deGrom sees Rangers' vision for future, not loss-heavy past
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom sees the vision of what the Texas Rangers want to do, not their streak of six consecutive losing seasons
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom sees the vision of what the Texas Rangers want to do, not their streak of six consecutive losing seasons and being more than a decade removed from their only World Series appearances.
“The Rangers did a great job with constant communication and making me feel like they really wanted me here," deGrom said Thursday during his introduction in Texas. “The vision was the same, build something great, and win year in and year out.”
deGrom is the latest big-money add — $185 million, five-year deal — for the Rangers as they try to turn things around. They nabbed deGrom last Friday before baseball's winter meetings starting. After completing his physical and the contract in Texas, he was even able to make it for a previously planned Christmas outing with his wife and two small children to Disney World, which is where he was when his signing with Texas was announced last week.
The 34-year-old right-hander spent the first nine years of his career with the New York Mets, who won 101 games last season. His arrival comes an offseason after the Rangers made a pricey, long-time commitment to middle infielders Corey Seager ($325 million, 10 years) and Marcus Semien ($175 million, 7 years) and then went 68-94.
