Jacob deGrom News: Dodgers Target Signs Huge Contract With Rangers

The pitcher dominoes have officially started to fall. Anyone who hoped the Dodgers would sign Jacob deGrom, that ship has sailed. On Friday, deGrom joined former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager on the Rangers on a massive five-year deal.

The signing locks deGrom up with a no-trade clause and $185 million, while adding a sixth-year option that can boost the contract up to $222 million. It’s a massive hit to the starting pitcher market, and a huge boost for the Rangers.

BREAKING: Right-hander Jacob deGrom has signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources tell ESPN. Physical is passed. Deal is done. Includes conditional sixth-year option that would take total deal to $222 million. Full no-trade clause. A massive haul.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 3, 2022

The injury risks were too much for the Dodgers to pull the trigger, and perhaps the team sees a safer option on the market. As the former two-time Cy Young Award winner is now off the Dodgers’ radar, they can shift their focus to Justin Verlander, who has been heavily linked to the team.

An older Verlander will still command top dollar, especially with the numbers given to deGrom, but a much shorter contract provides much less risk. However, now with deGrom gone, the Mets may be in on the Verlander sweepstakes, putting another wrench into any Dodgers’ offseason plans.

The question for the New York Mets is now: How do they replace deGrom? Is it Carlos Rodón? Justin Verlander? They’ve pursued all of the top pitchers, including Kodai Senga and Chris Bassitt. The ~$40 million a year earmarked for deGrom can go a lot of different places.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 3, 2022

While the Dodgers didn’t pull the trigger on deGrom, they are still left with a very serviceable Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw is planning on signing a one-year deal estimated to be around $20 million, while deGrom will average nearly $37 million a season.

Both have injury risks, and Kershaw has been in the league longer, slowly going through the wear and tear of a long career. However, the Dodgers still should feel very good about the value they got in their 34-year-old ace.

Jacob DeGrom is 34-years-old and signed a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers.

Clayton Kershaw is 34-years-old and will sign a one-year, ~$20 million to remain with the Dodgers.

Kershaw has nearly double the innings on his arm, but seems like pretty nice value for LA.

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) December 3, 2022

How will the Dodgers capitalize on pitching help? Will the Dodgers focus their attention to other positions of need, or is Verlander the boom or bust play they lean on?

There are a lot of questions, but one thing is certain. The first domino has officially gone down. This offseason is about to take off.

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