MLB experts predict Jacob deGrom is definitely leaving the Mets

A group of MLB experts for ESPN predicted where they think the top free agents will sign, and all of them think that Jacob deGrom is leaving the New York Mets.

The New York Mets spent money last offseason, and it resulted in them clinching their first postseason berth since 2016. Now, they have another winter to plan how they can increase their odds to contend for the World Series. One player they have to decide whether to keep is ace Jacob deGrom, who opted out of his contract and is looking for a new lucrative deal at the age of 34-years-old.

ESPN had MLB experts Buster Olney, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez, Joon Lee, Kiley McDaniel, Jesse Rogers and David Schoenfield give their predictions on where they believe the top free agents will sign. When it comes to deGrom, they all expect him to sign with another team.

Olney, McDaniel, Schoenfield and Lee all predict that deGrom will sign with the Texas Rangers. Doolittle selected the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rogers picked the Atlanta Braves, and Gonzalez chose the St. Louis Cardinals.

ESPN MLB experts predict Jacob deGrom will leave Mets this offseason

Brace yourselves, Mets fans?

deGrom showed this past season that he can still pitch at a high level and hold games to under three hours. But, he made his season debut in August after suffering a stress reaction in his right scapula in spring training. The year prior, he missed the second half of the 2021 season due to a sprained right elbow and right forearm tightness.

While he has shown to be one of the top pitchers in the game, he has dealt with some significant injuries recently.

When it comes to the consensus of the ESPN experts, they feel that the Rangers are a likely fit. The Rangers are looking to get back into postseason contention. They spent nearly $500 million last season on Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to fill out their middle infield. Then this offseason, they hired former three-time World Series champion manager Bruce Bochy out of retirement to lead the team. With a need at starting pitching, deGrom makes sense on paper.

The Dodgers, well, are in on every big name available in free agency or the trade block, so that’s hardly surprising.

St. Louis is coming off of an NL Central title and a quick elimination in the postseason. They could make a run to sign a starting pitcher to help increase their odds of making a run to the World Series.

Then, the worst possible outcome is deGrom signing with the Braves. While Mets fans may be able to stomach deGrom signing elsewhere, they would absolutely despise it if the Braves were to reach out and get him to put his name to paper on a contract offer.

Will deGrom sign with the Mets? Or will he choose to go elsewhere? We should find out at some point this winter.