Jacob deGrom made his Texas two-step from the Mets official on Thursday afternoon. The 34-year-old was launched as a Ranger in a press convention at Globe Life Field as he begins his potential six-year stint in Arlington.
“Whenever I found out the Rangers were one of those teams [interested] I got really excited,” mentioned deGrom carrying his new jersey and cap. “Hearing the imaginative and prescient of what the Rangers need to do and in the end getting to satisfy [owner] Ray [Davis] and the imaginative and prescient right here and bringing a World Series right here. That’s the aim, successful a World Series.
“These guys all had that same vision and it lined up with what I wanted to do. They showed a ton of interest right from the start and the feelings were mutual and I’m just very happy to be here.”
The two-time Cy Young award winner bolted Queens after 9 seasons of dominance — and accidents — and agreed to a five-year deal for $185 million with the Rangers earlier than the beginning of MLB’s Winter Meetings in San Diego. The deal features a conditional choice for a sixth season.
DeGrom acknowledged that the choice wasn’t simple and the Mets’ group will all the time be very pricey to him.
“That’s not an easy decision [leaving the Mets],” deGrom mentioned. “I spent the primary eight-plus years of my profession with the New York Mets and I’ve to thank them for that. They’ll all the time maintain a particular place in my coronary heart, my spouse’s coronary heart and my children.
“From ownership to my teammates there and the fans ultimately, they made me feel welcome there. They played a big role in my career. There will always be a special place in my heart for the New York Mets and their fans. That’s [free agency] just part of the baseball and seeing what C.Y. [Rangers’ GM Chris Young], [Bruce] Boch[y] and Ray were building here, it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
After six straight dropping seasons, the Rangers lured Bochy — a three-time World Series winner managing the Giants — out of retirement in October.
“I’m ecstatic. To win in our game, you need pitching,” Bochy mentioned Thursday. “We couldn’t have a better guy to head up this rotation. We’ve added to the rotation. So don’t tell me we can’t win. … We’re a much better club right now than just a few weeks ago.”
Now the struggling franchise brings in a giant free agent in deGrom, however the signing places in query the four-time All-Star’s final aim. By spurning the 101-win Mets in favor of the 68-win Rangers doesn’t seem to place deGrom nearer to the last word prize.
The Lakeland, Fla., native additionally divulged a bit on his free company course of. He acknowledged that and his representatives had been involved with the Mets all through his course of however tipped his cap to the Rangers for his or her fixed communication including that Texas made him really feel like they actually wished him right here.
When deGrom is on the mound he’s arguably the perfect pitcher of this technology. He posted a profession 2.52 ERA in 209 begins over 9 seasons with the Mets. However, his fixed harm historical past doubtless made the Mets balk at providing a long-term deal. Without blinking, the Mets turned the web page and changed deGrom with Justin Verlander on a two-year deal.
DeGrom’s Rangers will go to Citi Field on Aug. 28 of this season.
– With News Wire Services
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Source: www.bostonherald.com