Saying goodbye to the Mets and New York is “one of the hardest things” Noah Syndergaard has ever had to do.
The 29-year-old pitcher posted an emotional farewell video to the franchise and his adopted city on social media Wednesday, one day after it was announced that he and the Angels had agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract.
“New York has been my home for the last six years and both through the good times and bad, my love for you all in this place never wavered,” Syndergaard said in a voiceover for the video, which also featured the time he dressed up as Thor and strutted about Midtown.
“Playing in New York has been the best experience of my life,” he added later in the video “As a kid from a small town in Texas, this place changed me forever. I’ll never forget it and I thank you all for it.”
Syndergaard was traded to the Mets from the Blue Jays in 2012. He made his major league debut for the Mets three years later. But after Tommy John surgery and a series of injuries and ailments, he pitched two innings over the past two seasons.
In Wednesday’s video, Syndergaard expressed gratitude for the organization that traded for him nearly 10 years ago. He also touched upon the free-agency process and how difficult the decision for him to leave New York actually was.
Noah Syndergaard posted a farewell video to the Mets on social media Wednesday, which included the fun moment when he walked around Midtown dressed as Thor. Twitter“This rehab and free agency process is both eye-opening and humbling. I was both flattered by all the outside interest, yet couldn’t process what it would mean or how hard it would be to leave New York City,” he said. “But after countless days of thought, I feel signing with the Angels is the best fit for me at this point in my career.”
Before striking a deal with the Angels, however, Syndergaard had an $18.4 million qualifying offer to rejoin the Mets next season. The Post’s Joel Sherman reported Wednesday that between Syndergaard receiving the qualifying offer Nov. 7 and Wednesday’s deadline to accept or reject it, he heard nothing but crickets from the Mets.
Noah Syndergaard and the Angels have reached an agreement on a one-year, $21 million contract. Getty ImagesThough Syndergaard’s focus is now his future with the Angels, he said in the video that he will forever have a place for the Mets in his heart — until he faces them, of course.
“I’ll always be pulling for the Mets until I’m playing against you,” he said to close out Wednesday’s video.
And Mets fans — if a 2022 calendar is handy — you might want to circle June 10-12. It’s possible Syndergaard already has.
