The Braves boast one of the most famous pitching "Big Threes" in MLB history: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz dominated for Atlanta in the 1990s. If a tweet Saturday by ESPN's Buster Olney is to be believed, they're going to look to recapture some of that magic this offseason.
Olney tweeted about speculation that the Braves will sign Mets ace Jacob deGrom if he opts out of the final year of his contract and becomes a free agent.
DeGrom, who is yet to pitch this year because of a stress reaction in his scapula, made waves in March by stating his intention to opt out after the 2022 season.
There is a perception in some corners of the industry that if Jacob deGrom follows through with what he said in the spring and opts out of his Mets' contract, the Braves will be the favorites to land him.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 2, 2022
He is slated to make $30.5 million with New York in 2023 (plus a $32.5 million club option for 2024), but Max Scherzer signing with the Mets for three years and $130 million ($43.33 million average annual value) last December may have reset his market.
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DeGrom's value is well-known. He has a 2.50 career ERA and hasn't had a season higher than that figure since 2017. The three-time All-Star won back-to-back National League Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019. The Braves would be poaching one of the best pitchers in baseball from a division rival.
Jacob deGrom career stats
DeGrom's stats back up his status as one of the game's best. Despite his recent injury history, there's a good chance he could become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history, surpassing Scherzer, if he returns healthy and pitches at his accustomed level. He is scheduled to make his first rehab start of the year Sunday for Single-A St. Lucie.
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | W | L | ERA | G | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | FIP | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 26 | NYM | NL | 9 | 6 | 2.69 | 22 | 140.1 | 117 | 44 | 42 | 43 | 144 | 2.67 | 1.140 |
| 2015 | 27 | NYM | NL | 14 | 8 | 2.54 | 30 | 191.0 | 149 | 59 | 54 | 38 | 205 | 2.70 | 0.979 |
| 2016 | 28 | NYM | NL | 7 | 8 | 3.04 | 24 | 148.0 | 142 | 53 | 50 | 36 | 143 | 3.32 | 1.203 |
| 2017 | 29 | NYM | NL | 15 | 10 | 3.53 | 31 | 201.1 | 180 | 87 | 79 | 59 | 239 | 3.50 | 1.187 |
| 2018 | 30 | NYM | NL | 10 | 9 | 1.70 | 32 | 217.0 | 152 | 48 | 41 | 46 | 269 | 1.98 | 0.912 |
| 2019 | 31 | NYM | NL | 11 | 8 | 2.43 | 32 | 204.0 | 154 | 59 | 55 | 44 | 255 | 2.67 | 0.971 |
| 2020 | 32 | NYM | NL | 4 | 2 | 2.38 | 12 | 68.0 | 47 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 104 | 2.26 | 0.956 |
| 2021 | 33 | NYM | NL | 7 | 2 | 1.08 | 15 | 92.0 | 40 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 146 | 1.24 | 0.554 |
| TOTALS | 77 | 53 | 2.50 | 198 | 1261.2 | 981 | 385 | 350 | 295 | 1505 | 2.64 | 1.011 | |||
Potential Braves 2023 rotation
Charlie Morton is on a one-year, $20 million deal with a $20 million club option for 2023. If deGrom were to sign with Atlanta in the offseason, it stands to reason the Braves would let the 39-year-old Morton walk. Here's what a 2023 Atlanta rotation could look like if deGrom were to join it:
| Player | 2022 ERA |
| Jacob deGrom | N/A |
| Max Fried | 2.66 |
| Kyle Wright | 3.03 |
| Ian Anderson | 5.31 |
| Spencer Strider | 3.02 |
Anderson, outside of an immaculate postseason run last year, has struggled since a stint on the injured list in 2021. Strider is emerging as a potential top starter as the Braves let him go deeper into games. Fried and Wright have been extremely good this year.
Atlanta also has 2019 All-Star Mike Soroka waiting in the wings, but he's coming off a torn Achilles.
The Braves have internal rotation options, but obviously deGrom would immediately make any rotation better.
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Will Jacob deGrom leave the Mets?
DeGrom has expressed interest in remaining with the Mets.
"That's the business side of baseball and as a player, you build in opt-outs, but I don't want that to be a distraction," he said before the season, per Sports Illustrated. "I'm excited about this team. And I've said it before, I love being a Met, (and) think it would be really cool to be one for my entire career."
Ultimately, it will come down to money. Will the Braves' front office — which has built the core of the team's roster through signing players to long-term contracts to buy out arbitration and free-agent years — be willing to outbid Steve Cohen and the Mets, who have shown they are willing to sign any free agent, no matter the price?
