deGrom’s Health Is the Key to Unlocking Cy Young Value
Chris Sale’s 2024 NL Cy Young win for Atlanta proved that an oft-injured star pitcher with elite stuff can still dominate if he stays on the mound. In 2025, Jacob deGrom has a chance to do the same for the Texas Rangers.
At +900 odds to win AL Cy Young at BetMGM, deGrom’s upside is undeniable. Yes, injuries have limited him to just nine starts in two seasons with Texas, but when healthy, he’s among the most dominant pitchers in MLB history.
deGrom’s Career Numbers Are Simply Elite
The two-time Cy Young winner boasts career stats that few can match. In 218 career starts, he’s posted: 1,357.0 innings pitched, 1,666 strikeouts, 308 walks and a career 2.53 ERA.
To put his dominance into perspective, only deGrom, Sale, and Shane Bieber have started 100+ games and recorded at least five times more strikeouts than walks in the last 140 years. His combination of velocity, command, and efficiency is truly special.
Rangers Believe He’s Ready To Return to Form
After deGrom’s first bullpen session of Spring Training, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy raved about his performance.
“Everything was Jacob. It was smooth sailing. It’s effortless for him, and to command it the way he does, it’s just a gift,” Bochy told MLB.com.
Bochy also emphasized that deGrom is fully healthy and ready to anchor Texas’ rotation.
“You’re talking about one of the elite pitchers in the game today—maybe ever. If he stays healthy, you’ll see one of the best pitchers in baseball.”
DeGrom himself echoed that sentiment, stating that his goal is to make 30 starts this season and finally contribute to the team that signed him to a massive five-year, $185 million deal before the 2023 campaign.
Why deGrom at +900 Is Worth the Bet
There’s no question that deGrom’s health is a risk. But at +900, the reward outweighs it. He has a better career ERA than pretty much every ace in the league and a higher K/9 rate than every active pitcher not named Spencer Strider—when he pitches, he’s still as dominant as ever.
With the Rangers looking to get back to the World Series, deGrom’s return could make all the difference. If he stays on the mound, his stuff alone makes him one of the best bets to win AL Cy Young in 2025. If, and it’s a big if, he stays healthy, we should see some elite numbers once again as deGrom goes after his third career NL Cy Young award.
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