MLB rumors: White Sox trade asset, Cardinals turbulence, Rangers winning

Even while injured, Jacob deGrom is winning his Texas Rangers contract

At his introductory press conference with the Rangers back in December, star free agent acquisition Jacob deGrom explained one of the reasons why he chose to come to the Lone Star State.

“The Rangers did a great job with constant communication and making me feel like they really wanted me here,” deGrom said that day. “The vision was the same: build something great, and win year in and year out.”

That last part is the key and very timely as the Rangers have indeed been winning this season, entering Saturday with the second-best record in MLB (behind the Tampa Bay Rays) at 36-20. The Rangers have the best run differential in all of baseball as well, outscoring their opponents by a combined 133 runs through the first 56 games of the campaign.

And that domination has continued while deGrom has been on the shelf with elbow inflammation. He made his last start on April 29, but the Rangers have continued to roll, even in his absence. And part of those impressive numbers above have come thanks to a rotation that has stepped up to pick up the slack for deGrom.

While the Rangers would love to have deGrom on the mound, there is still plenty of momentum in Arlington as Texas patiently waits for his return.