So what happens if the New York Mets can’t re-sign Jacob deGrom?
The ace opted out of his contract on Monday and will be free to negotiate with other teams starting Thursday.
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The Athletic’s Jim Bowden outlined what could happen on MLB Network Radio:
“I start with the Atlanta Braves and Alex Anthopoulos. I think Alex would love to add him to the top of his rotation with Max Fried and [Spencer] Strider and really put himself in the position of winning the World Championship. I think if deGrom wanted to go there on a shorter term deal with a high AAV that includes an opt-out then I think the Braves will be all over it. I’m never going to bet against them Yankees or Dodgers when it comes to an ace like deGrom, especially if it can be a short term deal with an opt-out. Texas Rangershe has a good relationship with Chris Youngcertainly a possibility as well.
“I think its going to be fascinating how much he gets paid and how long. I went two years, $90 million with an opt-out after year one. The reason I went two at 90 with an opt-out: he hasn’t pitched more than 15 starts in any of the last three years. I’m worried about his shoulder and elbow. I can’t get stuck with a $45-$50 million annual salary for five years and he pitches one year and blows out like Steven Strasburg. But you can do it Carlos Rodon signing of last year which is two years, you get to opt-out after one. We’ll pay you more than Scherzer’s making which is $43-plus. We’ll pay you $45 million a year for two years, so you either get $90 million for two years or $45 for one and go back on the free agent market if you’re healthy and make 32 starts.
“I love him with the Braves, the Dodgers, the Yankees, I love him with any of those teams that are ready to win right here, right now. I think he needs to go to a place where he can win a World Series next year. I don’t think he can do that in Texas. I think they want him, I think they’ll make a run. Watch him and the Braves if he doesn’t go back to the Mets. And I do think the Mets want him back, and I do think he has interest going back to the Mets, just not at what they’re offering.”
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This is the time for the Mets to get out ahead of their competition, and SNY’s Andy Martino reports that they seem to be trying to do that. Per Martino:
There has been preliminary contact between the Mets and Jacob deGrom’s camp, but nothing that has progressed very far yet. That’s the word
The Mets want deGrom back, but if another team offers, say, 4 years at a very high number, Mets would be reluctant to go there.
MORE MLB:
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– Mets’ Buck Showalter is a NL Manager of the Year finalist
– Yankees prospect named International League Pitcher of the year; Mets infielder named IL All-Star
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Bridget Hyland may be reached at [email protected].