4 best free agent Jacob deGrom replacements if he leaves this offseason

3) NY Mets can replace Jacob deGrom with Carlos Rodon

Hey, a third December birthday. Carlos Rodon will turn 30 in the final month of the year as he enters free agency for the second straight offseason. The lefty made great strides last season with the Chicago White Sox and continued to up the ante in 2022 with the San Francisco Giants.

Rodon has already reached the 110 innings needed to opt-out of his deal. Does he take the one-year $22.5 million or look for something a little longer? Given how high in-demand starting pitchers are, we’d have to guess he could at least get a multi-year contract worth the same or close to it.

Rodon’s biggest issue has been staying on the field. But as we’ve seen with just about everyone on this list and experienced with deGrom in recent years, starting pitchers just aren’t as durable as they were once built.

In the most recent offseason, Rodon was a guy the Mets likely considered adding to the roster. They, instead, went with free agent Max Scherzer and a trade for Chris Bassitt.

Rodon could easily be another one of those starting pitchers whose best years take place while in his early 30s. He’s someone the Mets should be monitoring this year and once the offseason shopping spree begins.