The New York Mets are still talking to teams about ace Jacob deGrom, but are unlikely to trade the right hander.
The New York Mets are at a crossroads as they slog through another disappointing season. Their minor league system, even after the Jeurys Familia trade, is very weak.
Thus, there are some who feel that the team should trade ace pitcher Jacob deGrom to jump-start a rebuild, ideally getting a player like Gleyber Torres for him.
Others feel that it’s unlikely that any team will part with what deGrom is worth, and the team is, therefore, better off building around him.
The Mets appear to be in the second category, according to MLB.com’s Anthony Dicomo. He reports that while the team is engaged in discussions about deGrom, the front office feels that he is extremely important for the team’s future.
Assistant GM John Ricco says the Mets are "still engaged" and "still having dialogue with some teams" on a trade of Jacob deGrom.
However…
"We love him," Ricco said. "We know what we have. In order to move him in a trade, it would take an awful lot."
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 23, 2018
John Ricco, one of three people doing the job of one person, specifically saying “it would take an awful lot” to get deGrom when it was already abundantly obvious it would take an awful lot to get speaks to the team’s thought process.
The fact that Ricco felt the need to say that implies that the team will not move their ace unless they are absolutely and completely blown away by an offer. Simply put, they are doing due diligence but feel no pressure to move him. The agency representing deGrom said that they want to Mets to either extend him or consider trade offers.
The 30-year-old righty is having an excellent season for the Mets. He has an MLB-leading 1.71 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 131.1 innings pitched. His WHIP is an incredible 0.967.
Despite those stats, his record sits at only 5-5, which is criminal. He has gotten absolutely no run support this season, getting 3.7 runs of support per start according to Odds Shark.
He has the sixth-worst run support rate of any starter who has made at least 20 starts entering play on July 24. It’s the main reason the team has won only eight of his 20 starts.
However, as of right now, it looks unlikely he will go to another team that will provide him with more run support, as the front office loves having him here.
