Could Jacob deGrom really play for the Texas Rangers in 2023?

With the World Series now in the rearview, we are sprung forward into yet another offseason filled with hope and optimism. And with Texas Rangers owner Ray Davis publicizing his intentions to spend, every Ranger fan is ecstatic for the possibilities of what this 2023 team will look like, including a run at Jacob deGrom.

Hopefully the Rangers can have big pockets once again in a stacked free agent class, and bring some key players here to push this team into contention. One player in particular who could turn the tides fast around here would be the aforementioned deGrom.

Jacob deGrom has been linked frequently to the Texas Rangers this off-season

Why Jacob deGrom?

deGrom has been one of, if not the best pitcher in the league since his 2014 debut. Amassing two Cy Young awards, four all-star appearances, and a Rookie of the Year award, to go with his career stat-line of 43.8 WAR, 82 Wins, 57 Losses, 3.08 ERA, and a 0.746 WHIP. deGrom is an immediate upgrade over every pitcher the Rangers have, and could be the best pitcher to ever suit up in a Ranger uniform.

If he remained healthy, him bringing the Rangers their first ever Cy Young award in franchise history wouldn’t be out of the question. That is the big risk, though…

The Risk

While he is perhaps the best pitcher in the league when healthy, nobody can guarantee when or for how long he will be healthy for going forward. Over the past two seasons, deGrom has had multiple injuries, causing him to only have 26 starts since the beginning of the 2021 season.

To go along with the injury history, his age is also a major concern. A half year before turning 35 means two things for deGrom:

1. He wants to get paid big one more time before calling it quits.
2. Pitchers often breakdown at this advanced age.

So, why would the Rangers be interested in a player that poses this much risk? Well, signing deGrom means they’re likely going for it all. It would be a bold decision with a hefty price tag, but it would certainly send a jolt throughout this organization and the league, letting us know the Rangers mean business.

The Price

As I said previously, the price for deGrom will be hefty, and I do mean hefty. He just opted out of a one-year contract that would’ve resulted in him making $32.5 million this next season, and according to cbssports.com, he could be seeking a deal worth around $43 million a year, or more, which would be similar to the Max Scherzer deal.

The Rangers can afford this, however, should they go for this? There’s other quality free agent pitching available; names like Carlos Rodon, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Bassitt, and Jameson Taillon come to mind. However, none of them are the pitcher that a healthy deGrom is. That alone is worth his price tag, but whoever signs him must assume the risk that he may break down or miss time over the length of his next contract.

Personally, I think the player is worth the risk. While it would obviously take more than deGrom to make this Ranger team a true contender, pairing him with one of the other pitchers in free agency, and bringing back Martin Perez just may.

I think the risk is worth it to get a player of this caliber.

Signing deGrom won’t be any easy feat, and it won’t immediately make them into contenders; however, it would be a step in the right direction and a commitment to winning now, not later, by this front office. The time for the Rangers to win is sooner, not later, and the moves this offseason need to reflect that, deGrom or not.