New York Mets: Jacob deGrom represents the ultimate catch-22

Jacob deGrom and his contract talks are the ultimate catch-22 for the New York Mets.

The New York Mets have, and always will, live and die by their pitching. Between the design of the stadium and just how things work out, the team has always been built around pitching. From days of long ago with Tom Seaver through today, this is how they roll in Queens. Nobody will forget the eighties and the “K Corner” for Dwight Gooden. Pitching, pitching and more pitching has been the Mets way.

The current roster is no different. You know the names. If they could ever stay healthy together they would be lethal. However, as Anthony DiComo notes, the current crop of starters has never taken a full turn through the rotation together. It has never happened. That of course is the job of Dave Eiland and staff to make happen going forward.

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Let’s talk about Jacob deGrom for a moment. According to the DiComo article, deGrom is interested in a contract extension at the right price. Talks began but never got very serious. The idea is an interesting one but it brings up the ever-popular problem with giving the big contract to a pitcher. It becomes a huge catch-22.

For starters, deGrom is the oldest and most mature pitcher of the group (turns 30 in June). He also has been the most durable, never pitching less than 140 innings. In fact, he went over 200 innings for the first time in his career in 2017 (201). He also hit a career high in strikeouts with 239.

But on the other hand, we have to remember that sports is a business. The Mets don’t have a real incentive to sign a long-term deal at this point. The hard-thrower is under team control for the next two years, and is arbitration-eligible during that time. His salary can raise incrementally so it is easier on the wallets of the team while still paying deGrom more of what he is worth. Any kind of extension would be for the big money.

By the time deGrom is ready to be a free agent, he will be 32 years old. Would you sign him to a big deal at that point? The Mets would likely regret the back-end of any big contract at that point. It’s just the way it goes with pitchers. Even the great ones. So it becomes a catch-22. Do they lock deGrom up and basically make him a Met for life? Or do they play out the string, year to year, and hope he sticks around for a reasonable price?

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The fact is the extension probably won’t happen prior to his free agency year. It would cost the Mets a lot. If it were to work, deGrom would have to give back a year of his free agency eligibility to make it worth it for the team. Would you do that? Not on the off-chance that another team might blow him away with cash.

So, they likely will continue this way. Hopefully they can win while he is still here.

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