Rangers' deGrom: 'Part of me thought I'd be back' with Mets

Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom recently set the record straight on his departure from the New York Mets, whom he could have seen himself reuniting with despite rumors he didn't enjoy The Big Apple.

"It was never like, I'm outta here," deGrom told the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"You look at places you can see yourself playing. All I had known was New York, and part of me thought I'd be back.

The two-time Cy Young winner inked a lucrative five-year, $185-million contract with the Rangers in December after opting out of his Mets deal.

New York reportedly offered the 34-year-old a new pact in the $100 million-to-$110-million range, which did not upset deGrom despite speculation that it had.

"That kind of got out. (But) I really enjoyed my time in New York," deGrom said.

"I have friends that will be lifelong friends in New York. We still keep in touch with a lot of people. That was all I knew for 13 years including eight seasons in the big leagues. The fans and everyone were always great to me. It was never like 100% I'm leaving here."

DeGrom admitted the change of scenery was a business decision rather than a personal one, explaining it was the Rangers' early and aggressive pursuit that drew him in.

Texas, along with the Mets and San Diego Padres, has been one of the league's biggest spenders in recent years. It not only inked deGrom but brought in fellow hurlers Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney to shore up the rotation this winter.

The additions came one season after the Rangers spent a combined $500 million on infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

Meanwhile, the Mets replaced deGrom's spot in the starting rotation with Justin Verlander amid a gargantuan offseason spending spree that pushed the team payroll close to $370 million.