What's next after Jacob deGrom spurns the Mets, and a snapshot of the market
The Mets will reportedly sign two starting pitchers with Justin Verlander now, "front and center" for the club as they look to fill a major void left by Jacob deGrom
What’s Up with the Mets? 😞
With Jacob deGrom departing for the Rangers, the Mets are determined to sign one of Justin Verlander or Carlos Rodón along with a mid-rotation starting pitcher (SNY)
The Mets’ final offer to deGrom was for three years and $120 million (New York Post) - he accepted a five-year contract and $185 million guaranteed with a sixth-year conditional option to make the deal worth $222 million (ESPN)
The Mets originally approached deGrom about a short contract extension in spring, 2021 - he countered with a five-year $190 million concept which the Mets declined (Heyman)
Rangers’ press release announcing deGrom’s deal (Link)
The Mets and Rangers are two of “many teams” interested in signing Jameson Taillon (New York Post)
The Mets signed RHP Jimmy Yacabonis to a minor league contract (MetsMerized)
Starting Pitching Options 🛒
The Mets will reportedly be looking at the top of the free agent market for one starting pitcher and also be in the mid-tier of the market to fill another spot. With the Winter Meetings set to begin on Sunday in San Diego, here is a snapshot of those categories:
Carlos Rodón
Rodón, who turns 30 next week, is coming off two outstanding seasons following Tommy John Surgery, having made 55 starts while going 27-13 with a 2.67 ERA with 422 strikeouts in 310.2 IP since the start of the 2021 season, having walked just 88 batters during that span. In addition to his elbow injury, Rodón has dealt with shoulder problems over the course of his career - he had shoulder surgery in 2017 and dealt with shoulder fatigue in 2021 as well.
Justin Verlander
The future hall of famer had a season for the ages in 2022, capturing his third Cy Young of his immaculate career after going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA with 185 strikeouts and just 29 walks allowed over 175 innings. He underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2021, costing him the entirety of that season but his performance in 2022 also earned him the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award. Verlander, who will turn 40 in February, is a two-time World Champion, has won the pitcher’s Triple Crown, an MVP award, and has been named to the All-Star Game nine times in his 17-year career. He also pitched alongside Max Scherzer in the Tigers starting rotation from 2010-2014, reaching the postseason four times during that span and the ALCS three times.
Kodai Senga
The Mets reportedly met with the 30-year-old Senga during his tour of major league clubs in November. He has spent his entire 11-year professional career in the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan, posting a 2.59 ERA with 1252 strikeouts in 1089 IP at their highest level of play, although he has allowed 414 walks during that span as well. He most recently pitched to a 1.94 ERA for the Blackhawks in the Japan Pacific League in 2022 with a 3.18 strikeout-to-walk ratio while striking out an impressive 27.4 percent of the batters he faced.
Jameson Taillon
The Yankees acquired Taillon, 31, via trade in January, 2021 after he missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing a second Tommy John Surgery in 2019. He has successfully built his innings count back up as the Yankees carefully navigated his workload over 32 starts in 2022, a season in which he posted a 3.91 ERA with 155 strikeouts while allowing 32 walks over 177 innings with league average output (100 ERA+).
Chris Bassitt
Bassitt, who will turn 34 in February, was the Mets most consistent and steadiest presence on the mound for the Mets in 2022, posting career-highs in innings pitched and games started. He was acquired via a trade with the A’s after the lockout in March and went on to post a 3.42 ERA with 167 strikeouts while allowing 49 walks over 181.2 IP in 2022, after which he declined his side of a mutual option and entered the open market as a free agent.
Andrew Heaney
Heaney, 31, made just 16 appearances, 14 starts for the Dodgers in 2022, but posted a career-best 3.10 ERA 5.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 7.4 hits-per-nine innings over 72.2 IP. Opponents hit just .214 against Heaney overall - right-handed hitters batted .210 while left-handed hitters batted .230. He was a journeyman starting pitcher with the Angels before the Yankees acquired him in a trade in 2021, struggling particularly to keep the ball in the ballpark during his short stay in the Bronx. Heaney figures to be a back-of-the-rotation option with an ability to pitch out of the bullpen, potentially serving as competion for David Peterson for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Kyle Gibson
After getting off to a strong start with the National League Champion Phillies in 2022, Gibson quickly faded as he posted a 5.62 ERA over his final 21 starts of the 2022 season, allowing 19 home runs in only 119 IP during that span. His performance away from Citizens Bank Park was of particular concern, as he pitched to a 5.74 ERA on the road. Overall, Gibson, 35, went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA for the Phillies in 2022. They acquired him at the trade deadline in 2021 after he posted an impressive 2.87 ERA over his first 19 starts of that season with the Rangers, but has posted a 5.06 ERA in 43 appearances for the Phillies since that transaction was made. He appeared in relief for the Phillies in the postseason in 2022, combining to for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief in the National League Championship Series against the Padres and the World Series against the Astros.
Hot Stove 🔥
The Mariners acquired Kolten Wong from the Brewers in exchange for Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro
The Brewers are not planning to trade from their starting rotation this winter (MLB.com)
The Diamondbacks have agreed to sign former Met Miguel Castro to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with a vesting $5 million option for 2024 (FanSided, Athletic)
The Diamondbacks claimed former Met Ali Sánchez off waivers from the Pirates on Friday
The Red Sox and RHP Chris Martin agreed to a two-year, $17.5 million contract (ESPN)
The Cardinals are interested in a reunion for the resurgent José Quintana (New York Post)
The Rays are now looking at options to redevelop the Tropicana Field area in St. Petersburg (TB Times)
The Phillies and the Padres are in the market for the top available shortstops (Stark, Rosenthal)