The New York Mets have reportedly reached a contract extension agreement with Jacob deGrom according to Andy Martino of SNY. The agreement is reported to be a five-year, $137.5 million extension. Jeff Passan of ESPN has also reported that the deal includes an opt-out clause after 2022, as well as a club option for 2024. Should the Mets elect to pick up the 2024 option, the contact would become a six-year deal worth a total of $170 million.
BREAKING: The Mets have a deal on a contract extension with Jacob deGrom, per source. It is pending a physical. He is in NY right now for physical.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) March 26, 2019
Essentially: Jacob deGrom’s deal covers 2019-23 and includes a sixth-year option. Full no-trade, opt out after 2022, $137.5M guaranteed, $170M if option is picked up. Gets $120M in new money for four years. @martinonyc had the deal done first.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 26, 2019
While deGrom was slated to make $17 million in 2019, his long-term contract status had weighed on him heavily in recent weeks. Earlier this off-season, deGrom, and his agent Jeff Berry publicly stated they would not negotiate an extension after Opening Day. This deal, which comes at the eleventh hour, will ensure deGrom’s position on the Mets for the foreseeable future.
Jacob deGrom, Mets Reach Extension
The Player
After a historic 2018 season, deGrom was certainly deserving of a raise and extension. The star pitcher won his first career Cy Young Award last season. He also finished the year with an incredible 1.70 ERA (the third-lowest mark since 1968). He set a major league record by allowing three runs or fewer in 26 consecutive starts.
DeGrom finished last season with 10 wins, 269 strikeouts, and only 41 earned runs allowed in 217 innings of work.
The Future
Retaining deGrom was vital to New York’s off-season success. The regime of new General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen (who was deGrom’s former agent) has been defined by an aggressive, win-now style. He has added five former All-Stars in Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie, Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia, and Wilson Ramos to the roster in order to bolster the club’s chances of winning the National League East division. However, despite these exciting additions, the threat of deGrom instituting an innings limit, or even leaving the team at the end of the year, was a major concern.
The Culture
While the signing will make a great deal of difference on the field, it will also impact the clubhouse. Van Wagenen’s commitment to winning has reshaped the culture during his first off-season with the team. However, deGrom’s lingering contract situation was taking its toll on several key players. The Cy Young winner had already communicated his pessimism about reaching a resolution before the season began. Fellow teammate and star pitcher Noah Syndergaard had also publicly criticized the Mets for their failure to reach an agreement.
With deGrom now firmly in the fold, the team can focus all of its attention on making the postseason. Current players can also rest assured that the franchise remains committed to taking care of their stars.
This signing is a major victory for the New York Mets!
Main Photo:
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