There is plenty of speculation as to where New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom will end up. Chances are, he will not be going anywhere.
According to a recent poll, major league executives expect that deGrom will return to the Mets. It is just a matter of seeing what he has for a market and having the Mets match those offers.
Jacob deGrom not expected to leave New York Mets
There is no question that deGrom is one of the best pitchers in the game when he is on the mound. He has posted a 2.05 ERA with a 0.731 WHiP, 14.1 K/9 rate, and 1.5 BB/9 rate over the past three years. The problem is that he has made just 38 appearances in that time as he has battled injuries.
Those health concerns would make any free agent a risk. deGrom will also turn 35 years old in the middle of the 2023 season and should be facing the downside of his career. Any long term deal is a major question mark at this point.
But this is also a risk the Mets need to take. They need another top of the rotation arm to pair with Max Scherzer, another ace that can help bring them back to the postseason and earn their first championship since 1986. deGrom can be that pitcher and help set up the rest of the rotation.
If there is any team that can afford this type of gamble, it is the Mets. They have their own tax bracket in the luxury tax scale thanks to Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend whatever it takes to build a contender. Bringing deGrom back would be a part of the equation.
Jacob deGrom is one of the best pitchers available in free agency and is highly coveted. In the end, he may not leave the New York Mets.