Rangers, Jacob deGrom agree to 5-year, $185M deal

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Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, according to sources.

The Rangers did not reveal the terms of the deal.

DeGrom opted out of the final two years of his contract with the New York Mets despite throwing just 64.1% of the pitches he was given. He missed the first four months of the season due to a stress reaction in his shoulder, and had limited his last three seasons due to injury.

Texas believed that deGrom could be a significant figure in the organization. He shattered expectations of a shorter-term deal with the five-year package that sources said includes a sixth- year option to bring the contract's total value to $222 million.

Less than a year after the Rangers signed second baseman Marcus Semien for seven years and $175 million, they signed a new second baseman. The Rangers spent more money than any other team in the off-season.

Spending continues even after bringing in deGrom with the biggest deal of the 2022-23 season. Sources said that the contract doesn't include deferred money or a no-trade clause. The lack of a state tax in Texas made it difficult for teams to compete with the Rangers.

In deGrom, the Rangers secured a right-handed pitcher with the best arsenal of pitches among starting pitchers: a 100 mph fastball, a hard-biting sliders, and a changeup.

In 11 starts, DeGrom had a record of 4-5 and a 3.08 earned run average, but his peripherals showed him to be even more dominant: 102 strikeouts against just eight walks, with nine home runs allowed.

It continued the sort of performances he had put up over the previous four seasons, when he won both of his Cy Youngs and elevated himself from a former ninth-round pick out of Stetson University.