One of the biggest questions looming over the New York Mets this offseason will be whether or not start pitcher Jacob deGrom re-signs with the team or decides to take his talents elsewhere for the first time in his career.
DeGrom can opt-out this offseason of a deal that would pay him $30.5 million in 2023 and a club option for $32.5 million in 2024. The two-time Cy Young winner said before the season and since missing a large chunk of the year with an injury that he plans to opt-out. The 34-year-old would be hitting the free agent market after pitching to a 3.08 ERA, 2.13 FIP, 0.75 WHIP, and striking out 102 batters in 64 1/3 innings this year. He followed that with six innings of two-run ball in the Mets lone postseason win.
Mets’ GM Billy Eppler told reporters on Friday afternoon that he talked to deGrom on Sunday night. “He knows how we feel and I know how he feels. We had a good amount of dialogue over the course of the season. The relationship is positive,” Eppler said.
Eppler said that he’s had an “insane amount” of conversations with deGrom this year after the ace made it known his wishes to become a free agent.
Eppler could deal with as many as four of his top five starters hitting the free agent market this offseason with Max Scherzer being the only one guaranteed to be there in 2023 for the Mets. DeGrom can opt-out, Chris Bassitt has a mutual option at $19 million, Walker has a player option for $7 million that he’s sure to decline, and the Mets have a $14 million team option ($3 million buyout) on Carlos Carrasco.
Even if the Mets pick up the essentially $11 million option for Carrasco, they will likely see three of their top five starters enter free agency. DeGrom is still arguably the best pitcher on the planet, though he’s only thrown made 27 starts (including playoffs) over the past two seasons, and will certainly be looking for a deal similar to the record three-year, $130 million deal the Mets gave to Scherzer last offseason.
