The Tampa Bay Rays are surprisingly showing interest in one of the top pitchers in MLB free agency.
While the MLB hot stove is on and bubbling a lot of speculation, all of the top players on the market this winter are still up for grabs as we enter December. That shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since the MLB free agent period has started to become a much slower process in recent years.
Furthermore, this offseasons market is pretty stacked, so instead of many teams competing for a few players, there is a wide array of high-end talent making the rounds and hearing pitches from various organizations. The current free agent class is deep in All-Star shortstops and includes the reigning American League MVP.
Also read: Jacob deGrom MLB free agent market shrinking as teams see him as ‘a big risk’
However, there are several ace pitchers available, and the Tampa Bay Rays and their usually small pockets are actually looking into the best of the starter bunch in MLB free agency.
Tampa Bay Rays looking at Jacob deGrom in MLB free agency
While there are questions about his long-term health, it is hard not to consider two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom as the best pitcher on the free-agent market. He is only 34 and pitched at an elite level again in the second half of 2022.
- Jacob deGrom stats (2022): 5-4, 3.08 ERA, 0.746 WHIP, 102 SO, 64.1 IP
Despite the fact they would be hard-pressed to match his asking price, on Tuesday, SNY MLB insider Andy Martino revealed the Rays are taking a hard look at him.
“According to league sources, the Tampa Bay Rays — true to their policy of practicing due diligence on every big free agent, even if they don’t end up as a match — have spoken with deGrom’s camp. One league source compared this situation to the Rays’ pursuit last winter of free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman when they emphasized to Freeman the quality of life and the lack of state income tax in Florida.
“… The Rays offered Freeman $150 million with no deferrals, which is almost certainly more than deGrom will end up with.”
– Report on Rays deGrom interest
The Mets superstar is reportedly looking for a deal that could pay him around $40 million per season. The Rays usually have a payroll that checks in often near $100 million each year. DeGrom would certainly seem well out of their price range, but it can’t hurt to have a conversation.