Jacob deGrom open to long-term deal with Mets

By foxsports
Published

DeGrominance could be a longstanding phenomenon in New York.

As the New York Mets prepare for another run at a World Series title, right-hander Jacob deGrom was asked about potentially signing a long-term deal with the club in light of comments general manager Sandy Alderson made suggesting that Mets might try to lock up all of their young starters.

"I'm a little bit older, so I might be more willing to do something like that," deGrom told the New York Post on Wednesday. "You just have to look at what is fair so both sides get a decent deal. It's something I'd have to look into and make sure I agree with it."

The 27-year-old right-hander won't become a free agent until after the 2020 season, but inking an extension in the near future would be in the best interest of both the Mets and deGrom if the two parties can come to an agreement.

DeGrom, who won the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year Award, has quickly asserted himself as one of the best right-handers in MLB, notching a 23-14 record with a 2.61 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 52 regular-season starts over the past two seasons.

"I haven't thought that much about it, and I have to talk to my agents and stuff and look at the numbers and decide what was favorable," deGrom told the Post.

In his first postseason appearance, deGrom, who was drafted in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft out of Stetson University by the Mets, turned heads by outdueling three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out 13 in seven scoreless innings in the Mets' 3-1 Game 1 win over the Dodgers in the NLDS.

However, after logging a career-high 191 innings in the regular season, deGrom showed signs of fatigue – which began at the end of the regular season – for the remainder of the postseason.

Despite the dazzling opening to his postseason career, deGrom is regretful of the way it ended.

Facing the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the World Series, he was tagged for four earned runs in five innings in the Mets' eventual 7-1 loss. New York lost the series in five games.

"I wasn't really happy with how that went," deGrom said of his World Series start. "Hopefully I get a chance to get back there and kind of redeem myself. You never know how many starts you are going to have in the World Series, and to not have a very good one, definitely makes you want to get back and improve on that."