3 replacements for Jacob deGrom for New York Mets

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The unthinkable has happened for the New York Mets.

The Mets were still considered the favorites to retain Jacob deGrom as recently as Thursday. It had been thought that he would collect offers and then return to New York, giving the Mets the chance to match any deal he was offered. Those thoughts went out the window just one day later as deGrom signed a massive deal with the Texas Rangers.

Three pitching targets for New York Mets

It is virtually impossible to replace deGrom. He is one of the few true aces left in baseball, a dominant force when he is healthy. And yet, that is what the Mets are facing as they now need to find another top of the rotation arm to pair with Max Scherzer. While that could be easier said than done, one has to imagine that Steve Cohen is not going to let his checkbook sit idly by now.

The New York Mets need to find someone to replace Jacob deGrom. Let’s take a look at three options they could pursue.

Justin Verlander

The idea that Justin Verlander would leave the Astros had seemed unrealistic. But that may not be the case any longer.

It all comes down to money. Verlander is reportedly looking for a similar deal to what Scherzer had signed with the Mets – a three year deal worth $130 million. That is more than the Astros are believed to want to spend as they are no longer the favorites to sign him this offseason.

Enter the Mets. They were already listed as one of the favorites to land Verlander even before deGrom signed elsewhere. If there is anyone available in free agency that could replace deGrom’s production, he would be the pitcher.

Verlander is not showing any signs of slowing down. Although he will be 40 years old next season, he is coming off one of the best performances in his career, posting a major league best 1.75 ERA and a 0.829 WHiP in his 175 innings, striking out 185 batters with 29 walks. Replacing deGrom would be a tall order, but he could be the player to do just that.

The New York Mets need another ace in their rotation. Justin Verlander would be a perfect fit.

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Carlos Rodon

The idea that the New York Mets would replace Jacob deGrom with Carlos Rodon would have been laughable two years ago.

But times have changed since then. Rodon has suddenly become an ace in his own right, dominating over the past two seasons. While he may not be in the same category as deGrom or Justin Verlander at this point, he is one of the best starters available in free agency, someone that would pair nicely with Max Scherzer atop the rotation.

Rodon followed his breakout 2021 campaign with an excellent performance last year. He posted a 2.88 ERA and a 1.028 WHiP over his 178 innings, striking out 237 batters with 52 walks. Although he spent just one season with the Giants, he certainly made it count.

It is possible that Rodon could be a bargain. He is likely to cost less than deGrom or Verlander in free agency, allowing the Mets to make other moves to shore up their pitching staff. Rodon will turn 30 next week as well, meaning that he is still in the midst of his prime. With that combination, Rodon could be the perfect fit in the rotation behind Scherzer. And the Mets are interested in bringing him in.

Carlos Rodon is not going to be Jacob deGrom. Nonetheless, he has the most upside of any of the top pitchers in free agency.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

Kodai Senga and Chris Bassitt

There is another avenue that the New York Mets could take. Instead of attempting to replace deGrom with one pitcher, they could look at bringing in two of the best pitchers in the next tier.

Kodai Senga and Chris Bassitt are going to have plenty of suitors, the Mets amongst them. The Mets have been linked to both pitchers already, as they are not only looking to bring Bassitt back after a solid year in New York, but are also pursuing the NPB star in Senga.

Senga is a bit of a wild card. It is possible that he could be a top of the rotation arm, but it is also possible that he ends up as a high leverage reliever. He has a plus fastball and an incredible forkball along with excellent command; the problem is that his other offerings are fringy at best. However, the potential that he could be an ace is enough for teams to dream of what he could be.

The Mets know what they would get with Bassitt. He has been a solid arm, someone that brings toughness and durability to the rotation. Bassitt also performed well last season, posting a 3.42 ERA and a 1.145 WHiP over his 181.2 innings, striking out 167 batters with 49 walks. He may not be an ace, but he is a solid second or third starter.

Replacing Jacob deGrom is going to be a tough task. Instead of attempting to land one pitcher, the New York Mets may be better off with a tandem deal.

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