The prior week in MLB was about a team in the American League who signed a starting pitcher to a long-term deal, another team in the AL added pitching depth, and a club in the National League traded an infielder.
Texas Rangers Sign Starting Pitcher Jacob deGrom to Five-Year Deal Worth $185 Million
OFFICIAL: We've signed RHP Jacob deGrom to a 5-year contract. pic.twitter.com/GXHFaOa6m9
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) December 3, 2022
The Texas Rangers have added an ace to their starting rotation, by signing starting Jacob deGrom to a five-year contract, per a team announcement.
The contract with the Rangers is worth $185 million, and it includes a conditional sixth-year option which could make the contract worth $222 million. The deal also includes a full no-trade clause, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
BREAKING: Right-hander Jacob deGrom has signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources tell ESPN. Physical is passed. Deal is done. Includes conditional sixth-year option that would take total deal to $222 million. Full no-trade clause. A massive haul.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 3, 2022
The Rangers will give up their second-round draft pick and $500,000 from their international draft pool.
BREAKING: The @Rangers are signing Jacob deGrom to a 5-year, $185M deal, per @Ken_Rosenthal and @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/SVY0KTv88D
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 3, 2022
The 34-year-old pitcher has an average annual value of $37 million, which makes him the second-highest pitcher in MLB behind former New York Mets teammate Max Scherzer, who makes $43.3 per year.
According to a source that told Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets were interested in bringing deGrom back but never got a final offer.
The Mets never got to a final offer with Jacob deGrom, according to a source.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 3, 2022
The Mets had offered deGrom a deal in the three-year, $120-million range, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Mets' offer to deGrom was 3 years in $120M range. Sides were in contact Thursday, but no back-and-forth Friday (today). So there was no "if you can top this" bidding. The Mets got word from deGrom camp not that much before the world found out that he was going to the Rangers.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 3, 2022
The Mets probably would not have matched the offer from the Rangers given the opportunity, as that is a hefty financial commitment.
deGrom is one of the best starting pitchers in MLB when healthy, as he won consecutive National League Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019.
However, he has made just 26 starts over the last two seasons due to injuries, including a stress reaction in his throwing shoulder last year.
The Rangers needed a pitcher to lead their staff, and they have it in deGrom, and hopefully, he will be healthy for at least half the contract.
Tampa Bay Rays Sign Pitcher Zach Eflin to Three-Year Contract
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin to a three-year contract, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Right-hander Zach Eflin and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a three-year contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 2, 2022
The deal is worth $40 million, making it the largest MLB free-agent contract in Rays history, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
#Rays previous largest free agent contract by total dollars, before agreeing to this $40M, 3-year deal w/ Zach Eflin, was done in their 1998 inaugural season:
$35M over 5 years to … Wilson Alvarez— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 2, 2022
#Rays salary breakdown on Eflin: $11M in 2023, $11M in 2024, $18M in 2025
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 2, 2022
Eflin was used primarily out of the bullpen last year by the Philadelphia Phillies, but the Rays intend to utilize Eflin in the rotation, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
The deal is pending a physical. The plan is for Eflin to return as a SP. https://t.co/sxotJWErep
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 2, 2022
Eflin started last season in the rotation before a knee bruise limited him to 13 starts in June.
When he returned, the Phillies moved him into the bullpen, which was a great decision.
He posted a 1.17 ERA and 0.52 WHIP down the stretch for the Phillies while accumulating 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings in the postseason.
This was a smart move by the Rays to add pitching depth that does not break the bank.
Milwaukee Brewers Trade Infielder Kolten Wong to Seattle Mariners for Winker, Toro
According to a team announcement, the Milwaukee Brewers have traded infielder Kolten Wong and cash to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Jesse Winker and infielder Abraham Toro.
OF Jesse Winker and INF Abraham Toro have officially been acquired from Seattle in exchange for 2B Kolten Wong and cash. pic.twitter.com/47hDp2TSSj
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 2, 2022
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Mariners are receiving around $1.75 million in cash.
The Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a trade that will send outfielder Jesse Winker and infielder Abraham Toro to the Brewers for second baseman Kolten Wong and around $1.75 million in cash, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. It’s at the finish line.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 2, 2022
Wong had a decent 2002 season with the Brewers, as he posted a .251 batting average and .770 OPS in 134 games with 65 runs scored, 24 doubles, four triples, 15 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.
Wong plays solid defense at second base and has earned two Gold Glove awards in that position.
Winker struggled last season with the Mariners as he compiled a .219 average in 136 games with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs.
Toro was with the Mariners for two seasons after being acquired in a trade in 2021 with the Houston Astros.
He had a .185 average with 35 RBIs in 109 games last year. He is under club control for four more years.
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- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
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