MLB Rumors: One Contender That Will NOT Be Signing deGrom

Jacob deGrom is no sure thing to return to the New York Mets this offseason. There have been many big-name teams that have been rumored to be prime suitors for the superstar hurler. But according to MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, don't count the Atlanta Braves as one of them.

He calls the signing of deGrom "highly unlikely" for the Braves. And the reason is simple: "The Braves are reluctant to enter into a deal with any player who takes up too high a percentage of their payroll, knowing in future seasons the salaries of their young players will rise."

As it stands, none of their big long-term contracts see any player receiving more than $22M per season in any year of their deals. 

deGrom is expected to demand a salary in excess of $43M AAV, to top his current New York Mets' teammate Max Scherzer's deal, which he signed a year ago for 3 years, $130M. 

The 34-year-old deGrom came off a one-year injury hiatus mid-season in 2022, and still performed like the generational talent that he's always been, striking out 14.3 batters per nine. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is seen to be a possible target of the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals among others, in addition to the Mets.

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