New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom has been officially shut down for the remainder of the season, according to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News. Mets skipper Luis Rojas announced the news ahead of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Miami Marlins, noting that deGrom would “probably” have returned this year if New York remained in the playoff hunt. (Fellow injured right-hander Noah Syndergaard, meanwhile, will return to start the second game of said doubleheader.)
DeGrom, 33 years old, has not pitched since July 7 because of a tear the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. The Mets have since claimed that deGrom has made a full recovery, and that he won’t require Tommy John surgery or anything of the like.
This season will go down as a frustrating one for deGrom. He dealt with several injuries, including right side tightness, that limited him to just 15 starts. When he was able to pitch, he did so brilliantly. In 92 innings, he accumulated a 1.08 ERA (372 ERA+) and a 13.27 strikeout-to-walk ratio. DeGrom made the All-Star team and may still receive Cy Young Award consideration, albeit not as much as he would’ve otherwise.
The Mets’ decision to shut down deGrom is a wise one. New York entered Tuesday with a 73-82 record on the year, giving them zero chance at reaching the postseason. A healthy deGrom will be a huge part of the Mets’ competitive aspirations heading into 2022, so asking him to return for a non-essential start made little sense.
Next season will be a pivotal one for deGrom and the Mets for other reasons, too. He can officially opt-out of the remainder of his contract at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign. It’s unclear if deGrom’s injury-riddled season has or will impact the Mets’ willingness to sign him to an extension ahead of his potential date with free agency.
