Rangers sign Jacob deGrom – MLB transfer rumors

Today: The Rangers have officially activated deGrom for his first start of the 2024 season. In two corresponding steps, the team has activated the right-hander Owen White to Triple-A and moved Corey Seager to the 60-day IL.

September 10: Jacob deGrom makes his season debut on Friday. The Rangers announced that the two-time Cy Young winner will start that night's game in Seattle. It will be his first major league appearance since April 2023. deGrom underwent Tommy John surgery last June.

Although deGrom's return comes too late to give Texas any hope of a playoff push, it is part of a series that should be very exciting. The Rangers will turn to top talent Kumar Rocker for his MLB debut in Thursday's opening game. deGrom leaves the next night. Manager Bruce Bochy told the Beat tonight that Max Scherzer will be activated from the 15-day injured list starting Saturday (X-Link via Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News). Texas will have to make room on the 40-man roster for Rocker and deGrom.

deGrom has made four rehab starts in recent weeks. He has mowed down minor league hitters, recorded 15 strikeouts and allowed just five baserunners in 10 2/3 innings. On Saturday at Double-A Frisco, deGrom threw four scoreless innings using just 49 pitches. MLB.com's Kennedi Landry wrote over the weekend that the Rangers expected deGrom to throw around 60 pitches in that game, though they ultimately decided to limit him to four innings because he was pitching so efficiently. That could indicate a possible 65-75 pitch count in that start this week.

The Rangers should get three or four starts from deGrom by the end of the season. They won't have much significance in the standings (aside from the indirect effect of playing the Mariners, an underdog, at least once). Getting deGrom back for a few starts should at least give the pitcher and the front office some security heading into the offseason. DeGrom struggled with some arm issues toward the end of his Mets tenure. He managed just six starts and 30 1/3 innings with Texas before suffering the serious elbow injury.

Few players are more important to the Rangers' hopes of returning to contention in 2025. DeGrom, when healthy, may still be the best pitcher in the world. He was absolutely dominant for the Mets when he could still throw, and he maintained that form in his first month in Texas, posting a 2.67 earned run average while striking out nearly 40% of batters.

deGrom is entering the third season of a five-year, $185 million free agent contract. He will make $40 million next season, followed by raises of $38 million and $36 million through 2027. Tommy John surgery triggered a conditional team option in his contract for 2028. That is worth $20 million, but deGrom could increase it to $30 million if he finishes in the top five in Cy Young voting in any of the next three years.

Scherzer, on the other hand, has been out since early August with shoulder problems. He also missed most of the first half of the season while undergoing offseason back surgery and battling a nerve problem in his throwing hand. Scherzer was limited to eight starts this season, posting a 3.89 ERA in 39 1/3 innings. The future Hall of Famer will be a free agent next offseason. Scherzer has already stated that he plans to keep pitching; he will be one of the best risk/reward players in the starting pitching class.