deGrom gets $185 million guaranteed with a full no-trade clause to bolster Rangers rotation
Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom became the first huge free agent domino to fall by signing a five-year, $185 million deal to become the ace of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers only went 68-94 after spending big money to sign SS Corey Seager and 2B Marcus Semien last offseason, but they’re looking to make a run in the AL West with the signing of a bona fide ace.
Rangers pitching needed help
Making deGrom the top offseason target made a ton of sense. The Rangers finished 22nd in ERA at 4.22 and 22nd in FIP at 4.18. More importantly, they were 25th in starter ERA at 4.63 and 24th in FIP at 4.42. Rangers starters only accounted for 37 wins, tied for 24th. Texas’s best pitcher, Martin Perez, accepted his qualifying offer and will stick around, but he was the only pitcher to throw at least 154 innings last season. Jon Gray joined Perez (2.89 ERA) as the only other starter with at least eight starts to have an ERA under 4.00.
The Rangers used 16 different starting pitchers this past season, but now have a pretty good 1-2-3 with deGrom, Perez and Gray. Depth is still an issue, but with multiple World Series winning manager Bruce Bochy at the helm, the Rangers are going to be active in free agency and focus the bulk of their attention on the pitching side.
2023 World Series Odds
The Rangers went from +3500 to +2500 within 10 minutes after the deGrom signing was announced, but they had been at +6000 right after the Houston Astros won the 2022 Fall Classic. Truth be told, the Rangers are still well behind the Seattle Mariners (+1600) and Houston Astros (+550), who are the favorites, but they are much better today than they were yesterday.