Why Jacob deGrom refused to sign his 2016 contract
New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is unhappy with his 2016 salary of $607,500 and decided not to sign his contract Friday in protest.
The 27-year-old right-hander and 2014 Rookie of the Year is being paid $100,000 over the major league minimum, but it is a figure he had no control over because he is entering his third season and is not eligible for arbitration until after this season. deGrom was an an All-Star last season.
Signing the contract is really just a formality that isn’t required because New York holds his draft rights and he can’t play elsewhere and really has no recourse. The teams hold all the power until a player becomes eligible for arbitration. It’s a system some players don’t like but one they agreed to in collective bargaining.
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deGrom is not alone in feeling under-paid at this point in his career. Other players have found themselves in the same boat and some have elected not to sign their contracts in protest just like deGrom. Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant won the Rookie of the Year award last season and will make $652,000 this year in his second full year in the big leagues. He signed his contract but probably feels under-paid as well considering what he brings to his team.
deGrom is likely less than a year away from a big payday. His salary is likely to escalate substantially in arbitration, considering that reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration this winter by agreeing to a one-year deal that will pay Keuchel $7.25 million, which is a record for a starting pitcher in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
In his first two years in the big leagues, deGrom is 23-14 with a 2.61 ERA and averages more than one strikeout per inning.
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While deGrom opted not to sign his deal, he emphasized to reporters that he is not at odds with the Mets and still wants to play for the organization long term. He’s simply dissatisfied with the system. deGrom said during the offseason that he is open to considering a long-term deal with the club because, at 27, he is a little older than a lot of players approaching arbitration eligibility.
“It was a business decision we decided to make,” deGrom said told reporters. “We have a great respect for the Mets and the system they have. I feel like I have a great relationship with them. As I’ve said before I want to be pitching for them for a long time. It was a decision based on the business side of the game.”
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Kyle Ringo is a contributing writer to Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo
