Jacob deGrom Agrees to Contract Extension

Jacob deGrom and the Mets have agreed to a contract extension, thus ending a drama that was threatening to stick around for two more years.

The deal is for five years, $137.5 million. If that sounds familiar, it is because that is the exact amount the Mets gave Johan Santana (over six years, though). There is also a club option for a sixth year at $32.5 million. The contract begins immediately, so deGrom gets an instant raise from the $17 million he was supposed to make this season.

This is a good deal for both sides. deGrom gets $27.5 million per season. Had he waited for free agency two years from now, maybe he could have gotten a couple of million more per year. But that’s assuming he pitches well and does not get injured. Why risk $137.5 million to try for a relatively little bit more (or nothing in the case of a serious injury) when he could take the sure cash?

For the Mets, they lock up the face of their franchise at a fair rate and avoid yet another PR disaster.

Could this be the beginning of the Mets actually keeping their stars for their entire careers? It only took them more than half a century to figure it out.