MLB

MLB Weekly Digest December 5th Edition: Texas Rangers Sign Starting Pitcher Jacob deGrom to Five-Year Contract

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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

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.

The Rangers will give up their second-round draft pick and $500,000 from their international draft pool.

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 had offered deGrom a deal in the three-year, $120-million range, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Mariners are receiving around $1.75 million in cash.

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 Lacey

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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Chris Lacey
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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