New York Mets: Jacob deGrom needs to be shutdown for 2021

It would be fair to say that the New York Mets are atop the National League East due to Jacob deGrom. He had been in the midst of a historic season before his latest arm concerns led to his most recent stint on the Injured List. Clearly, the Mets need him back if they are going to solidify their hold atop the division.

That return will have to wait. deGrom is dealing with yet another injury, as he has inflammation in his elbow.

Time for the New York Mets to shut down Jacob deGrom

deGrom is not being hyperbolic when he says that he feels as though he is in the midst of the best season of his career. He had been the frontrunner for both the NL Cy Young and MVP awards, posting a 1.08 ERA and a 0.554 WHiP over his 92 innings, striking out 146 batters with 11 walks. He had easily been the best pitcher in the game.

Given that the Mets are fighting for their playoff lives, and that ownership had promised a championship in the near future, it is tempting to look to rush deGrom back. As it is, he had been pushing himself to come back as soon as possible from his other ailments, potentially leading to his ongoing issues.

But the Mets also have to look to the future. They should have other arms returning to the rotation at some point this year. deGrom, while an important part of the rotation, is an even more important part of their future. With several potential holes in the rotation next year due to free agency, the Mets need to think about 2022 and beyond.

That means ensuring that deGrom is healthy. This elbow inflammation is the sixth different injury that he has had this season, an alarming number. While none of them have been the type of injury that would lead to long term concerns, the Mets still need to be careful. That means shutting deGrom down.

The New York Mets need to do what is best for their future. At this point, that involves shutting Jacob deGrom down for the rest of the year.