2018 NL Cy Young award winner Jacob Degrom reported to Spring Training without a new contract. Did you catch that first part? The 2018 Cy Young award winner part? Yeah. That’s my guy Jacob Degrom. As a Yankee fan it is tough to call a Met “my guy” but it is a fact. I have always loved pitchers the most and Degrom is the exact type of pitcher I love. A grinder with absolutely nasty stuff, who will strike you out before you’ve even gotten a chance to realize you’re in the batters box. A guy who no matter what gives 110% on the field and never throws his team or management under the bus. Even when they pissed away a historic season of his, Degrom never blamed anyone.
Degrom Deserves It
Degrom spoke to the media yesterday and naturally the question came up about his contract. A reporter asked if Jake would be considering an innings limit this season due to the uncertainty of his future long term with the Mets. Degrom answered by basically passing the buck onto his “agents”. Saying he would have to discuss it with them, but it was something he would consider. Even though players and agents don’t implement innings limits. Teams do.
Predictably this has thrown a lot of Met fans into a class warfare type of mentality by bashing the ” millionaire athlete ” for being greedy.
How quickly people forget that this man has been the only consistent bright spot in the Mets franchise for the past 4 seasons. Harvey was the Dark Knight who had swag like no other and pitching skills to boot, but was ultimately just a diva who couldn’t stay healthy. Syndergaard has one of the best personalities of any pro athlete in New York to go along with his insane talent. Syndergaard has cy young potential and it is not debatable, but the guy also gets injured. Degrom has been the only one who has consistently been on the mound and given his all to this franchise.
After a Cy Young season where Degrom pitched to a 1.70 ERA(!) he deserves to get his fucking money. Enough of this arbitration back and forth. Enough of the “well he is getting his $17 million” narrative. All these people calling into WFAN crying that Degrom should be happy with his money and not get “greedy” have no idea what they are talking about. We get it Larry from Ronconkano, you work hard every day as a flagger for your local construction company. Good for you bro. Thank you for your service. In reality when you shit on Big Jake you are bashing a millionaire and taking a BILLIONAIRE’S side. Not advocating for Degrom to get the security of a long term deal is advocating for the Wilpons to get another break. If he suffers a career ending injury he won’t see another dime from the MLB.
The Numbers
Clayton Kershaw who frankly is not on the same level as Degrom anymore just got a 3 year $93 million extension. Averaging $31 million a year. And Big Jake is getting $17 this year. David Price, Zack Greinke, and Max Scherzer, all average over $30 million a year. Jacob Degrom is better than all of these guys. And it’s really not debatable.
“But Sean, Degrom is turning 31 in June! He’s getting old! He’s been around awhile, and who wants to give big contracts like that anymore?!”
Thanks for the question stereotypical Degrom hater. Ill tell you why you give him the money, but most importantly, the years.
Max Scherzer signed a 7 year deal for $210 million around Degrom’s current age. Price 7 years $217 million around his age. And now Kershaw at the same age as Degrom. Here is the key to why I feel totally comfortable giving Degrom the years….
Max Scherzer Career Innings Pitched:
2,117.2 IP
David Price Career Innings Pitched:
1,922.1 IP
Clayton Kershaw Career Innings Pitched:
2096.1
Jacob Degrom Career Innings Pitched:
897.2 IP(!!!!!)
*mic drop*
The man has an arm with far less miles on it than guys who are making what he should be making. Degrom is going to be an ace for at least the next five years. So pay the man what he is worth, before he walks after the 2020 season and takes that young arm to the highest bidder.
The Mets and Degrom belong together. That’s why I hope we see some sort of compromise here. There is nothing wrong with Jake giving a little hometown discount to the team that drafted him, and there is nothing wrong with the Wilpon’s finally rewarding a guy who has been the heart and soul of this franchise.
My Prediction
Mets sign Degrom next off season to a 5 year deal worth anywhere from $26 to $28 million a year. But we are in for quite the 2019 without a new contract!