The Rangers have made their huge rotation splash, announcing agreement with Jacob deGrom on a five-year contract. It’s a reported $185MM guarantee, and the deal also includes a full no-trade clause. The VC Sports Group client will make $30MM next season, followed by successive $40MM salaries in 2024-25, $38MM in 2026 and $37MM in 2027.
The contract also contains a conditional option for the 2028 campaign, with salaries dependent on the health of deGrom’s arm over the first four seasons. If the hurler undergoes Tommy John surgery or suffers any elbow or shoulder injury that leads to a 130-day injured list stint within a season or a full calendar year absence over multiple campaigns, a club option would kick in. That’d be valued at $20MM, but it’d jump to $30MM if deGrom posts a top-five Cy Young finish at any point during the deal or tallied a cumulative 625 innings over the next five seasons. It’d go to $37MM if he pitches 725-plus frames or secures three top-five Cy Young finishes.
If deGrom doesn’t suffer the kind of injury that’d trigger the conditional provision, he could vest the 2028 option at $37MM by pitching 160+ innings in ’27 and securing a top-five Cy Young finish. In that case, he’d only need to pass a postseason physical to max out the contract at $222MM over six seasons.
“We are thrilled that Jacob deGrom has decided to become a Texas Ranger,” general manager Chris Young said in the press release. “Over a number of seasons, Jacob has been a standout Major League pitcher, and he gives us a dominant performer at the top of our rotation. One of our primary goals this off-season is to strengthen our starting pitching, and we are adding one of the best.”
It’s the biggest move of the offseason to date and the latest massive free agent strike out of Arlington. The Rangers committed more than a half-billion dollars to the trio of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray last winter. That was designed to lay the foundation for a full-fledged return to contention in 2023. The Rangers didn’t see their desired steps forward from a win-loss perspective in 2022, largely because of a lackluster rotation behind Gray and Martín Pérez. Texas has suggested they were prepared to attack the top of the market to fortify the biggest weak point on the roster. They’ve done so with a shocking five-year deal for arguably the sport’s best pitcher.
deGrom is one of the most accomplished arms of his generation. While he fell to the ninth round of the 2010 draft and didn’t reach the majors until just shy of his 26th birthday in 2014, he immediately cemented himself as one of the game’s top pitchers. deGrom worked to a 2.69 ERA in his first 22 starts to secure the NL Rookie of the Year award and kick off a career as one of the league’s top hurlers.
The righty posted an ERA between 2.54 and 3.53 in each of the next three seasons, twice receiving down-ballot Cy Young support. Already a borderline ace, he took his game to new heights in 2018. deGrom twirled 217 innings with an MLB-best 1.70 ERA to secure his first Cy Young. The Mets inked him to a $120.5MM extension after that season. He followed up by repeating as the Senior Circuit’s best pitcher, claiming a second Cy Young with a 2.43 mark over 204 innings. He had another dominant season in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, and got off to one of the greatest first halves in history in ’21.
Through his first 15 starts that year, the four-time All-Star posted a microscopic 1.08 ERA while striking out an incredible 45.1% of opposing hitters. He was nagged by some minor health issues throughout the first few months, and that culminated in an injured list stint for forearm tightness right around the All-Star Break. While that wasn’t initially expected to lead to an extended absence, deGrom would wind up missing the remainder of the season. That September, New York president Sandy Alderson said deGrom had been dealing with a low-grade tear in his UCL, an eyebrow-raising assertion considering the right-hander had undergone Tommy John surgery before making his MLB debut. The pitcher refuted that, calling his ligament “perfectly fine.”
After a full offseason, deGrom was expected to return in 2022. Late in Spring Training, he felt some soreness during a between-starts throwing program. He was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his scapula and shut back down, and the injury wound up costing him the first four months of this past season. By the time he returned to the mound in early August, more than a full calendar year had gone by.
With that kind of layoff, one might’ve expected deGrom to show some signs of rust. Instead, he returned as his peak self, immediately dominating opponents yet again. The Stetson product averaged an absurd 98.9 MPH on his fastball and 92.6 MPH on the cutter/slider that serves as his go-to secondary offering. He struck out 42.7% of opponents against a minuscule 3.3% walk percentage. Opposing hitters swung and missed at 21.1% of his total pitches; no other starting pitcher with 50+ innings had a swinging strike rate above 17%. He struck out eight over six innings during his lone playoff start against San Diego.
A three-homer outing in Atlanta to end his season kicked deGrom’s ERA up to 3.08 in his abbreviated season, but there’s little doubt he’s still capable of performing at his top level if healthy. No pitcher on the planet is as dominant as deGrom on a per-start basis. He predictably opted out of the final $32.5MM on his deal with the Mets at the end of the season.
High-upside as this signing can be for the Rangers, there’s certainly plenty of risk in this kind of commitment to a pitcher who lost significant chunks of the past two seasons with arm issues. He’s worked just 162 1/3 innings (including playoffs) since the start of 2021. While deGrom had no control of the prorated season in 2020, he’ll still be expected to shoulder a full rotation workload despite having tossed just 224 1/3 cumulative innings over the last three years.
deGrom turns 35 years old in June. There’s no indication he’s on the verge of any performance regression. Texas’ commitment runs through his age-39 campaign, and there’s the potential for the deal to go sideways if his form tails off later into his 30’s. Now-former teammate Max Scherzer and fellow top free agent Justin Verlander have shown it’s not of the question for a pitcher to remain at peak form as he approaches 40. Neither Scherzer nor Verlander had dealt with the kind of injuries in their mid-30’s that have plagued deGrom, though.
The $185MM guarantee significantly tops MLBTR’s three-year, $135MM prediction at the start of the offseason. It’s the sixth-largest deal for a free agent pitcher in MLB history, trailing those of Gerrit Cole ($324MM), Stephen Strasburg ($245MM), David Price ($217MM), Scherzer ($210MM with the Nationals) and Zack Greinke ($206.5MM). The deal contains a $37MM average annual value that ranks second among any deal in big league history. Only Scherzer’s three-year pact with the Mets — which came out to $43.333MM per season — is higher.
Next year’s $30MM salary will bring Texas’ projected 2023 payroll commitments to around $170MM. That’d be a franchise-record tally for the Rangers, but there’s no indication the organization is planning to curtail spending any time soon. Owner Ray Davis and Young have each indicated there’s room for the club to be active on the open market, and there’s still plenty of work to be done in turning their 68-win roster into a contender in a difficult AL West. Young and skipper Bruce Bochy are each headed into their first full season at the helm, and they’ll expect to break a six-year playoff drought.
deGrom goes to the top of a rotation that brings back Gray and Pérez, who accepted a qualifying offer. The Rangers acquired Jake Odorizzi from the Braves at the start of the offseason, and Dane Dunning is a decent back-of-the-rotation arm. That’s a viable starting five, but the team’s rotation depth is still lacking and they could add another arm from outside the organization. The infield and catcher are in strong shape. Adolis García is the only outfielder who’s guaranteed everyday reps, leaving two spots that could be addressed, and the team figures to add at least one reliever.
The contract contains a $37MM luxury tax hit. The average annual values of a team’s commitments are relevant for competitive balance tax purposes. Signing deGrom brings Texas around $192MM in estimated CBT figures, per Roster Resource, leaving them around $40MM shy of the lowest $233MM threshold.
The Mets will have to rapidly turn the page, bidding farewell to one of the best pitchers in franchise history. New York has also seen Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker and Trevor Williams hit free agency. They’re sure to add to a starting staff led by Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco. Free agency offers a pair of remaining aces in Verlander and Carlos Rodón, and the big-spending Mets have previously been tied to both pitchers. Losing deGrom only figures to increase their urgency to bring in one of those two hurlers, and they’ll need to retain or replace free agent center fielder Brandon Nimmo.
New York receives modest compensation for deGrom’s departure. The team made him a qualifying offer at the start of the offseason, which he rejected. As a team that paid the luxury tax in 2022, New York receives the lowest compensation: a pick after the fourth round of next year’s amateur draft. The Rangers neither paid the luxury tax nor received revenue sharing this year. They’ll therefore surrender their second-highest pick in next year’s draft and forfeit $500K in international signing bonus space. Should they sign another qualified free agent this offseason — both Seager and Semien had turned down a QO last winter — they’d be stripped of their third-highest selection.
Jeff Passan of ESPN was first to report deGrom received a $185MM guarantee, and that the deal contained a conditional sixth-year option that could push its value to $222MM. Levi Weaver of the Athletic reported the yearly salary terms. Ronald Blum of the Associated Press reported the details of the 2028 option.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
And it begins!!
Hope he holds up for Texas.
And I actually had him going there in the FA Contest. Oh boy, oh boy.
Yes finally got one right.
Me too! I just didn’t think it would be for so much money, and I was recently starting to doubt my choice. Oh boy glad I stuck with it
No idea where I had him. Yankees I think.
I also had him going to Texas
Me too.
I had him go to the Yanks, but I switched mine like two days ago.
Thanks,Tim, for letting me switch some picks around after the contest closed! You’re the best!
Yankee clipper — I was here when you started The Viral!
Pete..I too had him going to Texas, I had to double check, for some reason I thought I put him to the Braves ha
No one wants to go to the yanks lol
It’s good to know you have one in the pocket.
Yankee Clipper, man I had faith in you brother; What do they say about changing horses in midstream? OH! Ye of little faith!
So did I!
No one cares
Holy cow! Who thought deGrom would get a 5 year pact!!! Texas is going all in to put together a winner in Arlington. While this might not be the smartest deal, hats off to Texas for going for it. More teams should follow suit.
We will get back to you in 4 years to see how well “going for it” worked out. Texas will be a very expensive team in 5 years. That’s the only guaranteed outcome.
Dorothy_Mantooth;
It’s only a matter of time before the Rangers situation blows up in their face.
Teams thinking about doing that need to wait and watch. There will be a large price to pay for years.
@ Samuel
Got to agree – the salaries and lengths given to Semien & Seager were generous – and this for De Grom seems lunacy.
Anyone taking the over 75 for starts in the five years of the contract?
Peter in London
More teams should throw stupid money at players to finish in 3rd place? I’ll pass. This also means that Texas is going to have 100+m in dead money on their books when this inevitably doesn’t work out and they need to blow it up.
Probably should have kept that nugget quiet.
Yeppers
Some serious glass half-full people here.
It’s a risk but that’s business… and life.
At the very least , the Rangers are showing they are a legitimate franchise. It’s been awhile.
Good for them. I’ll go see them when they’re in town.
I dunno. Seems like the Rangers have now set another obscene standard for salaries. I guess it shows that the owners are making obscene profits. No surprise, but this kind of spending really hurts a majority of MLB teams.
No trade clause?, He’ll be asking for a trade in two years!!
John Daniels. From Arlington to Tampa Bay. Dude’s gotta feel like he’s died and gone to heaven. LOL.
More teams should follow suit and spend a bunch and still likely miss the playoffs? Why would any smart fan think that’s a good thing? Not smart that’s why.
Well, they aren’t going into this thinking they’ll miss the playoffs for starters.
And second, moves like this go beyond wins and losses.
@A’sfaninLondonUK Only disagree on Semien. By rWAR he was the most valuable player in baseball 2019-2021 and iirc 2018-2021 as well. He is as durable a player as there is in the game—and did it again in 2022, playing 161 games—coming off a season where he was a GG 2Bman despite being new to the position, who also hit 45 HR there while learning the other side of the keystone.
He was signed for his age 31 season, on, as Judge will be, and as an aside I would much rather have his deal of 7/175m, than Judge’s. Cheers,
You need to draft and develop your own guys before making big splashy expensive moves should be made.
You can’t do one before the other and expect success.
Guardians were a close runner-up for DeGrom’s services.
Woezers
Pain.
Doubtful
The writing was on the wall for him after Tampa Bay signed Zach Eflin. deGrom’s market really dried up.
Woncer what the folks at baseball today will think about this?
How close?
Now between him and Gray Texas can get a full 32 starts combined.
You exaggerate. It won’t be that many.
Nailed it! Based on deGrom’s track record, it’s about $1.9m per start. With all due respect to Yackov Smirnoff, what a country!
In America you throw ball. In Russia ball thross you.
I think he meant over the life of their contracts.
TEXAS HOLDUP!!!
Imagine what Shane Bieber gets in trade right now.
Do it Guardians.
Texas had Six Flags amusement park and that’s why they got Degrom
There’s one in New Jersey.
VonPurpleHayes,
I have been to the Six Flags in Both Arlington and Jackson NJ and you are so right.
Probably Phillies breathing a bit easier now that Degrom has left the NL East.
I would have fold ‘em rather than hold ‘em with deGrom lol
As a Giants fan, seeing a contract like this makes me wonder if some more of the same may come from the Giants offering crazy dollars to Judge that not even the Yankees will touch. 9th year, 40 million range for 360 million? Yikes.
Let’s hope they do. I want them to have that terrible contract for as long as possible.
Balk — Also a Giants fan, and I’m hoping they don’t do that; it would cripple the team long term. That money needs to be spread around: Rodon, Correa and Nimmo.
You won’t get Rodon, Correa, and Nimmo for $40M/yr.
No, of course not. That’s not what I meant. I just think the Giants could use their considerable pockets to land those three, thus really improving the team.
The cost? I’d say Corrrea ($31M/annually), Rodon ($28M/annually) and Nimmo ($21M/annually) = $80M/annually. A lot for three of 26 players, but well worth it. Maybe Haniger ($13M) and Senga ($15M) instead of Nimmo and Rodon = $59M total with Correa. Giants can afford that.
Pete…I agree! They need youthful contracts.
Yay
Feels like a Strasburg coming on.
Texas spent half a billion on two guys last season to reach 68 wins. Another $185m should see them to .500. Angel’s have the two best players in the world and won 73. If they get a little pitching they could see .500 as well. They’ll be battling for 3rd place again.
Feels like they’d have been better off signing 2 or 3 really good younger, less risky pitchers for the same money. This deal is so boom or bust.
At least the Rangers are doing all they can to win now. It would be nice to get out from Houston’s shadow.
Look at pythagorean win loss record. of 77 wins: baseball-reference.com/teams/TEX/2022.shtml. Add 8 from DeGrom and Odorizzi plus Jung at third and maybe an outfielder/top starter via trade and they are close to 90. Bochy is a much better manager who can even outperform pythag.
Sure. 2 or 3 younger guys who can’t touch deGrom’s boot heels. I applaud their guts in going after the guy. IAs a Cub fan, I wish Ricketts had the hair on his sack to make a move like this.
Halos going all the way this year!
They will not. It’s not like TX had one opening in the rotation, they’d be better off filling that out so they have competent ML pitchers going each day, rather than deGrom (hopefully) going every 5 + 1.5 other decent pitchers, then whatever else they cobble together.
If deGrom consistently took the mound, you might have a point, but he doesn’t so you don’t. The best pitcher in the world doesn’t help his team from the DL.
What 2-3 really good, younger, less risky players are available in the $10-17m range(that’ll combine for what degrom does)? There aren’t many, if any
flamingbagofpoop;
You are absolutely right. As the saying goes, the best ability a player can have is availability.
Taillon, Walker & Bassitt
Add Manaea and Wacha in here and pick 2 or 3.
I think Jake will show up every year for two years and then fall off a good bit.
Yeah this is a terrible contract!
Corey Kluber II
And let me check. Um yep. Yeah he still turns 35 this coming season. Giving an already oft injured mid-30s pitcher a 5 year contract makes my dogs ass itch.
This probably moves Texas into third past Anaheim in pre-season division projections. But the reality is that this is likely to either be a big improvement or a complete bust. If deGrom can stay healthy enough to pitch 25 starts a year, Texas has a real gem. Watching deGrom pitch is a joy. But only a big spender could take this risk.
My prediction was that he returned to Mets. Missed that one.
Me too MBM – I also had him re-signing with the Mets. I figured they wouldn’t get outbid. Maybe they didn’t want to go 5 years? If so, can’t really blame them. And to think he was a shortstop in college!
Seriously can’t imagine giving him 5 years….. or 37 mil for a someone who will maybe pitch 120 innings in a good year
It’s been 2 straight years of injury. Perhaps related somehow. It’s full of all kinds of risk but also all kinds of ACE. I understand the deal well. It will likely either be a really good deal or really bad one. But Degrom is as elite as they come and Texas has always needed a really good pitcher to put up top in rotation.
Should say it will likely be solid deal or a deal they wish they didn’t make. There is not really a great deal when you are paying this much.
Wow, I didn’t think degrom was going to leave the Mets. I’m glad for the Rangers they will be getting a terrific pitcher. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and play well for the Rangers. It looks like a good signing by the Rangers. Great job.
A star hits free agency , almost never re signs . Like twice in history maybe.
Off the top of my head: Realmuto. Jeter.
Jansen and DJLM and Jose Abreu (I think) if you consider them stars
I feel like if Verlander falls in stamina year theee he would make a heckuva closer
Lol, the 40M closer..?
Err how many times have/did Wainwright & Molina reach FA? Virtually everyone at SF (with the exception of Bumgarner) resigned. King Felix, Ichiro at Seattle…. Appreciate (@stats) what you consider as stars….
PiL
Kershaw… will make it twice in two years/history
This was meant in reply to smt else, the app has been glitchy for comments as of late
Yes a new era.
Start for 2 more years and close for 5. 300 wins and 250 saves. Sounds good.
If he gets 100 starts in 5 years it’ll be worth it….. but I’ll take the under
That’s exactly the amount of starts I was thinking makes this about worthwhile. We’ll see I guess.
I’d say he’ll be right there around that 100 start mark.
DeGone!
He’s no dummy. NY taxes versus TX taxes
The Rangers are the dummies giving him that contract. Mets and Yankees aren’t that dumb.
Dallas over NY for countless more reasons than taxes.
This is definitely a boom or bust contract, but regardless the man escaped from NY
Just out of curiosity, how many players from both franchises remain full time in NYC to raise a family, etc after their careers end?
I’m guessing not a high percentage.
Safer in Fallujah
That is ridiculous. Texas has the third most mass shootings of any state in the USA in 2022 (129 and counting). NYC is not less safe, by any means.
Mass shootings per state? Ok, that’s how you figure out what city is safer, I guess.
That is the most flawed and manipulated stat I’ve ever heard. Those 129 mass shootings include murder-suicide, 2 or more people with guns firing at each other. NY is by far and away more dangerous and its ran by criminals.
Why do people make this argument all the time, like it’s the only consideration players have? Some people actually like living in New York regardless of the taxes.
I’m sure it all balances out in the end. We don’t have state income taxes, but incredibly high property taxes, especially in dfw
I dont think it does though. Texas is a middle/low tax state overall. New York is literally the highest.
ChiSox,
As a Former South Sider & NYC dweller who knew the Veeck Family I have to Agree.
The Rats be Deserting the Sinking Ship
Caveat Emptor. I wish them well.
I really hope he stays healthy and pitches great for the Rangers, but based on getting another year older, not so good starts later in the year last year and his history of injuries this has all the makings for a horrible signing.
TEX should sign Rodon now. They got the two big bats last offseason and should now get their two big arms.
Wow.
Wow
Wow wow
Wow.
Wheeeeeeeeeee!
wow wheeee!
that’s a ton of cash for a guy who won’t make it to the postseason.
And if he does?
Wowser
And MUCH. Healer payrolls.
Bow Wow
WOW!
Congratulations Texas. I hope he stays healthy.
Glad he’s not in the NL east anymore! Lol
Yes me too, but I have a feeling we’ll have to deal with Rodon now. Not nearly as scary though.
It’s probably going to take 200 mil to sign Rodon. Boras has even more leverage now.
As a Phillies fan I hope the Mets blow their wad on JV. He looked like a shell of himself in the playoffs.
The Fightin’s need not worry because the LOLmets blew out their pitching budget by giving it all to Edwin Diaz.
As a Mets fan I understand where your coming from, I rather have Rodon at 5 for 148.
That would probably get it done. Wouldn’t surprise me if they get both Rodon and JV.
@Chucky Diaz is making like $18 a year while Degrom looks like he is going to get double that a year. You joke but the Mets are not done spending and they are getting a starter.
Cohen’s Wallet,
The Mets need to stop dumping $ on over the Hill aging Players. Level the Roster and Rebuild and clean out the FO from Wilpon holdovers. The Farm System needs to be reconstructed so that Mets can develop the Team the right way from the Bottom Up.
Robrock
The Mets are really trying to emulate the Dodgers formula of spending till the farm produces. The Dodgers success since that system was put in place is 2nd to none. I believe the Dodgers showed everyone there’s more than just one way to do things.
Cohen’s Wallet,
The Game has Changed. By signing the FAs with the QO for Luxury Tax Teams the penalties are severe. The Mets were a distressed asset when Cohen purchased the Team. I disagreed strongly with him bringing Alderson back who has done nothing but fubar everything. The way forward is to expunge, hire new FO and rebuild the farm system the right way like the Astros have done from the bottom up.
I really wasn’t expecting DeGrom. I thought his price would be unrealistic. Rodon felt like best case scenario for us. Now to swing a big time trade.
It is unralistic for any GM with any brains.
Um ok. Great deal.
A GM or PBO has the responsibility to reign in a profligate, unmoored, high on his own supply owner such as we see in Texas with this contract. Chris Young’s job was to say, “whoah Nellie, gimme the keys, you have consumed too much tonight. That contract you wish to put forward is fraught with existential financial risk and is otherwise unsound, unwise, and bat-s&it crazy to be honest.” Chris Young you failed in your job, and this does not portend well for the future success of the Rangers franchise sorry not sorry.
No, the job of the GM is to carefully explain the risk and opportunity cost, give prudent advise, and then to let the owner decide putting on a happy face on public. That is how every team decides nine figure contracts
Yeah you would think that’s how things should run in a rational, normal, theoretical front office but I’m postulating here that there is dysfunction and financial malpractice running amok, because this contract is just so daffy and ill-advised in my purview.
Woah!!
WHAT??????
Woah
Holy moly, I didn’t think he’d get that fifth year. I guess he had to take “only” $37M a year instead of $40M+ but wow
he knows he’s not going to pitch in that last year
Holy crap
The Metropolitans dropped the ball wtf.
That is a lot of money and years, so I’m not too sure it’s a bad thing they didn’t sign him.
No free agent in his position would or ever has chosen to go to the Mets unless their offer is quite clearly better. There are teams that get things like a “hometown discount” or the like. The Mets are not one of them. DeGrom was even on the record as disliking playing for the Mets…
They did not want to destroy the Rangers offer so, they didn’t get him.
“DeGrom was even on the record as disliking playing for the Mets…”
No, he absolutely was not. If you’re going to hate the Mets, there are plenty of factual reasons for you to do so (which I say as a fan). You don’t have to make things up out of thin air.
Sources please?
Steven Cohen-pon!
😛
I think they dodged a bullet. DeGrom won’t last that contract, not with his injury history. I’m glad he is out of the NL East, but I think it’s a win for the Mets too.
wow 37 per, I thought he’d get more
MORE ?? Yowza!
Actually so did I. I guessed three years for Jacob from Mets at 43 per year like Scherzer. And three years for Justin at 43 per year from Dodgers or 43 per year for two years from Houston
No state income tax in Texas so it is more.
That does help but players pay state tax by where the games are played. Games against A’s, Angels, and Mariners are high taxes. Games Against the Astro will help offset it.
@Williemays Yea no matter where Degrom went to it would have been a better tax situation than playing in New York City. Legit one of the heaviest tax states and cities on top of being one of the most expensive cities to live in the world
The way I understand it, for example, a player lives in California but plays in Detroit. He not only has to pay California state taxes, he also has to pay taxes in Michigan for the time he was employed there.
@williemaysfield: No state tax in Washington either, FWIW.
Don’t you bring my Angels into this!!!!!!
I’m warning you.
We have no state income tax in Washington.
Four4fore;
Texas has high property taxes to run their state government agencies.
Unless Mr. deGrom and his family sleep in the Rangers locker room, it doesn’t matter whether he buys or rents……he’s going to pay.
P.S. A friend of mine sold his house in Houston and moved to Tennessee because his property tax payments were higher than his mortgage.
When your income is this high you’d rather have higher property taxes than Income. Unless he lives in a 40 million dollar home. Which is highly unlikely.
It’s still cheaper than New York, that was his point.
When you’re making that kind of money, real estate taxes are just noise. And I thought that he lives in Florida.
But it totally believe your friends story.
Most people don’t make 10x in yearly salary what their home is worth. DeGrom is a rare exception. He can go rent a place in Texas for a couple years and be better off if he doesn’t want to lay down anything permanent.
There is no state property tax. Our property taxes are high, but they go to the city, county, school district, and county hospital district.
Like somebody else already said, the property taxes he’ll pay will be a fraction of the income tax he’d pay in other states.
Folks are funny talking about taxes for players making this much money. Whether you pay state tax or not for your 81 home games, makes zero difference in terms of quality of life.
…and if someone is all about the $, the contract value & AAV are the headline numbers that everyone sees and talks about, not his net pay.
Exactly. I would say location, proximity to family and friends, teammates, and climate are a lot more important than state taxes to a ballplayer.
Several pundits had him eclipsing Max’s record by several million. Clemens, a writer for Fangraphs, had him receiving $47MM/3 years.
Yeah, but 5 years?
No way!! That’s like predicting the Pirates to win the WS in ‘23.
6y $222m if you include the option. Wow!!
It’s crazy how the Pirates won 97 games in 2015. They fell off so fast. They had Cole and Mustgrove. Not even sure if they have anyone from those trades. Or if they even worked out.
I didn’t even realize Musgrove and Cole were traded for each other.
Ahem, Clipper…
If he somehow pitches enough to get that option then it will be a steal for the Rangers.
Sorry, freshwind, first thing that came to mind. You’re a good egg, no offense intended.
It’s all good.
I am sure five years at 185 sounds better than three years at 129
@Logjammer. The Pirates got Musgrove and three others for Cole. The others were all eventually released. Trained Musgrove for Endy Rodriguez, David Bednard and a couple of other players in a three team deal.
Yes,amazing how fast they went from contending to bottom dwellers.
Setting the market.
For who? The next best pitcher in baseball that’s his age with health concerns? Going to be hard for a comp to come around while this number is still relevant.
I think it means Justin gets three years minimum and Rodon gets five years minimum.
While each has unique circumstances, they are only so many aces to be drawn
For all starting pitchers. Get your head out of the sand.
So all other pitchers even if they aren’t as good as DeGrom or the same age or a year apart and or the same injury history. Interesting. I disagree but appreciate your opinion.
No. And that’s not what I said nor what I implied. Fallacies like yours denigrate conversation.
I asked… “For who?” You replied… “For all starting pitchers. Get your head out of the sand.” Sounds like you need to take your own advice.
A rising tide floats all boat. DeGrom getting that kind of money and especially years raises up what everyone after him gets a little bit.
Grow up. If you don’t think that a big contract sets the stage for other FAs to sign big contracts, you are either stupid or lying.
Meanwhile, the deGrom contract set the stage for not only pitchers like Verlander at 3/$87MM but for position players too, e.g. Turner for 11/$300MM
SMH, what are the Mets going to do????
Sign two solid starters instead of one with questions about durability? And bring back Brandon Nimmo? And still be better than the O’s?
barely better
Best screen name of the week, +10
Sign Verlander
Mets will be just fine, and arguably even better.
Too early to say anything, want to see what Mets, Atlanta and your Phils do. This is just the beginning.
When you lose 60% of your starting pitching, you are not better. They have some humongous holes to fill.
@Pads Fans AND they have to do it when the FA market is not on their side. Elite pitching is almost non-existent, and will be extremely expensive. Bullpen arms that are more than fodder have been going for astronomical prices. As for CF, after Nimmo there’s nothing.
If payroll is ‘only’ $300m, the Mets will go into the 2023 season a solid 3rd behind Atlanta and Philly.
When they stop panicking, they will pivot to overpaying Rodon or Senga.
The Mets only got 11 starts out of Degrom and won 101 games so it doesn’t make them as bad off as public perception.
I guessed it right!
Mets could’ve easily signed him if they didn’t want to pay a late 30s Scherzer so much. Cohen is the Wilpons with money
I can’t imagine the Mets giving that contract to deGrom regardless of the Scherzer deal.
@amk1920 Exactly what I’ve thought, along with “don’t these guys have a whiteboard?”
How could the FO have been this unawares that they’d be in serious trouble heading into the 2023 season if they built a team that would depart en masse after 2022?
The desperation for Lindor, to make a splash at a position the Mets had well covered while having holes elsewhere all over the roster, and despite Lindor having been in decline in 2019 then 2020, was even worse than the Scherzer deal.
Jack;
You hit it solidly on the head.
I think the Lindor deal and subsequent contract soured the players on the club that worked so hard for so long to make that team as competitive as possible. One by one they seem to be playing out their options.
That trade was pivotal for Cleveland.
I wasn’t even a fan of the Lindor trade or extension but really? Lindor was declining? He had a rough 2020 (as lots of people did) but his 2019 slash line was .284/.335/.518 with 32 homers and 22 steals with a nearly 6 WAR at SS, and after a meh 2021 put up a 126 wRC+ and a 7 WAR this year. He’s far from the problem.
What’s wrong with the Scherzer deal? He stays on the field a lot longer than Degrom and the years were much shorter
WOW!!! WHAT?? HOLY SMOKES!! Well, I’m guessing Justin Verlander is a Met now?
Im going to go with Dodger
Verlander is going to LA where he lives. Rondon is likely going to the Mets
reno24;
Dodgers don’t have the money for Verlander.
Watch.
Actually, they have the money, they’re just not gonna be willing to spend it. And spending like this is what gets teams in terrible predicament in the out years.
Friedman needs to reset his luxury tax penalties and this is looking like the perfect year to do it!
If he got 5, Verlander definitely gets at minimum 3. So goodbye Houston!
The Yankees have been reported to be in on Verlander and Rodon, although to what extent is unknown. I’m thinking they’ll get a new pitcher for sure, but if Judge leaves then I’m absolutely declaring that Rodon is a Yankee.
Now that deGrom is off the board, there’s a good chance that either Rodon or Verlander sign by the end of the Winter meetings. If Judge has not made up his mind by then, it will be tough for NY to sign either one of them unless they are willing to say goddbye to Judge. NY is in pretty good shape CBT wise right now, but signing Rodon/ JV and Judge would put them in luxury tax purgatory for years to come. Hal has not been willing to do this in the past so I’d be surprised if he changes his strategy in 2023.
If the Dodgers extend Julio and pick up a position player then no JV. But JV and a small trade could eliminate big FA position player.
The Rangers might do another Texas two step like they did last year with their infield and snag Verlander as well.
They should go after Rodon. Younger and a lefty.
I said many times here the Rangers will again spend big this off season.
Watch them make an offer to Judgie too.
Don’t count Texas out on Rodon either. They proved last season they don’t mind spending huge money in free agency and adding Rodon would substantially increase their playoff chances in 2023. Texas wants to win now and even with deGrom, they still need another TOR arm to have a chance at competing against Houston and Seattle.
Wow just woww!
Great move for the Rangers, depending on his health.
OMG
Thank you Rangers
Texas is going to win the division, be good for 3-4 years then absolutely suck for years.
Wind the division, they will be lucky to get 2nd. Astros are still the best, M’s still have better starting pitching, bullpen, and an all around deeper lineup.
Do you think this is the only Rangers move this year? They are going to sign a few more big names.
Do you think the Asterisks and Mariners are done making moves?
The Astros yes. Mariners no.
marinersblue96;
Angels will come in 2nd.
Angels are going to have a hard time coming in 2nd with a backend of a bullpen that shaky. & 2 highly paid position players that seem to miss significant time as of late.
This team will not win a single division over the next decade. You heard it here first.
I wouldn’t bet on that. The Astros are getting old, don’t have a GM and losing stars every year.
Astros have a pretty good young core. I have to disagree about the getting old factor. They’ve been replacing their older stars with younger talent.
And replacing them with new ones.
The Astros are getting old? Like, who?
Most of their bullpen, Verlander was their best pitcher and is gone, Abreu and Altuve are on their declines. There is no way they control the division over the next decade. Their farm system is ranked 29th.
Verlander is definitely not their best pitcher, despite the great regular season.
Altuve just had his second best season of his career… they own the AL for at least the next 4 seasons. Likely own the west for the next 7. Nobody is really close to them. Their core is not old.
7 years? Do you know how long that is
I didn’t stutter. They are much better than anyone else in that division.
They aren’t going to as dominant in 7 years. 3 years? Sure, but 7 years is a entirety. For example, the Royals were champions 7 years ago.
Yes he was and it wasn’t even close. He cleared over a run a game over your second best pitcher. Who by the way will be out of town after next season. The Astros had a dominant bullpen that won them the World Series and you think that projects out over 7 years of dominance? They had the 8th best offense in baseball . The Astros will be in complete tear down mode in the next few years..
Are you 10 years old?
Yea, nobody in the west is near their talent level. Losing Verlander doesn’t hurt as much as you think it is. How old do you think Alvarez, Pena, Bregman, Javier, and Tucker are? You need to do your research Mr Met fan.
Hmmm….I would say they go from 68 wins to 72 maybe. But certainly, a step in the right direction.
I would project third place and 76 wins.
I’m projecting they’re over 500
By the way, I gave them two extra wins in my guess just for hiring Bochy.
You mean come in 3rd
Simm;
I’m an adult.
I wrote what I mean.
Short of massive injuries to the Astros, Angels, and Mariners the Rangers will be a 4th place team in 2023…..and I expect them to overreach for at least one more contract.
They look like Artie Moreno is running that operation.
I was replying to the dude that said the rangers will win th3 division. I also don’t think the angled will come in 2nd. Unless you meant 2nd to last.
Angels? Texas will have a better record.
Did the mariners and Astros move out of the AL west?
Both teams have better top end talent and much much much deeper 40 Mans.
Texas does not develop enough young talent to win the division. Until they do, they’ll just be an expensive, underachieving team.
As a Rangers fan, I would love this!
Enjoy Rangers fans! Hope he stays healthy. When he was, every one of his starts was an event
pitchers are terrible free agent investments….especially one who is hurt all the time. sign position players and develop pitching. it you can’t develop pitching, go work for the Twins.
Even a pitcher with a history of injuries is well worth the risk if that pitcher is named deGrom. I’m sure the Rangers didn’t go into this blindly. They likely had him checked out before signing him.
Justin Verlander, you are a Los Angeles Dodger!
I’m guessing that Verlander will want at least three years which will leave the Dodgers out.
I don’t think anyone’s giving him that 4th year. Might come down to deferred money which could disadvantage the Dodgers against the Mets though
I’m not sure if the Dodgers even want to go three years. He’s 40 years old. That is risky.
I hope so.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if jv didn’t sign for either the Dodgers or Mets?
If not Dodgers or Mets, then either back to Houston or to Yankees if they lose Judge. Unless Texas signs JV, too!
Houston doesn’t want to give him 3 years much less 4. IMO Crane wants him to circle back after the market dries up and take a higher 1 year deal.
What the what?!
Verlander to Mets, now?
Who else is excited for the conditional option clauses??
I’ve got a woody!
Thought That woody was saved for Carlos Correa
Mets playing smart.
Mets Velander 140/3
Which would be an overpay for JV
According to Joel Sherman, the Mets were offering deGrom three years, $120 million. I wonder if they turn around and put that offer in front of Verlander.
Mets know DeGrom better than anyone, and DeGrom knows it. Both most likely know his arm won’t make it passed three years at that rate. He relies on the heat, whereas Scherzer doesn’t and pitches. I believe the Mets were smart in passing up the 5 years – that’s too long to be tied up in an arm that could potentially be sidelined. The Nats are dealing with that in Strasberg. Guessing they’ll tag with Rondon or Verlander and maybe grab a Taillon for the 3. I’d like to see Peterson get a shot at the 5…think he deserves it.
Very happy the Mets didn’t go this long / high
Yeah, I’m not surprised that the Rangers signed him, but I am shocked that it’s for 5-years, $185MM minimum.
me too… 5 years is what really shocks me
Thank goodness we only need to guess the team and not the contractual terms on the FA contest!
I’m not surprised at the amount of money, but that is a long time for an individual with his health status and age. I might have tried to sign him for more money but shorter years. I have no reason to think that Texas did not, but it did not work.
Likewise. I’m guessing that the Rangers had to go to a 5th year in order to get him to sign there.
I’m sure you’re right. And let’s be real, if Degrom is healthy, TX will start to be dangerous. Lost a lot of one run games and have a good amount of prime age talent. Could easily see them go for a Taillon type too.
I’d say he’s still the best in the game, but the end of last year he was giving up moonshots and that ERA climbed up over 3 relatively fast, especially for him. As a Mets fan I’m saddened to see him go and wear a different uniform, but at the same time with all the money that will and is tied up, it’s smart that it’s not with him. Rondon at 30 makes more sense and will come in for less.
Rangers made the commitment to de Grom, and if he stays healthy they have a top 5 starting pitching. They made the move that the Angels have been trying to do for years. I like this move for Jason, he will be pitching in good weather most of the time, which coulld help him staying healthy
I think you mean Jacob. This is exactly the kind of deal the Angels should not make.
Not hating this deal for the short term. I could be wrong, but not sure paying deGrom $74M for his age 38 and 39 seasons is wise given his history.
If they get three seasons of 27+ starts from him, that’s a win with this type of deal. Because it’s a safe bet he’ll be near elite in those starts (based on his track record).
Ma4170, Totally agree, but can they get those 3 seasons/27 GS? He hasn’t been able to do that over the past 2 seasons.
idk, seems less likely just because he throws so damn hard and seems reluctant to tone it down. Not sure if his frame can support that into his late 30s.
Probably shocked Degrom as well. Hence why he was so quick to sign it.
Wow! If he’s healthy it’s a GREAT DEAL!! a few years ago no one would have thought this was possible. Bochy great start!
The Mets are smart to let him walk but man this stings
well put… as a met fan I agree
Hindsignt will be 20/20 on that one!
slider, the hindsight for me is that the Scherzer deal put deGrom’s departure in motion
Never believe the rumors about wanting to stay with an incumbent club for free agents. If they wanted to stay, they would sign extensions.
Yes, overgeneralizing a lot
Holy cow
Love the Phil Rizzuto reference!
Love the Harry Caray reference!
Texas competing with the Angels for most star power and albatross contracts with nothing to show for it!
Well said! And the comparison is spot-on. But its not just about players contracts. The Angels thought that a genius manager could wake up a moribund team. Didnt happen in Anaheim. We’ll see if it works in Arlington. Im skeptical.
5 years?? Good lord. Best pitcher in the game, but can’t pitch a full-season anymore. He deserves his pay day. Cannot believe it’s not with the Mets, but I think they had to let him go…they couldn’t go 5 years.
there’s no way they could… but yes, when fully healthy, he’s borderline amazing. But with how hard he throws, I can’t see him staying healthy like he did before 2021. Hate to see him go, but happy they didn’t match this.
Makes you wonder if they’re really going to regret Scherzer. Without that contract, I think deGrom stays.
Agreed… though I’ve wanted Rodon from day one this offseason, even with his injury history. But I see Verlander on the mets which I don’t love.
I agree, Ma4170. Rodon, power lefty, cheaper, younger, and I’d take him over Verlander. To clarify, I’m not saying Rodon is better than Verlander, but at this point, I like what he brings to my team vs Verlander and I think his fit on the Mets is similarly advantageous as Rodon’s fit as a power lefty who doesn’t give up HRs is on the Yanks.
You’re spot on. If they hadn’t driven up Scherzer’s price, Jake wouldn’t have commanded that much and the Mets could afford him
I have the Mets getting Rodon, who is another injury risk, but I think has more upside than Verlander. Maybe they get both.
clip – if Yanks get rodon that would be a huge add
Just heard that Degrom’s agents didn’t involve the mets as they negotiated with Texas, which tells you he was gone regardless
Oh wow, that’s really interesting. I wonder why that is? There seemed to be mutual respect and desire to re-sign.
Either he really didn’t like it in NY, or they made it clear they wouldn’t go to Scherzer level money early on? Those are my likeliest guesses.
Ma4170;
As I wrote below…..
It’s either Mr. Cohen or playing in NYC.
The core Mets are bailing. The hot dogs like it there.
so does that mean Correa is coming to the mets lol… please no
Guys, There was something about DeGrom wanting to play closer to his home in Florida. The reality is that the other teams in the area or vicinity (Braves, Rays, Marlins, and even Astros) were not going to give him this money. Texas just had to pay enough to keep him from going back to the Mets.
Don’t make more of this then it is. And I’m saying this as a Mets basher.
MarlinsFanBase;
It’s not just deGrom that left as a Mets veteran.
@Samuel
Did I miss another signing? Who else left?
DeGrom has never thrown 200 innings or more in his career. DeGrom and Verlander have several seasons with 200+
Hard as it seems to believe, there other teams out there besides the Mets, Yankeesand Dodgers. Sometimes in other parts of the country – like Arlington, Texas, sign big name players.
MarlinsFanBase;
Thor. Conforto.
Look at this years Mets free agents. I have questions that even one will resign with them.
And a few are on multi-year contracts that I think would like to be traded.
One would think that being on a team that won 110 games with the richest owner in MLB they’d be locked up.
I’m not being a basher here. I don’t see this situation with the Braves or Phillies. Their players want to be there.
@Samuel
Good point. I didn’t even consider any of that. I just have always gone with knowing that players, like all humans, prefer to be closer to home, and that NY is not an ideal place for people who grew up and lived all of their lives somewhere else. But your observations do point to there being more to it.
It sounds similar to what happens with the Knicks to some extent.
Von, From your mouth to Steve Cohen’s checkbook
Conforto didnt leave.he got bad advice … you think if the mets still had that QO on the table conforto would be jumping for joy to return. Conforto got it in his ears he was getting huge contract offer but bet on himself and failed. Then the mets even offered him the QO and declined and still wandering the FA market since.
thor didnt even get out of QO when he signed with the angels he basically didnt even do FA with strike coming up
Flyby;
Oh, please.
Scott Boras doesn’t TELL his players what to do. He explains the situation and they make their own decisions. If he was giving out “bad advice” he wouldn’t have the number of players under contract to his corporation. There is no agency in any professional sport in the world that has anywhere near the amount of clients the Boras corporation has active today.
The BS you’re spewing out was said about Dallas Keuchel a few years ago. So he sat out a season. Mr. Boras got him all that money and more. He didn’t even play for the White Sox this year and they were paying him.
Mr. Conforto is going to come out just fine.
atleast get your facts straight if you going to throw out bs… Keuchel never sat out a season he signed a pro rated contract with Atlanta and had to prove he would be worth that money and and had a very good half season which led to his signing with the white sox.when he had no QO.
How about Stephen Drew, Kendry Morales and countless others. He tells him he can get them this, sometimes the players dont follow blindlessly and think for themselves and read the market better than he does ala Strasburg. Does he have a good success rate for his players if they just follow his lead .. yes there is no denying that especially if you are top end talent … mid tier he seems to not be able to read the market as well especially for QO players and most of them end up signing for less ala morales, sitting out til after the draft ala drew and keuchel, sit out the year conforto, or have to catch some luck and sign for the same deal they would have gotten months ago.
so yes conforto and other based on boras history follow what boras says and probably dont really see the full market, but it really should be the agent to tell them what is best as players are players and not agents. In this case Boras failed conforto, btw boras is notorious for telling his clients dont sign a year away from free agency he can get them a boatload of money.
@Yankee Clipper DeGrom was with the Mets through the Wilpons’ various, endless fiascoes, and the organization hasn’t come close to a complete turnover of the FO and medical staff (David Altchek is still there, to name just one) that wrecked David Wright and routinely played older and injured players into the ground and onto the IL.
Degrom was there during Cohen’s ridiculous first year as team owner, and all the embarrassment and foolishness that involved–money only papers over so much of that, especially if you were on the inside.
I don’t see anything resembling respect from deGrom towards the Mets, and his apparent disinterest really bears that out.
Texas isn’t any closer to Florida. Arlington to Miami is farther away than NYC to Miami.
Au contraire
He turned down Mr. Cohen and the Mets offer and moved forward. He and his agents were very professional.
Do you really think negotiations are about game playing and chain yanking?
Diaz already did resign
Because 4 of them would be on the IL at any given time
He’s actually further from home than he was before.
Guy got an offer no team was gonna match, which happened to be from a team in a market that’ll probably be a lot less critical of him, and even if the AAV is less than the Mets were offering, he’s still making more off of it due to taxes.
Closer to home makes no sense because it isn’t, and maybe he did hate playing in NY but I don’t really buy that either. I just think he saw the offer and couldn’t say no.
I heard on a baseball podcast this morning that the DeGrom reps advised the Mets of their TX offer and the Mets would not match.
So, I’m not so sure it has anything to do with where he does/doesn’t want to play. If that Information is accurate it seems it is based on human nature – more years + more money = deal.
I mean Rodon
Bochy always admired him. Loved seeing him in All Star game when bochy was manager.
I hate Texas but for Jake and Bruce!
This will end up being one of the worst contracts in baseball. Yikes!
Bochy is stoked
Bochy job interview
Rangers: What will it take for you to manage?
Bochy: Pay me a lot and sign deGrom in the offseason
We talkin’ about the Rangers, not the Mets, the Rangers. Rangers.
Call them the Power Rangers
The Power Rangers now can take their time with great young arms like Lieter, Rocker, Winn, Porter, and White. They are going to be a good team sooner than later!
The sea was angry that day, my friends!
A bit reckless but that’s the Rangers for you. I guess Rangers don’t have a risk management group. $685mm in contracts for three players.
And not even finish above .500!!
The signing of the new CBA you can see their is a lot of money to spend for teams this year, and they will spend it.
I used to pray for times like this
Wow! But will that be enough for the Rangers to be above .500 after spending $325 Million last year on Seager and Semien?
I think so, if he can stay healthy
Maybe when they are done. Barely.
Things are starting to happen! Its about time. LET GO!! The Cubs need to make a lot of moves. Get on it Jed.
Cubs need starting pitching bad.
34 yo and injury prone. Good for him
Lol people are going to be referencing this era of the Rangers for a long time
The overzealous era.
Bad, bad move – I really hope I’m wrong. He’s pitched around 12 games/year over the last 3 seasons. I know 2020 was a different year, but we’re essentially paying him over 3M per game. I’d much rather have paid for Rodon with his age and price of his services.
But look at this way… if he can stay relatively healthy, he’s the best or one of the top 3. I watched him pitch for 9 years and it’s a different level.
Yes, if healthy deGrom is a game changer, he is the best pitcher in baseball.
History, his and mega contracts says you’re likely right.
The rangers have spent 685 million in 3 players. What in gods name is happening in Arlington
Desperation
2003?
I love when a Yankees fan mentions 2003.
And still finished 30 games below 500
They gotta find some way to entice fans to come to that god-awful ballpark.
It’s BIG.
So, it really should be no surprise…..
I am pretty sure the Rays were right there in the running though!
Well played, Yankee Clipper
Wow. He took the money to finish 3rd in the division.
He’s been on the Mets. He finished 1st once in his career.
Well in fairness, last year was basically as close to first as you can be, and three playoff appearances, so it wasn’t total futility lol
2 of the 3 were blink and you missed it, but 2015 was pure magic. Fun squad.
Yeah the phillies run this year reminded me of the mets that year. Lightning in a bottle. So much fun.
If Phils get Trea as expected, they’re legitimately scary
Yes, he was torchered pitching for the Mets, they never got him runs when he pitched!
Do you know in his 209 starts, he gave up 2er or less 149 times? That’s insane. And only 82 wins. THey cost him so many wins over the years.
slider32;
He pitched terribly this year when he came back for the stretch run.
He was amazing his first 7 starts back… the last four weren’t great. Well, one was bad, the others were decent but HR killed him.
@Ma4170 5 excellent starts of 11, 5 poor ones, and one middling. Not promising for Texas.
It would have been one thing if Jake had come back in August and thrown 11 starts with a sub-2.00 ERA plus a decent postseason start. Then you’d have reason to believe that the greatness was still surely there and only the durability was in doubt. But 5, 5, and 1?
That puts both quality and quantity in doubt.
Making him the highest paid pitcher in baseball, second only to the Scherzer overpay of $53m versus what the Dodgers were offering, is nuts.
With degrom off the table it definitely made the Metsos a better team. I wouldn’t sign him more that a year, dude needs to prove he’s healthy. 101 win what was his contribution, oh wait he blew it in the playoffs. We are not that far from a WS, Texas though, they got work
@jack wow that’s a harsh assessment of those starts. Only one start more than 3er… even when he gave up 3 (five times), three of them were qs, whip was low, and K ridiculously high. So the HR hurt him in Sept but he was still mostly dominant w his stuff. People can look up the game logs, but a start like 6ip 3r 5h 0bb 11k isn’t a poor start at all. And then the postseason start 6ip 2r 5h 2bb 8k teams will take all day. And his underlying numbers are dominant, so ff he’s healthy he’ll be good. But idk how healthy he’ll be, and you and I agreed on that since day 1 – can’t bring him back for this kind of money or length. Rather take the risk on Rodon 4.5 years younger..
@steven st croix
It won’t be the first time he’ll be with a team that finishes third or worse. The only difference now is that he’ll be richer and closer to home.
So Mets get verlander or Rodon now???
Both
@bravegator The usual reply, probably: It depends. Either the Mets had evaluated deGrom at something like 3/60m plus incentives and this was just preposterous for them regardless of how high they’re willing to go on the team’s 2023 payroll, or the rumored $300 million payroll the FO has implied as a maximum is in fact a fairly hard limit. If $300m is tops, then they can’t afford both. They can barely afford one, incredibly enough, given the lack of a bullpen, the lack of starters of any durability likely to pitch with even a league average ERA, the lack of a CFer, a 4th OFer, and a 5th OFer.
“…..given the lack of a bullpen, the lack of starters of any durability likely to pitch with even a league average ERA, the lack of a CFer, a 4th OFer, and a 5th OFer.”
Jack;
I admire you as a Mets fan – or follower – for pointing this out.
From a distance one would wonder why they’re in this situation. They finally have an owner with deep pockets, and everyone said that was what was needed.
Either the owner / FO is turning over that roster, or the players are leaving on their own.
In deGrom’s case I don’t know how the Mets could have not just paid him, but depended on him so much for the next 5 years.
For a team that just won 101 games, one would think their players would be enthusiastically looking to 2023.
Wow man. I’ve got to say that’s an interesting take on this one. Seems more to me that you have a lack of knowledge of baseball and how finances work and a bias against the northeast. deGrom left because the Mets were not going to 5 years. Syndergaard left because he got a bigger contract then the QO he was offered. Conforto made a bad choice. Jacob deGrom left for more money. The same reason that Max Scherzer signed with New York. The Mets had a huge problem in the Wilpon”s ownership. Under there direction free agents may have been reluctant to sign because of the disfunction not the Mets geographical location.
I don’t even know what to say
LA’st place in ’23 now confirmed, sorry bud.
Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Matz now deGrom the dream rotation is all gone. This hurts but I wouldn’t give him five years.
At least the “Five Aces” won the Mets all those offseason championships! without those, this would have to sting. But no worries. Losing that legendary pitching staff will sting less when you all can celebrate all five of them getting into Cooperstown…right next to “Generation K”.
Good luck with that arm Texas.
Insane but does anyone see this working out?
20% chance deGrom gets three or more top-5 Cy Young Award finishes
Likely deGrom gets three or more seasons with 25+ starts and sub-4 era
Also likely that deGrom is injured during one-third of the contract but good when he pitches
50% boom! (not in a good way)
@MannyBeingMVP
I wouldn’t put those chances that high. Father Time beats everyone.
Rangers ownership
why not – it’s 3×45 plus 2×25
I loved watching him pitch for the Mets and I’m happy for him that he got his payday. I hope that he holds up for Texas. Now we’ll see if the Mets sign Rodon or Verlander. Good luck in Texas Jake, I’ll miss you.
And rynes like this….
Wow. Ok Texas, best of luck with 5 years. Steve Cohen took his fan cap off and I’m proud. I hope he does well and going to Texas softens the blow here.
Rodon or JV a must now.
Texas will sign Rodon too. They are going for it and need one more ace to be competitive.
Dorothy_Mantooth;
Did you like all of Artie Moreno’s signings with the Angels when he did the same thing?
Never to be heard from again
This is good news for the Mets. Longtime Met fan here. Loved Jake’s work but did not want him around. Too brittle. Hope he exceeds expectations with the Rangers. And wears a Rangers hat in Cooperstown!
When he gets to Cooperstown it will be in blue and orange
When he goes to the bank it will be red/white/blue & in Texas!
Nice
Slow your role pal
And @AgeeHarrelsonJones with the expected, typical Mets fan comment when they lose a player.
I think they Mets announce a pitcher or two in the next coming days. I don’t think Degrom signs unless the Mets didn’t have ducks in a row to replace him.
Mets an organization that has their ducks in a row. Ha, good one!
I feel like anyone posting should add to the conversation or be funny.
He was funny. You think he wasn’t in that completely outlandish statement of the Mets having their ducks in a row?
32.2 IP, 18H, 8R, 7ER, 6BB, 46K
His avg line over the next 5 years
Yes, but that’s just the postseason.
The best pitcher in baseball. If he stays healthy it’s a good contract. Would you pay him this much betting on him to stay healthy? Seems risky to me.
That is a ridiculously risky signing by the Rangers! 5 years for a guy with his injury history is insane. But they got their guy. I would rather have Verlander for 2 or even 3 years. But I’m not the Rangers GM.
deGrom deserves Strasburg money at the very minimum. He got fleeced
Yeah, certainly the best pitcher in the league when healthy. But, he received the highest AAV of any pitcher (until Verlander signs now…lol) to this point *if he remains healthy*.
And as usual clip, the Yankees will do nothing while all the pieces fall off the board, their excuse being there waiting on Aaron Judge. Course this gives them an excuse to let every other free agent go. And then go after the garbage basement leftovers.
Of course the reality is, there is no reason why this should be, the Yankees can afford to sign judge and any of the free agent that they wish. They have a rough idea of what they will pay Aaron Judge, there’s no reason why they have to wait to sign other free agents that are available. They just choose not to.
Steinbrenners ledger and the self-imposed salary cap is all.
I know, it’s painful brother. Other teams are waiting on decisions too, but they’re still moving ahead. Well, we know it’s just a convenient excuse but Hal knows he’s not well liked right now for these cost-savings measures.
They’ve put winning second to investing in outside ventures and the fans are tired; it’s the same song and dance.
Still lots of time left but I won’t hold my breath!
They would have to pay tons of luxury tax if they had another big free agent to pay in addition to Judge Cole and Stanton
He got $2m more per year that Strasburg and the money isn’t deferred for like 20 years out.
Thank you oil and gas industry!
all that talk about he’s commanding $40m+ a year! holy crap they read that wrong! he wanted the years! $31m a year, what he was making already. what an embarrassment!!! Mets read this wrong and deserved this loss!!
He got $37m per.
i always said I sucked at math lol. regardless, still less than expected
$185 million/5=37 million per year. The option is also for $37 million. AAV less but guarantees $55 million, more than Scherzer’s contract and includes the option which could push the total value to $92 million over Scherzer. Mets were never going 5 years.
Stupid money now flowing. Cohen will wet himself over this deGrom deal and then give Rodon 5 years too at whatever price it takes.
Texas has money to spend. Semien+Seager=500 million+222=722 million at the most including Degrom’s option.
deGrom is good the money too…
I repeat. In Texas we go big or we go home. Hi Aaron.
Yes, you go home, when the playoffs begin.
Or drive 3.5 hours south to watch their daddy play in October.
Bet he doesn’t make 100 starts over those 5 years.
Wow. Big risk/reward signing right there.
Here’s to hoping Verlander goes to the Mets. Having both them in the division would be brutal.
Wow good on him for getting that money. When healthy he is worth every penny. The question becomes, how many games does he pitch?
Oh well. At least he is no longer a Met.
Now the Mets better hurry up and sign Rodon and Senga tonight
I wouldn’t count on Rondon, he only took a zoom call!
If I’m Verlander or Rodon now, I’m raising my price cuz you absolutely know that the Mets are going to get at lest one of them.
Can we now please move on from degrom and get a few pitchers that’ll pitch more then a few weeks. That is a lot of money for such a risk.
As Jim Morrison of the Doors once said. “ The West is the Best”
Or as the greatest Rock n roll band ever ( Zeppelin) live album of their Los Angeles concert tour “ How the West was won”
Or as the Worlds Greatest Band Ever (Pink Floyd) once sang, “Money”
Probably left his wife Comfortably Numb though, huh!
Good One
Angels saying to themselves. . How we ever gonna get outta 4th place , answer spend some real dough
It’s only December 2nd
congrats to Rangers fans!
Can we officially add the Rangers to the list of “we’re just gonna buy a team” geez… doesn’t ever work… DeGrom is dominant no doubt but he will he hurt by May… 5 years is an eternity for a 35 year old pitcher that punches his IL ticket every year more than most people change underwear.. just my opinion
The Rangers COULD have bought a contender if they spent the money more wisely.
Well, this might stop people from talking about the 3 years that Abreu got now. Verlander will definitely get the 3 years he wants now.
Hope he doesn’t go on the DL from signing that contract
Are they crazy?
Barves fans thank you Texas! #LOLMets
I’m a braves fan. This is not a lolmets move. They dodged a bullet not giving Degrom that kind of deal.
Thank you for being realistic. So sad when someone has no clue
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