DENVER — Forget about trading Jacob deGrom. If the Mets really want to make a splash, they should extend deGrom as soon as possible and have him for the next five years.
That is the move to make to bring stability to this fractured franchise. That is the move for the Wilpons to finally show good faith and spend money for the betterment of the team and for the fans.
DeGrom, the ace of aces, is a free agent after the 2020 season and there is a contingent out there wanting to trade deGrom for prospects, thinking that would jump-start the franchise.
The right-hander stuffed the Rockies, 12-2, on Monday night at Coors Field to up his record to 5-2 and drop his ERA to 1.51, the best in the majors. He allowed five hits and one earned run over eight innings.
Again he was Cy deGrom. Here are two words for the Mets: Extend deGrom. He is the face of the Mets and would love to stay a Met his entire career.
“We said before we were willing to talk about it and nothing came of it,’’ deGrom told The Post. “Anybody will tell you, you want to do right for you and your family, so if the money becomes guaranteed, that is something you have to consider.
“I enjoy being a Met.’’
Clearly he would love to remain a Met his entire career. The Mets can’t mess this one up.
In theory a trade sounds enticing, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman let it be known there is no way he is trading Gleyber Torres — that’s a deGrom trade-stopper for me.
Do you really trust Mets management to get the kind of return it should if it was to trade deGrom?
The Mets are open for trade business with Asdrubal Cabrera and Jeurys Familia, and others, but keep deGrom.
Instead of having a keystone for the rotation, everything would be up in the air if deGrom were traded.
DeGrom is too good to lose. Pitching coach Dave Eiland is making progress with the rotation, making Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler better and loves working with deGrom.
Don’t forget Wheeler was the prospect the Mets got for Carlos Beltran back in 2011. It takes time.
DeGrom turns 30 Tuesday.
By the time free agency comes around he will be 32 in that season. The trend is not to sign older pitchers. Jake Arrieta won a Cy Young and World Series and had to “settle’’ for a three-year $75 million deal with the Phillies. That’s why it makes sense for deGrom to consider a Mets extension.
Financial security for the next five years appeals to him and perhaps the Mets could get a hometown discount.
The Mets could shore up the offense with some meaningful free-agent signings and still keep deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. That is a much quicker path to success than trading deGrom and hoping prospects pan out.
The Mets have deGrom for the next two years, so they have to pay the going rate to him anyway; if they offer a three-year extension then they will have the right-hander until he is 35. He figures to make around $12 million next season and could jump to $15 million the following season, so add three free-agent years to that and you are in the $100 million range.
Who really knows what the exact price would be, but at least have the extension conversation. Make the most of this situation instead of the Mets way of making the least of a situation.
If the Mets drag their feet and deGrom wins a Cy Young Award, the price only goes up. The Indians were smart in 2015, signing ace Corey Kluber to an extension.
DeGrom has allowed one run or less in nine of his past 11 starts. He has allowed one run or less in 56 of his 122 career starts. He is a machine. He should have only surrendered one run Monday night, but his defense let him down in the seventh inning.
Extend the man, pay the man, he’s earned it. The Mets should get the most out of his talents. Don’t gamble on prospects.
Gamble on deGrom.
