It seemed like the Mets had at least somewhat of a game plan going into this offseason.
They were coming off a 92-loss campaign, and even with $30-40 million to spend, the team was going to do their best to fill all the necessary holes to help get them back to the postseason. As assistant general manager John Ricco even said, the Mets were going to be “big players” at a number of positions. It was a sham.
Now the team has just about $10 million left to spend, with the marquee signing of the offseason thus far being reliever Anthony Swarzak. With a plethora of voids still left to fill and no concrete game plan in place, the Mets have to make a decision: Are we really planning to compete? If so, then be crafty and truly field a team that you believe can make a run in 2018. Are we not going to compete? Maybe it’s time to strip the team down and truly start from scratch.
If you are serious about winning, it’s time to start thinking about extending your ace Jacob deGrom. If not, then trade him now while he’s at peak value and start replenishing your farm system for the future.
The 29-year-old is coming off a year where he registered a 15-10 record with a 3.53 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 1.187 WHIP and a career high 10.7 K/9 in 31 starts (201.1 innings pitched).
DeGrom is under team control through 2020, after which he can become a free agent.
In article from Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci prior to this past season’s trade deadline, the Houston Astros had an affinity for deGrom before they ultimately acquired Justin Verlander.
“In a perfect world–and in an indication of how high they’re shooting–the Astros would love to add Mets ace Jacob deGrom, but there is no indication New York would even consider moving their one reliable starter who still has three years of arbitration control,” Verducci said in his piece.
There would be a huge market for the right-hander and rightfully so. I personally would much rather the team build around him, Noah Syndergaard and Michael Conforto, three huge pieces that could be the centerpiece to a turn around, but if the Mets are going to continue to be as stingy as they have shown they are this offseason, then it’s not worth wasting these players’ prime years and then losing them for nothing.
It’s a shame that we even have to consider trading deGrom. But with Mets ownership being what it is, it would suck to see him walk away in the future with nothing to show for it. And if you’re gonna ultimately trade him anyway, shouldn’t you do it while his trade value is at its highest?
