Breaking News: Mets Complete Deal with ace pitcher, Jacob deGrom
According to Andy Martino, a Mets beat reporter for the New York Daily News, the Mets have reached a deal with their National League Cy Young award winner, Jacob deGrom, on a contract extension.
DeGrom’s new contract calls for another five guaranteed years, with a no-trade option for $137.5 million. This deal is on top of the current one-year contract the pitcher signed for this upcoming season, in which the Mets are paying him $17 million.
DeGrom will receive a $10 million signing bonus, and the 25.6 million per year average when the $137.5 extension is added-on to his current $17 million deal for 2019 is in line with similar deals for club aces, such as Chris Sale of the Red Sox.
DeGrom will have a full no-trade clause and can opt out of the deal in 2022, while the Mets have a club option for $32.5 million in 2024.
DeGrom, 30, had recently expressed concerns that he was losing faith a deal would get done.
“Honestly, I really have been trying not to think about it,” he said Saturday after his final Grapefruit League appearance before starting Opening Day against the Nationals. “Yeah, I said I wanted to get something done, but it’s getting close to Opening Day and I think my focus is on that right now.”
Noah Syndergaard also had begun politicking for deGrom, and while he couldn’t get the team’s trip to Syracuse canceled, at least he can be happy about this.
“Jake is the best pitcher in baseball right now,” Syndergaard said. “I think he deserves whatever amount he’s worth and I want to keep him happy so when it becomes time to reach free agency, he stays on our side and pitches for the Mets. I just think they should quit all this fuss and pay the man already.”
Up until last season, deGrom had been represented by current Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen at CAA. DeGrom opted to stick with that agency, and Jeff Berry handled negotiations with Mets brass this offseason.
DeGrom pitched to a brilliant 1.70 ERA last season, striking out 269 batters in 217 innings.
The deal is pending a physical. He is in NY right now for physical while the rest of the Mets team is in Syracuse, New York, the home of their Triple A minor league team.
