Dodgers Rumors: Insider Names Two Former LA Hurlers as Options for Mets After Losing deGrom

Will the Mets and Dodgers be in a bidding war for some top free agent pitchers?

Ryan Menzie | Dec 3, 2022

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Everyone needs a pitcher. It has now become a glaring need for the Mets who lost Jacob deGrom, who was heavily linked to the Dodgers, to the Rangers and now find themselves in a new found predicament.

deGrom's lucrative contract provides huge risk for an injury prone 34 year old pitcher. With another pitcher off the market, the Dodgers continue their search but some former Dodgers pitchers may find a new home with the Mets.

An insider believes the Mets will go after some lower risk contracts to help spread the wealth among the pitching unit. This of course doesn't rule out a big time pitcher signing, but some familiar names may find a new home (via SNY).

According to sources, some of the main options in that category are Andrew Heaney, Kyle Gibson, Taijuan Walker, Ross Stripling and Jose Quintana -- though Quintana’s market might exceed that salary slot and drift closer to the multi-year deals signed by Zach Eflin (four years, $40 million), and expected to be offered to Jameson Taillon. Same with Kodai Senga.

Andrew Heaney appeared in 16 games for the Dodgers in 2022. In 16 games, he recorded a 4-4 record with a 3.10 ERA and 110 strikeouts.

Ross Stripling on the other hand was last with the Dodgers in 2019. Last season with the Blue Jays Stripling finished 10-4 record with a 3.01 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 24 games.

Both provide near the same value and will command far less money than deGrom. However, Justin Verlander is also a name to keep an eye on as the Mets and Dodgers could battle it out to land the 2022 Cy Young champion.

Published Dec 3, 2022

RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Mookie Betts Favorite Moment: 2020 World Series. The Lakers won the NBA title and the Dodgers secured the World Series only a couple of months later. During such a rough time with COVID-19 and such a bleak look at how sports has tried to overcome the circumstances, it was a relief to see the night sky lit up for many nights and a makeshift parade in LA when it seemed like we needed it the most.