The division-rival New York Mets were dealt a major blow Friday evening, as Jacob deGrom departed in free agency to join the Texas Rangers.
Texas gave the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner a five-year/$185 million deal, which ESPN‘s Jeff Passan notes includes a full no-trade clause and a “conditional sixth-year option that would take total deal to $222 million.”
It’s a high-risk, high-reward move by a Rangers team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2016. Over the last two years, deGrom has a minuscule 1.90 ERA. But his insane production has come over just 26 starts.