Evan Roberts was at the Nets game when he found out that Jacob deGrom had signed with the Rangers, and was too upset to stay at the Barclays Center and take in the rest of a blowout win for Brooklyn.
"Very, very, very sad day in Mets history," Evan said to open an emergency episode of the Rico Brogna podcast. "Like a freaking punch in the balls.
"I was devastated. Just like, 'Are you kidding me? Really?' The sadness lasted most of the game, to the point where I had to leave the game. We're recording this podcast, and the Nets game isn't even over yet! I was thinking to myself, 'I don't even want to be at this game anymore.'"
Evan would save any conversations about deGrom's contract for later.
Sure, it could be argued that the Mets should have stayed away anyway after deGrom signed a five-year deal given the 34-year-old's injury history, but for now, in the immediate aftermath, it was simply about mourning the departure of what could have been the next franchise icon.
"I'm not even saying it's wrong necessarily when you break down the contract...but he is Jacob deGrom!" Evan said. "He is, besides Tom Seaver, the greatest pitcher in the history of this franchise. He had a chance to do something even Tom Seaver couldn't do: pitch his entire career with the New York Mets."
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