Well, how's that for a headline? It's an interesting idea but I am not so sure how real it is. I mean anything can happen—it is Hot Stove season after all. But could the Yankees and Mets swap their greatest modern day franchise players? Jacob deGrom just entered the free agency market joining Aaron Judge who wasn’t thrilled with the Yankees’ $213.5 million offer in spring. deGrom officially opted out of his current contract on Monday. Events leaving me and many others to question: Could the Yankees and Mets steal each other's franchise players?
According to the New York Post, "The belief is that the Yankees will be willing to top Judge’s $36 million a year asking price from back in spring, before he became the AL single-season home run record holder, and if deGrom wants to top Max Scherzer’s record $43.3 million Mets salary, as some suggest, the strong indications are that it will not be with the Mets." But would the Yankees buy deGrom over Judge? Would they even be given that choice?
The Mets locked up their trumpet-themed closer Edwin Diaz earlier this week. The Yankees picked up Luis Severino's $15 million team option for 2023. The Mets now seem focused on keeping their center fielder Brandon Nimmo a Met and the Yankees, well keep Judge a Yankee. So is the idea of franchise swapping futile?
According to the Post, "The speculation that either New York team may try to steal the other team’s marquee franchise player — i.e. the Mets signing Judge, the Yankees signing deGrom — has no noticeable legs. There’s an era of good feeling between our local teams, and while that may not last, it seems very evident right now. Neither side seems up for an intracity war. " Well that's good. But are the Yankees willing to let Judge sign his career way to the San Francisco Giants? And what will happen to deGrom?
Hot Stove and others predict Judge will receive a big offer from the Giants while deGrom could be a welcome addition to the pitching staff of the new manager of the Texas Rangers, Bruce Bochy—ironically a three-time World Series manager for yes, the San Francisco Giants. Irony is everywhere.
Stealing franchise players could well, cause a riot in New York. And truthfully speaking, not good for the sport. The Yankees need to be focused on signing Judge and keeping Anthony Rizzo. And if the Mets let deGrom walk, they need to think about who they are replacing him with on a pitching roster that was very unforgiving at the end of the 2022 season. The Hot Stove is heating up with more interesting trade concepts coming in over the next few weeks leading up to the Winter Meetings in December.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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