Mets: Deal with Jacob deGrom is good for the clubhouse, team morale

The Jacob deGrom extension was good for him, the New York Mets clubhouse, and overall team morale.

On Tuesday, the New York Mets finally signed Jacob deGrom to a five-year $137.5 million deal, locking him in through 2023, with an opt-out after 2022, and a team option for 2024. This beyond deserved extension brings peace to the whole Mets’ clubhouse, which is vital as the 2019 season begins.

The whole Mets team, organization, and even the whole sports community knew that deGrom deserved his new deal. He was the reigning Cy Young, the franchise’s ace, and arguably the best right-handed pitcher in baseball. If there was a Mets player worthy of a huge extension like this, it is definitely deGrom.

It was about time New York paid him, as many players were extended before him throughout baseball. The delay in his extension caused clubhouse tensions to rise. deGrom’s teammate Noah Syndergaard had some words to say when deGrom was still unsigned.

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“I think Jake’s the best pitcher in baseball right now. I think he deserves whatever amount he’s worth…. I just think they should quit all this fuss and pay the man already.”

The club’s hesitancy to pay deGrom aggravated Syndergaard and other players too. After seeing some players sign huge multi-year extensions, everybody knew it was time for deGrom to be paid. Not only would other players be upset about the injustice, but deGrom would not be a satisfied member of the ballclub. Now that the deal is done,

This deal needed to happen. It’s that simple. He made it very clear that he wanted to stay long-term in Flushing. The deadline was set for Opening Day. And just like typical Mets fashion, they just got the deal in time, 2 days beforehand.

Now that he is a paid man, he is a very happy man. Under a new contract, one that depicts his value well, deGrom is ready to take on 2019 with a clear mindset. It would have been awful if they did not extend him. deGrom would have all year to think about the contract. It’s possible he would have been aggravated and this would have been toxic to the clubhouse. The clubhouse greatly benefits from their star pitcher being happy under his new lucrative deal because the team supports their ace.

Another reason why the clubhouse is happy is that might show a slight change in culture. Now that the Mets have extended deGrom, there grows the possibility that they extend either Syndergaard, Michael Conforto or Brandon Nimmo. The players are more hopeful knowing that an extension could potentially be in their future.

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Now, the season can begin. This was a successful offseason. The Mets bolstered their depth, improved at multiple positions and now locked in the reigning Cy Young. A happy and satisfied clubhouse could lead to big things in 2019 for the New York Mets.