Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (side) felt some tightness in his left side, and the Rangers are going to hold him back a day or two at spring training as a precaution due to how early it is in spring training. According to sources, deGrom would likely play through the issue if it was the regular season. It doesn't sound very serious, but with the oft-injured 34-year-old ace, any injury should cause fantasy managers to hold their breath. deGrom signed a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers in December to be Texas' ace moving forward. We'll keep a close eye on him early in camp, but if it turns out to be nothing serious, he'll be a top-10 fantasy starter with injury risk. deGrom has only thrown 182 innings over the last two years due to injuries.

The Texas Rangers have signed right-hander Jacob deGrom to a five-year, $185 million deal on Friday, according to sources. His physical is passed and the deal is done. The contract includes a conditional sixth-year option that would take the total deal to $222 million, and it includes a full no-trade clause. Despite dealing with plenty of injuries over the last several years, deGrom priced him out of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen's range this offseason. The four-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young winner was still great when healthy in 2022, going 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA (2.13 FIP), a 0.75 WHIP, 102 strikeouts and just eight walks in 11 starts (64 1/3 innings). He'll now become Texas' ace for a Rangers team desperate for better starting pitching. deGrom is a risk-reward injury-prone fantasy ace.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said that it is "highly unlikely" that the Atlanta Braves will sign free-agent starting pitcher Jacob deGrom. The Braves and Texas Rangers have been considered two of the New York Mets' top competitors, However, the asking price for the 34-year-old is reportedly high, and the Braves already have a strong starting rotation core of Max Fried, Kyle Wright, Spencer Strider, and Charlie Morton. deGrom pitched well once again in 2022, compiling a 3.08 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 42.7% strikeout rate. However, he made just 11 starts due to injury and made 26 starts between the 2021-22 seasons. His performance when he was on the mound justifies a high asking price, but teams will have to consider his health issues.

The Texas Rangers are showing interest in the top of the free-agent pitching market and have made contact with the agents for Jacob deGrom, Carlos Rodon and Kodai Senga, according to sources. The Rangers are also expected to give left-hander Martin Perez the $19.65 million qualifying offer. Texas acquired right-hander Jake Odorizzi from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, so he could be another rotation option as the team looks to contend in 2023. Despite getting a late start to the season in 2022 due to injury, deGrom will be the most sought after starting pitchers on the open market this year, and he'd immediately become the Rangers ace if they were able to land him.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom officially opted out of his $30.5 million player option for the 2023 season on Monday, according to the MLB Players Association. deGrom becomes a free agent and will be extremely attractive on the open market for teams looking to make a splash at the front of their rotation. The 34-year-old is opting out of the five-year, $137.5 million that he signed before the 2019 season. The two-time Cy Young winner got a late start to the 2022 season due to a shoulder injury, but he was solid when he returned, going 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA (2.13 FIP), a 0.75 WHIP, 102 strikeouts and only eight walks in 64 1/3 innings in 11 starts for the Mets. deGrom is typically dominant when healthy, but fantasy managers will have to remember that he has made just 38 starts in the last three years due to injuries.

New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom will officially get the start in Game 2 of the National League Wild-Card Series against the San Diego Padres on Saturday as the Mets look to avoid an early exit in this year's postseason. The Mets were hoping to save their ace for the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but after losing 7-1 to San Diego on Friday night, they will turn to the 34-year-old deGrom to try and force a Game 3 on Sunday. deGrom left his final start of the regular season early due to a blister on his hand last Friday, but it's not expected to be an issue on Saturday. He did not face the Friars at all in 2022, but he was solid in his 11 starts, going 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA (2.13 FIP), 0.75 WHIP and 102 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings pitched.

The New York Mets are planning to start right-hander Max Scherzer in Game 1 of the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres on Friday. And in their best scenario, they are contemplating a strategy to save Jacob deGrom for the National League Division Series if they advance. If the Mets win and don't face elimination on Saturday, they would use right-hander Chris Bassitt in Game 2. If they lose the opener, they would use deGrom in Game 2 to try to avoid elimination. If they win the opener and lose Game 2, deGrom would start Game 3 to attempt to advance. Scherzer and deGrom are both available on extra rest for the wild-card series. The good news is the Mets have two former Cy Young winners at their disposal, and they'll need them both if they advance past the Padres to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

New York Mets skipper Buck Showalter said that right-hander Jacob deGrom (finger) will be available to pitch in Game 162 of the regular season on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals if it matters in the standings for the American League East. "He's available to pitch tomorrow and potentially could. It's one of the many options," Showalter said. A blister forced the 34-year-old from his start early last Friday against the Atlanta Braves, but it's not a serious issue and won't keep him from starting either Wednesday or for the start of a wild-card or NL Division Series to begin the playoffs. Injuries have limited deGrom to just 11 starts this year, but he's been his usual strong self with a 3.08 ERA (2.13 FIP), a 0.75 WHIP and 102 strikeouts to just eight walks in 64 1/3 innings in those starts.

New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom (finger) isn't concerned about a blister that forced an early exit in Friday's start against the Atlanta Braves. "This will be fine," said deGrom. The 34-year-old is scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the Washington Nationals but could miss this start if there is no playoff seeding on the line. deGrom owns a 6.00 ERA with a 39:4 K: BB over his last four starts. Overall, the right-hander is 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts across 64 1/3 innings. It is unclear if deGrom will make Wednesday's start, and fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status early next week.

The New York Mets will move right-hander Jacob deGrom's next start up to Friday for the series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, according to skipper Buck Showalter. The Mets will roll with deGrom in a huge series. Entering play on Thursday, the Mets sit just one game ahead of Atlanta for the division lead in the National League East. deGrom will face off with left-handed ace Max Fried for the Braves in what is essentially a playoff game at the end of the regular season schedule. As always, deGrom is a must-start in fantasy, despite the tough matchup. In his two starts against the Braves in 2022, deGrom has allowed five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 21 in 12 1/3 innings.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ took New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom deep Tuesday night, getting the scoring started in an eventual 4-1 victory. Happ went 2-for-4 with the home run and two runs scored. Even after this performance, Happ is slashing just .194/.275/.444 in 40 September plate appearances, so fantasy managers will hope this spurs him into another hot streak. Peaks and valleys are to be expected for Happ, who has been productive all year with an .803 OPS, 17 homers, eight steals, 66 runs scored, and 66 RBI for Chicago.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom pitched well but took the loss in Tuesday's 4-1 game against the Cubs. deGrom pitched 6 innings, allowing three runs on four hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with 10 strikeouts. The veteran has been exactly what fantasy managers had hoped for since his return from the injured list, compiling an excellent 2.01 ERA with a 13.32 K/9 rate in eight starts. His next start should be a great matchup at home against the Pirates.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom was terrific on Thursday night as he struck out nine batters in his club's 3-1 win over the Rockies. The right-hander went six innings and allowed three hits and a walk with his only blemish on the scoreboard coming off a Ryan McMahon homer in the sixth inning. He threw 87 pitches in the outing as the win improved his record to 3-1 on the year to go along with a superb 2.15 ERA and 0.55 WHIP with 46 K through 29 1/3 IP. The 34-year-old has been outstanding since returning from in the injured list, but will face perhaps his toughest test of the season when the Dodgers visit The Big Apple next week.

New York Mets skipper Buck Showalter said that right-hander Jacob deGrom will pitch on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. deGrom was originally slated to go against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, but right-hander Taijuan Walker (back) is making that start instead. The 34-year-old two-time Cy Young winner got a late start to the 2022 season due to injury, but he has been very good in his first four starts, going 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA, 0.51 WHIP, 37 strikeouts and just one walk in 23 1/3 innings pitched. Not only is deGrom not injured, but he'll get a better matchup against the Rockies. He needs to remain in fantasy starting lineups in all formats.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom took his first loss on the season on Thursday as his club fell to the Braves 3-2. He allowed three runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings of work while striking out nine and waking nobody in the 95-pitch outing. The defending World Series champs were able to rally off him for a pair of runs in the third inning, and then the winning run came around when the bullpen allowed one of deGrom's inherited runners to score in the seventh. Through four starts, the veteran has accumulated an incredible 37/1 K/BB with a 2.31 ERA and 0.51 WHIP as he sets his sights on the Yankees for his next scheduled matchup.

New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom allowed two hits while striking out 10 across six scoreless innings during Saturday's 1-0 win against the Philadelphia Phillies. He picked up his second win of the season. The Mets ace threw 76 pitches, landing 57 for strikes. He has shown no signs of rust since returning to the mound on August 2. The 34-year-old owns a 1.62 ERA, 0.42 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts across 16 2/3 innings in 2022. He had been sidelined most of the year while recovering from a stress reaction in his right scapula. deGrom will keep things rolling in his next start against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (shoulder) is set to come off the injured list to make his 2022 season debut on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. It will be the two-time Cy Young winner's first major league start since July 7 of last year. He'll be working on an extra day of rest after returning from a stress reaction in his right scapula. Mets officials expect him to be on a strict pitch count in his first start back, so although he'll be facing the worst team in baseball, deGrom won't have his normal high fantasy ceiling. deGrom experienced leg cramps in his final minor league rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse this week, but the team thinks it's a non-issue. When healthy, deGrom has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (shoulder) is on track to make his season debut for the Mets next week, according to manager Buck Showalter. While no specific day has been announced, Tuesday against the last-place Washington Nationals is the most likely date. The two-time Cy Young winner has been sidelined all year while recovering from a stress reaction in his right scapula, but he's ready to return to the big leagues after making four minor league rehab starts. deGrom was able to get his pitch count up to 67 pitches in his last rehab start on Wednesday, so he shouldn't be too limited in his first start next week. If he's fully healthy to close out the season, deGrom could be a difference-maker for fantasy rotations down the stretch.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (shoulder) is with the team in Miami for the start of their weekend series against the Marlins, which begins on Friday. Skipper Buck Showalter said after deGrom's last minor league rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday that deGrom's next start is expected to come with the Mets next week. The 34-year-old right-hander's next start for the Mets will be his first of the 2022 season after recovering from a stress reaction in his right scapula. He allowed four earned runs in four innings for Syracuse on Wednesday, but the only thing that matters is that deGrom is healthy. The two-time Cy Young winner is lined up to face the worst team in the big leagues, the Washington Nationals, early next week.

New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom (shoulder) made his fourth rehab appearance at Triple-A on Wednesday. The team is hopeful that it was his final one. Mets manager Buck Showalter stated on Wednesday that the plan is for deGrom to make his next start in the majors. While deGrom gave up two homers and four earned runs in Wednesday's rehab outing, he didn't experience any arm problems during the start or afterwards, which was the most important thing. His 2022 MLB debut will likely come on either Monday or Tuesday next week in a tasty matchup against the Washington Nationals. We may even see him wind up as a two-start pitcher next week. Regardless, patient fantasy managers should have no hesitation inserting deGrom into their lineups once the news is official.