Mets' deGrom optimistic about extension before Opening Day deadline
The New York Mets and right-hander Jacob deGrom have yet to reach an agreement on a new contract to keep the reigning NL Cy Young winner on the club beyond 2020, but the ace hurler is hopeful it will get done before Opening Day.
"I would like to be seen as a future part of this organization," deGrom said, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. "We have till the end of spring, so yeah, I'm still optimistic."
In mid-February, deGrom and his camp set Opening Day as the deadline for extension talks. The 30-year-old is looking for a deal that would keep him in Queens for the rest of his playing career.
"Being a part of the future is definitely something that I would like to be a part of," deGrom said. "That was a goal of mine. I think we're hopeful, so we'll just see what happens."
Set to earn $17 million in 2019, deGrom has one more year of arbitration eligibility before reaching free agency if a new contract isn't agreed upon.
The two-time All-Star is coming off a career season where he posted a 1.70 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 11.2 K/9 across 217 innings of work.