Jacob deGrom rumors: 3 possible landing spots for New York Mets pitcher

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New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom could be one of the more fascinating pitchers in free agency.

There is no question that he is one of the best pitchers in the game when he is on the mound. The problem is that getting him on the mound has been tenuous at best over the past two years. Shoulder and forearm woes have kept deGrom to just 26 appearances over the past two seasons, and at 34 years old, it is fair to wonder if he will be able to put together a full season on the mound again.

Three potential landing spots for New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom

Even with those concerns, deGrom will be one of the best pitchers on the market. Once he opts out of his contract and declines the Qualifying Offer, he will have his pick of teams. Any franchise looking to contend in the next year or two will be interested in deGrom, even if he may be one of the biggest gambles on the market.

Where will New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom find himself next season? Let’s look at three possible landing spots for 2023 and beyond.

New York Mets

It is difficult to imagine that anyone is going to outspend New York Mets owner Steve Cohen again this offseason.

Cohen had been adamant that the Mets would return to their glory days while he owned the team. The 2022 season appeared to be a great first step toward that goal as they won 101 games and reached the postseason. However, they lost the division in the final days and were unceremoniously bounced out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round. Based on his statements and willingness to spend, he will be doing everything possible to improve the roster.

That includes addressing the rotation. Not only is deGrom likely to be a free agent, but Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, and Carlos Carrasco are all likely to be on the market as well. The Mets may need to rebuild their rotation in a hurry.

The most obvious answer is to keep deGrom. The Mets may not care about his age, especially after handing over $43 million a year to Max Scherzer. They know exactly how he is and the familiarity on both sides has to make the Mets the favorites. Add in their willingness to spend whatever it takes, and it is difficult to imagine deGrom pitching elsewhere unless he feels it is time to move on.

The New York Mets are not going to let Jacob deGrom go without a fight. He may end up returning for the next few years.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers spent plenty of money last season as they brought in Jon Gray, Marcus Semien, and Corey Seager. Those moves signaled that the Rangers were going to start to move out of the rebuilding process sooner rather than later.

A major part of that will involve addressing the pitching staff. Gray was a solid middle of the rotation arm. Martin Perez pitched far beyond expectations and may return on an extension. That would certainly be a good start for a team looking to contend next season.

But that would not be nearly enough. The Rangers would still need to add at least one top of the rotation arm in free agency if they are truly going to contend. As such, it is expected that they will once again look to bring Clayton Kershaw in via free agency.

Even that might not be enough. The Rangers are going to be competing against an Astros team that is not going away and a Mariners squad that is on the upswing. Adding a pitcher such as Jacob deGrom could make the difference, especially if the Rangers add a strong second starter as well.

The Texas Rangers need pitchers and are willing to spend. It would not be a surprise to see them connected to Jacob deGrom in the offseason.

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have given every indication that they are going to spend heavily in the offseason.

As it is, they have been linked to some of the top hitters that are expected to be on the open market. It is an open secret that they covet Aaron Judge. At the same time, they are eyeing other significant pieces, especially at shortstop.

New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom could also fall under the ‘significant piece’ umbrella. While there has not been much chatter about the Giants on the pitching front, that should change in the coming weeks. They are set to lose Carlos Rodon as he is expected to opt out of his final season of his two year deal, leaving a gaping hole atop their rotation.

Enter deGrom. He would be able to pair with Logan Webb to give the Giants a formidable 1-2 punch atop their rotation. Signing deGrom would also have an added bonus – it would keep him away from the Mets and Dodgers, two postseason contenders in the National League that should also have interest in his services.

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The San Francisco Giants have not spent lavishly in free agency. That could change this offseason, making them a potential landing spot for Jacob deGrom.

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