Friday marked the end of an era for the New York Mets, when longtime ace and two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom signed a five-year contract with the Texas Rangers.
deGrom, who turns 35 next season, reached free agency after a nine-year stint with the Amazin's that included a Rookie of the Year nod in 2014, four All-Star appearances, a trip to the World Series in 2015, and the two Cys.
So, it's not a stretch to say deGrom claimed his place as the second-best starter in franchise history, after only the immortal Tom Seaver.
Though deGrom's availability in recent seasons was drastically limited due to injury, he was still extremely effective when healthy.
His foray into free agency put the Mets in a difficult position, knowing he was likely seeking a massive contract even though all indications suggested that to do so would be paying in part for past performance.
For Mets fans, deGrom's departure is obviously an emotional occasion.
His transformation from relatively unheralded prospect out of tiny Stetson University into one of the game's most dominant pitchers delighted the Citi Field faithful for the better part of a decade.
On social media, the news of deGrom inking a lucrative deal that far exceeded the prognostications of most experts was met with a wide range of responses from the fans and journalists who follow the team closely.
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