The New York Mets surprised the MLB this offseason when they considerably added to their payroll in hopes of getting back to the World Series. Will they continue that narrative and ink starter Jacob deGrom to a contract extension?
New York's cast of young starters figures to be the subject of many rumors in the coming seasons. Will some of them get extensions? Will some of them get traded? The Mets' may not have the money to afford long-term contracts for all of them, but they can start budgeting or at least considering now.
deGrom is open to a contract extension with the team, but it's unknown if that's on the docket for general manager Sandy Alderson.
"I'm a little bit older, so I might be more willing to do something like that,'' the right-hander told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post when asked about a long-term extension. "You just have to look at what is fair so both sides get a decent deal. It's something I'd have to look into and make sure I agree with it.''
There have been no rumors or reports regarding this scenario, but it's likely those in the front office have been pondering it. deGrom doesn't become arbitration-eligible until after the 2017 season and he won't hit free agency until after 2020. However, it could be in the Mets' best interests to take care of the 27-year-old since he's already delivered them an NL Rookie of the Year award and helped them to their first World Series since 2000.
deGrom is 23-14 with a 2.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 349 strikeouts in his first two MLB seasons (52 starts).
When Alderson said "there are no possibilities dismissed out of hand for financial reasons" earlier this offseason, Bob Klapisch of the Bergen County Record speculated whether or not that meant the team would be open to taking care of its starters.
Cespedes' three-year, $75 million deal is more than a stimulus package for the 2016 lineup, it's the starter's gun on a rolling campaign beginning as soon as spring training - to lock up the young starters to long-term contracts."
If they're going to take care of anyone first, it might have to be Matt Harvey because the right-hander will become a free agent after the 2018 season.
