Jacob deGrom is already experiencing tightness in his first spring training with the Texas Rangers
It’s like clockwork.
Not even one day into Texas Rangers spring training in Surprise, Arizona, and reports have already surfaced about new ace Jacob deGrom’s latest injury. It’s being called “left side tightness,” per The Athletic‘s Levi Weaver.
Jacob deGrom felt some tightness in his left side, and — given the cold weather and how early it is in camp, we’re told — they’re going to hold him back a day or two. We’re told the seriousness level is such that he would play through it if it were the regular season.
— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) February 15, 2023
The Jacob deGrom experience has already begun for the Texas Rangers
We’ve seen this story before. A few days turns into a few weeks which turns into missed time during the regular season. In fact, we saw this exact narrative play out … last year, when deGrom was a New York Met. And the year before that.
It’s an unfortunate and inauspicious start to 2023 for the 34-year-old ace, who was signed to a five-year, $185 million contract by the Texas Rangers in free agency after spending the first nine years of his career with the Mets.
The fact that Steve Cohen wasn’t willing to go above and beyond three years to re-sign his homegrown ace pitcher should tell you everything you need to know. And the fact that the Rangers blew deGrom away with their offer, with no other rival team in the bidding coming close to making the offer Texas did. This wasn’t an expenditure without a great degree of risk.
The cost of winning is steep, both literally in dollars but also in the investment an organization makes to a player’s health. The Texas Rangers are already finding this out with Jacob deGrom. But it’s a cost that’s undoubtedly worth paying, because the team has made a commitment to winning now, even if they know it might hurt them later.
When healthy, deGrom could be considered the best pitcher in baseball. But his health has been anything but guaranteed over the last several years, as the Mets knew so well.
Time will tell just how serious this hiccup is for Jacob deGrom as he embarks on a new journey as ace of the Texas Rangers. But if recent history serves as a guide, this is an ominous development for all parties.