Jacob deGrom may be one less suitor away from returning to Queens

While the hot stove this winter has been more of a simmer than a boil as the action has been slow to heat up, especially for the New York Mets, there are new rumors surrounding free agent ace Jacob deGrom. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal has reported that the Texas Rangers, one of deGrom's potential suitors as well as possibly the Mets' main competition for his services, are more confident in landing free-agent starting pitchers Carlos Rodon and Kodai Senga than they are landing Jacob deGrom.

This is a huge rumor and development that Rosenthal is reporting as many around the baseball industry believe that if one organization would get into a bidding war with the Mets for deGrom it would be the Texas Rangers. It also has been well known since earlier this month that deGrom had expressed interest in the Rangers organization once he had opted out of his contract with the Mets earlier this month according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Jacob deGrom's current market appears to be shrinking which could put the Mets as the potential clear-cut favorite

While this very much could be a smokescreen by the Rangers organization as a potential negotiation tactic, Rosenthal's report has already made waves through baseball as many General Managers seem to be waiting for the first shoe to drop in regards to the top-tier starting pitchers available on the market. While there is also always the possibility that a dark horse team enters the bidding for deGrom over the coming days, it's currently a promising sign that the Mets may be in the driver's seat.

I firmly believe the entirety of the Mets' offseason will revolve around whether or not deGrom returns to Queens. If potential suitors such as the Rangers seem to be already voluntarily bowing out of the race, it may be a positive sign in regards to one of the best pitchers of this generation making his return back home sooner rather than later this winter.