Mets360 - Just how great is Jacob deGrom in Mets history?

 

By Chris Dial December 27, 2020

The following paragraphs will contain some blasphemy. There will be “what ifs”, and optimistic projections. All in an intellectual exercise to examine where Jacob deGrom lies within the New York Mets Pantheon.

For Christmas, Bill Madden’s latest book on Tom Seaver made its way to Mets fans across the country. Seaver is arguably the best right-handed pitcher of all-time, and thus certainly within the framework of the Mets franchise, he is The Franchise. He is appropriately afforded a level of love and respect his stature calls for. That was not always so, but everyone has come around on Tom Terrific.

Seaver pitched for the Mets for 12 seasons (11.5, grrrr). 400 games, 200 wins, 3000 innings, 2.57 ERA, 2500 strikeouts, 76 WAR. The top pitcher, the top player, for the Mets by wide margins. Seaver’s rotation partner, Jerry Koosman, is largely unheralded, but his accumulated stats in Mets history would be top tier on many teams without Seaver.

You may be saying, “Where are you going with this?”

deGrom started his career at age 26. That is quite late for a player that appears to be the best around. As a result, his career, to date, is approximately 40-45% of Seaver’s, but deGrom has some advantages.

Player	Years	W	L	G	GS	IP	SO	BF	WAR
Seaver	11.4	198	124	401	395	3045.2	2541	12191	76.0
deGrom	6.4	70	51	183	183	1169.2	1359	4654	38.5
Relative %	56%	35%	41%	46%	46%	38%	53%	38%	51%
deGrom	Per 162	16	7	34	34	217	252	865	6.7
Contract	4	64	28	136	136	868	1008	3460	26.8
Contract +2	6	96	42	204	204	1302	1512	5190	40.2
Total 4	10.4	134	79	319	319	2037.2	2367	8114	65.3
Total 6	12.4	166	93	387	387	2471.2	2871	9844	78.7

deGrom is currently fourth in career WAR, passing Koosman in the abbreviated 2020. He is 3 WAR behind Dwight Gooden (11 seasons), and 11 WAR behind David Wright.

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