After spending the first nine years of his career in a Mets uniform, four-time all-star Jacob deGrom will be heading to Texas to play with the Rangers. deGrom joins Texas on a five-year $185 million contract after reportedly turning down a three-year contract worth around $120 million to stay with the Mets.
OFFICIAL: We've signed RHP Jacob deGrom to a 5-year contract. pic.twitter.com/GXHFaOa6m9
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) December 3, 2022
deGrom has one two NL Cy Young Awards and has made four all-star appearances, as previously mentioned; to add on, the 34-year old pitcher is a two-time strikeout leader, two-time All-MLB First Team member, led the MLB in ERA in 2018, and won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2014.
At age 34, Jacob deGrom is the 2nd-oldest player to receive a $100 million deal.
Last December, the Mets gave 37-year-old Max Scherzer a 3-year, $130M deal. pic.twitter.com/6QwILIEEO0
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 3, 2022
deGrom is coming off of a season in which he pitched in a career-low eleven games as the Florida-born right-hander was unable to stay healthy for the majority of the season; with that said, it is a very high-risk high reward situation for the Rangers as deGrom has proven to be one of the best pitchers in the league throughout his career, but he does have a history of being injured.
Speaking of Texas, this is the third all-star they have landed via free agency within the last two offseasons as they signed three-time all-star Corey Seager and 2021 all-star Marcus Semien an offseason ago. deGrom automatically becomes the Rangers number one pitcher and will look to help elevate the Rangers to a perennial playoff team.
As for the Mets, with the team signing Max Scherzer an offseason ago, the organization properly prepared themselves beforehand for a potential deGrom departure.
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