By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas — Free-agent ace Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers agreed to a $185 million, five-year contract on Friday.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner leaves the New York Mets after nine seasons – the past two shortened by injuries.
After making his first start last season in early August, deGrom went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 outings though his peripherals better illustrated his dominance: 102 strikeouts against just eight walks, with nine home runs allowed. He helped the Mets reach the playoffs, then opted out of his contract to become a free agent.
Texas announced the signing Friday night after the 34-year-old deGrom passed his physical. A person with direct knowledge of the deal disclosed the financial terms to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the club did not announce those details.
“We are thrilled that Jacob deGrom has decided to become a Texas Ranger,” Executive VP and General Manager Chris Young said in a statement. “Over a number of seasons, Jacob has been a standout major league pitcher, and he gives us a dominant performer at the top of our rotation. One of our primary goals this offseason is to strengthen our starting pitching, and we are adding one of the best.”
DeGrom opted out of the final two years of his contract despite throwing just 64-1/3 innings in 2022. He missed the first four months of the season with a stress reaction in his shoulder, and injuries had limited him to 224-1/3 innings over the last three seasons.
He shattered industry-wide expectations of a shorter-term deal with the five-year package that reportedly includes a sixth-year option to bring the contract’s total value to $222 million.
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The contract reportedly does not include any deferred money and gives deGrom a full no-trade clause. Between that and the lack of a state tax in Texas, competing teams would have needed to exceed the $40 million-a-year threshold and stretch the offer’s length to have competed with the Rangers.
Texas went 68-94 last season and then hired Bruce Bochy as its new manager. The Rangers’ six consecutive losing seasons are their worst skid since the franchise moved from Washington in 1972.
The Rangers were big spenders in free agency last offseason, signing Corey Seager ($325 million, 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175 million, seven years).