deGrom-innating

Mets ace Jacob deGrom won the 2018 National League Cy Young award Wednesday night, claiming 29 of 30 first place votes. The team won 77 games and was very disappointing, but deGrom was dominant. How dominant? #48 became the first player in major league history with 260 strikeouts, a sub 2.00 ERA (1.70), not walk 50 and allow fewer than ten home runs. Jacob was that good and won only ten games due to a lack of run support. He set two major league records with 24 consecutive quality starts (six innings or more, three earned runs or less) and 29 straight games with three runs or fewer. He joins Tom Seaver (three times), Dwight Gooden, and R.A. Dickey as Mets Cy Young award winners. Only the Dodgers, Phillies, Braves and Red Sox have won more as a franchise.
The Mets have been a pitching dominant franchise forever and it goes back to Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan, Tug McGraw and Jon Matlack. But this might be the finest season by any Mets pitcher. deGrom’s dominance shows how vital it is that the team upgrade internally and externally and not waste the talented group of arms they have in Queens. The team has two young studs in the outfield (Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo) and infield (Ahmed Rosario, Jeff McNeil) as well as a promising power hitter Peter Alonso coming at first base. Adding some bullpen help as well as upgrading at catcher should be offseason priorities. Having two of three veterans—Todd Frazier, Yoenis Cespedes, and Jay Bruce—contribute would also boast the club. The 2019 Mets could get real good real fast.
Team record or not, deGrom was so good he got the only first place vote in MVP balloting not cast for Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich. The next step is for New York to lock him up long term as he is set to hit free agency after the 2020 season. Jacob is very familiar with the new boss of the Mets—Brodie Van Wagenen. Brodie was his agent, also representing several of his star teammates including fellow ace Noah Syndergaard, Cespedes, and Frazier. A four or five-year deal worth anywhere from $100-$130 million should get an extension done. deGrom would have the long-term security he seeks (two final arbitration years bought out) and The Mets would have an on-and off-field victory a team seeking both needs. Good PR for a team that needs more HR would be a nice Christmas gift for fans in Flushing. #LGM