Rangers paint rosy picture after latest Jacob deGrom injury woe

MLB

From Justin Tasch

February 19, 2023 | 11:50 a.m

Time will tell if this was a typical spring training precaution or the living embodiment of the “that’s fine” dog meme.

The fact that it’s even a question underscores just how risky the Texas Rangers’ five-year, $185 million investment in Jacob deGrom is, having made 26 combined regular-season starts for the Mets over the past two seasons has.

DeGrom has already addressed shortages on his left side at camp after a recent bullpen session, the Rangers announced Wednesday. On Saturday, Texas general manager Chris Young tried to allay concerns.

“He’s feeling really good,” Young said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “He’s improved a lot. All goes well. And he threw before he got here, so I think he’ll catch up quickly. He was a bit ahead of schedule from where he has been in the past.”

DeGrom, 34, played catch during a practice session Sunday after a four-day shutdown. He “felt fine” after practice, the Dallas Morning News reported, and his throwing program is scheduled to resume on Monday. According to the Dallas Morning News, DeGrom likely won’t be participating in any exhibition games during the first week of the Rangers schedule.

The two-time Cy Young winner left the Mets after nine major league seasons on a contract that includes a sixth-year option that could take the total to $222 million. He didn’t make his 2022 debut until August 2, after suffering a stress reaction in his right shoulder blade last spring.

That outing on August 2 was his first in 391 days. In 2021, deGrom did not serve after July 7 due to forearm and elbow problems. He hasn’t made more than 15 starts since 2019, when he won the second of his consecutive Cy Young Awards; He made 12 starts during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

In 11 starts for the Mets last season, deGrom had 102 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA in 64 ⅓ innings over 11 starts. He won against the Padres in Game 2 of the wild card series by giving up two runs in six innings with eight strikeouts.