File this one away.
Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted over the weekend that "there is a perception in some corners of the industry that if Jacob deGrom follows through with what he said in the spring and opts out of his Mets' contract, the Braves will be the favorites to land him."
The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner has a $30.5 million player option for 2023. However, if deGrom exercises that option, the Mets would then control him for two more seasons, as his contract contains a $32.5 million club option for 2024.
Of course, while deGrom made a rehab appearance for Single A St. Lucie Sunday, a stress reaction in his right scapula has kept him from pitching for the Mets so far in 2022. deGrom was historically dominant in 2021 -- posting a 1.08 ERA, 1.24 FIP and 4.9 fWAR across 92 innings -- but injuries limited him to just 15 starts.
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For deGrom to get multiple years in free agency, he'll need to prove he can stay healthy for at least the final couple months of the season. But even if there are some setbacks, if deGrom flashes his Hall of Fame-caliber arsenal even a few times in 2022, there are going to be teams willing to gamble on him for a year in free agency.
While deGrom's camp probably likes the idea of the Braves -- the biggest competition to the Mets in the National League East -- being a player for deGrom, it wouldn't be hard to imagine if he's looking for a high price on a one-year deal. Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos has signed Josh Donaldson, Marcell Ozuna, Cole Hamels, Charlie Morton and Kenley Jansen to high-priced one-year deals in recent offseasons. Some have worked out better than others, but with Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson all on team-friendly contracts, the Braves can afford to bet on older stars for a season.
The gut feeling here is that if deGrom opts out, Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler will do everything in their power to keep one of the greatest players in franchise history in Queens. But it's hard to imagine deGrom ever making 30 or more starts in a season again, so perhaps there is a price where they'd allow the 34-year-old to leave for in free agency.