If the New York Mets hope to retain two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom beyond this season, it's likely going to take a historic investment.
Jon Heyman writes in The New York Post that "some believe he will shoot to become the first $50 million player" in regards to deGrom. The electric right-hander has made no bones about his plans to decline his $30.5 million option for 2023 and search for a new deal this offseason.
Over his last 21 starts, deGrom is 11-3 with a 1.33 ERA and 1.29 FIP. Mookie Betts -- likely a future Hall of Famer -- called deGrom "maybe the best to ever pitch" earlier this week. In theory, that type of player is worth at least $50 million per season.
The problem is that those 21 starts have come over a two-season span. And they are the only starts he's made between the 2021 and 2022 seasons to this point. Where most aces have made close to 60 starts over that period, deGrom has consistently been unavailable due to injury.
It's true, there is another level that deGrom reaches on the mound that feels different than even Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander. He may have the greatest repertoire of pitches of anyone to ever take the mound. But he's 34 and hasn't pitched 200 innings in a season since 2019. If you're going to pay someone $50 million or more per season -- even on a shorter-term deal -- you'd like to feel better about their availability.
It will be interesting to see how the Mets attack the offseason. Keeping deGrom and Scherzer together would be pretty special, but neither is a spring chicken at this point. Steve Cohen and the Mets also have to consider the futures of Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo and Taijuan Walker, who are also among a slew of key players that can become free agents this offseason.
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