Jacob deGrom Has A New Home — And A 5-Year Deal

The New York Mets seemingly didn't even know what hit them. After weeks of being confident that their longtime ace would return to Queens, the bomb was dropped Friday evening: Jacob deGrom is heading to the Texas Rangers.

BREAKING: Right-hander Jacob deGrom has signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources tell ESPN. Physical is passed. Deal is done. Includes conditional sixth-year option that would take total deal to $222 million. Full no-trade clause. A massive haul.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 3, 2022

While most observers felt he was in line for a 3-year deal, the 34-year-old squeezed a 5-year contract out of the Rangers, $185M with a conditional 6th-year option that would bring the total take to $222M. That places deGrom second all-time in AAV to his former Mets teammate Max Scherzer. deGrom also gets a full no-trade clause.

Jacob deGrom is now the second-highest paid pitcher in @MLB history, on a per-year basis.

deGrom is at $37 million per year, second only to Max Scherzer. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 3, 2022

Apparently, according to reports, this somewhat blindsided the Mets, who didn't even have a chance to muster a counteroffer.

The Mets perceived DeGrom as so far down the road with Texas by the time they were told about it that they did not ever get to determine what their last, best offer would be.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 3, 2022

Mets Insider Andy Martino of SNY said the Mets saw DeGrom as so far down the road with Texas by the time they were told about it that they didn't even get a chance to determine what their last, best offer would be.

“I wish him well," Mets owner Steve Cohen told Martino. "He has the right to choose his team. Now this team has to move on to the next thing."

For the Mets, they're hoping that "next thing" is another big-time pitcher, with the initials J.V.