Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Jacob deGrom will likely be unavailable at the trade deadline this season. He adds that the Mets still believe they can make the playoffs before he becomes a free agent after the 202o season.
This makes a lot of sense as the Mets should still be in a position to make the playoffs the next two seasons, not to mention this year with a turnaround. With deGrom under contract through 2020, they don’t have any real reason to trade him until they know for sure they must trade him as part of a rebuild and are completely out of contention.
DeGrom, 29, has been one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues this season, and has the highest bWAR of any pitcher in the National League (3.7). He has started 12 games and gone 4-0 with an NL-best 1.40 ERA and 1.94 FIP. In 72.1 innings he has struck out 98 and walked 21 with an NL-best 254 ERA+ and Major League-leading 0.4 HR/9.
While he is 4-0, he could have a much better record. He has had eight no-decisions despite allowing one or zero earned runs in six of those starts. In his last three starts, he has pitched 21 innings allowing two earned runs on 16 hits and striking out 29 — The Mets are 0-3 in those starts.
