New York Mets: 3 awesome things about the Jacob deGrom extension

Contracts like this have actually worked for the Mets.

Perhaps no team in all of Major League Baseball fits all the stereotypes and narratives set for them then the New York Mets. Whether it be proving they are always injured, or having never lost in the Division Series, or whatever you assume the Mets will do, they almost always do it.

History often repeats itself with the Mets more often that not. So, when it was brought to my attention that long contracts given to proven players have actually worked out for the Mets, I was kind of surprised.

The Mets have handed deGrom the largest contract in terms of numbers since David Wright‘s contract given what feels like a decade ago now. It also put deGrom as one of the highest paid Mets players of all time.

First off, I want to make a mini point, if you look at how far back the rest of these contracts are, it is surprising to see how the market has not grown that much the last few seasons, I would have thought that the market for deGrom was much larger.

Anyway, looking at all those contracts, it is tough to say they didn’t work out for the Mets. Wright still had years left after he signed his and still plays a role on the team. Cespedes carried them to a pennant and a wild card game, it is not looking hot right now, but he earned his. Mike Piazza is a Mets legend, he too, won a pennant. Then Carlos Beltran had one of the most underrated Mets careers of all-time.

The only outlier is the Johan Santana deal, but even he had a few solid seasons (46 wins as a Met) and threw the no-hitter which is a top moment in Mets history. I am sure you owned some form of a “No-han” shirt that even helped the Mets profit off of that moment.

Really, those five other contracts worked out for the Mets. They all became major players and at the very least each player provided big moments for the Mets. Injuries and all aside, they all at least helped the Mets win something, outside of Santana.

So, giving a contract to one of their best players, at least contracts of that magnitude, hasn’t exactly back fired for the Mets. Of course, there are always the Jason Bay‘s and Bobby Bonilla‘s of the world, but arguably every team has them.

The deal is encouraging based on history. Both deGrom’s and the team’s history. If history repeats itself, it is at least guaranteed deGrom gives the Mets something, all else aside.