Mets owner will do 'whatever we can' to keep deGrom
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen wants to see right-hander Jacob deGrom pitching for his team next season and he's willing to do whatever it takes to retain the two-time National League Cy Young winner, who can opt out of his contract at the end of the 2022 campaign.
"Listen, he certainly has the right to do that. We love Jacob, and I think he's the best pitcher in baseball," Cohen said, according to the New York Post's Zach Braziller. "We’ll do whatever we can to make sure he stays. But it's his decision, not ours."
The 34-year-old deGrom said earlier this year he intends to opt out of his current deal, which would pay him $30.5 million in 2023 and includes a $32.5-million club option for 2024.
Cohen said the Mets haven't discussed a new contract with deGrom yet to avoid distracting the team during the season, but the owner intends to bring back the ace.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, all right," Cohen said. "Right now we're trying to win our division and we're going to sit down with Jake and try to figure it out at the end of the season."
DeGrom has only made five starts this season after missing most of the year with a stress reaction in his right shoulder. He's authored a 2.15 ERA, 1.08 FIP, and 14.1 K/9 in 29 1/3 innings this campaign.
The four-time All-Star owns an 80-54 record with a 2.49 ERA and 10.8 K/9 in nine seasons with the Mets.