Despite an elbow injury last year, Jacob deGrom was the best pitcher in baseball from 2018 through 2021 based on several measures. His earned run average of 1.94 during that span was markedly lower than anyone else’s in baseball. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2018 and 2019, and finish third for the prize in 2020.
But during that period, the Mets made zero trips to the postseason, fueling a sentiment among fans — and within the team — that the prime years of deGrom’s career were being wasted. This year was the final guaranteed chance to make a playoff run with deGrom, who, despite his stated love of the Mets, has repeatedly said he will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract extension this winter.