of”… so I once played SS in softball. Ozzie Smith was a “better version” of me.
Was hoping the Mets could end up with JD Martinez but with the Sox playing great ball lately I would think he’s staying put.
Give me a hitter, a top end reliever, another pitcher that can start plus relieve and hopefully that gets us to October.
When was the last time a team acquired a bat like Martinez, a top end reliever, a starter and another reliever mid season? …….and refuse to give up any top prospects which Cohen and co seem to be clear about.
Maybe if the Mets took on the $37M owed to Heyward and Hendricks for 2023 the Cubs might consider sending them along with free agent to be Contreras, and aging but effective relievers Robertson and Givens for less than top tier prospects.
Hopefully deGrom keeps his arm nice and healthy for 2023. He will look great in the Braves rotation.
AA doesn’t have the resources to outbid the teams that will be interested in deGrom or Swanson for that matter. Braves need a SS plan.
Swanson is the Braves best hitter and player. I want to say he will stay…. but then again so was Freeman and he left.
….and he’s a Georgia guy, he belongs in Atlanta, but he’s a great fit for the Phillies or Dodgers if Turner leaves. Imagine Freeman and Swanson in LA?
If the Braves make it to the postseason this season and then fail to bring back Swanson, then they deserve all the backlash they get. Unless of course, they sign Turner instead.
Braves to sign Adrelton Simmons
Just to say they “tried”
The need another starter, maybe two. I don’t see Jake throwing more than 5-6 innings a start they are going to be very careful with him.
uh-oh! The Mets are starting to remember they’re the Mets
The very fact that, with two HOF caliber pitchers down, they are only just hitting their first patch of less than dominance, and this causes you to gloat, says it all. Take your victories where you can, I guess.
Amen Cosmo
Please, please, please let me get what I want
Great song
Lord knows it would be the first time.
Under Pressure The Mets NL East lead has been reduced to 2.5 Games with Carrasco on the Mound Today. The Braves appear closer in the Rear View Mirror and are closing Fast.
Where is Von Purple Hayes LOL?
Really too bad to see that deGrom didn’t strike out all 6 batters. Doesn’t seem like he’s in top form yet.