March 29, 2024

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Texas Rangers sign ex-Mets ace Jacob deGrom to $185 million deal

Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom
Image: Getty Images

Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom is departing Queens for the Lonestar State.

According to ESPN, the ex-Mets ace agreed to a five-year, $185 million deal with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers announced the deal — minus the specifics — on Friday.

Injuries limited the 34-year-old deGrom to 64.1 innings this past season. He started 11 games and pitched to a 3.08 ERA with 102 strikeouts.

The righty spent the first nine years of his career with the New York Mets. He debuted in 2014 and won the National League Rookie of the Year award. deGrom won back-to-back Cy Youngs in 2018 and 2019.

The Rangers finished the 2022 season in fourth place in the American League West with a 68-94 record. The club finished 25th in pitcher WAR this past season and will get an immediate boost from the signing.

deGrom joins a rotation featuring Jon Gray, Martin Perez, and Jake Odorizzi. Texas also boasts young talent in Dane Dunning, Glen Otto, and some minor league arms.

The team spent more than twice as much in free agency as any other team last season. But competing for a division title will be an uphill battle; the Houston Astros are the reigning World Series champions and the Seattle Mariners ended their lengthy playoff drought.

Back in October, the Rangers hired ex-San Francisco Giants skipper Bruce Bochy as manager.