MLB news: Jacob deGrom concerns, White Sox drama, Phillies get surprising praise

MLB news: Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers

As reported on Wednesday, deGrom, the prize acquisition of the Rangers in the offseason, is already heading down a familiar path, temporarily being held out of the early part of spring training after experiencing tightness on his left side. The move is strictly a precaution, Texas general manager Chris Young said. That would be good news for a franchise that inked the 34-year-old deGrom, who has an extensive injury history, to a five-year, $185 million deal this offseason.

Plenty of MLB fans had a good laugh and poked fun at the Rangers following the announcement and its timing, considering the team’s social media workers had just posted an image of deGrom walking into camp for the first time.

However, the Rangers are hoping the laugh is very short-lived and that deGrom’s tightness will ease shortly. It seems Texas has faith that will happen based on two big notes. First, deGrom reportedly wanted to pitch through it but the Rangers were the ones making the decision to pull him to the side. Second, Young told reporters that deGrom’s “arm feels great,” and that, had this been during the regular season, deGrom would have taken the mound.

Yes, there are always going to be injury concerns with deGrom, but the Rangers seem fine with taking things slowly since it’s only mid-February.