Jacob deGrom Told Buck Showalter There's a 'Real' Story Behind Leaving New York Mets

Jacob deGrom recently told Buck Showalter that there is a "real" story behind leaving the Mets.

Jacob deGrom bolted for the Texas Rangers in free agency, signing a lucrative five-year, $185 million deal. The Mets countered after losing their ace by signing Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.

All parties have seemingly moved on. However, manager Buck Showalter shared a little nugget about the situation with NJ.com.

Q: Losing deGrom started this chain rotation. In retrospect, was it inevitable that he’d leave the Mets? Or was there ever a chance he’d stay?

A: Everyone would’ve liked to have Jake. We had a chance and took steps to make it happen. But Texas made him a lengthier offer.

Q: Was it just a matter of getting out-bid, though? Did you feel Jake was all that happy in New York?

A: Yes, I do. I just talked to him the other day," he said, “someday I’d like to sit down with you and explain what really happened. I really thought I’d be back there.”

"I’ll take him at his word, but I think it’s pretty simple: the Rangers made him an offer that was light-years ahead of everyone else. Plus there’s no state income tax (in Texas) and he was looking for a place to spread out. He’s got it. Jake will be happy there and he’ll pitch well. He was great to have around, he was always good with me. But the thing is, Jake is from rural central Florida. He just wants to be left alone to pitch. We’ll miss him, but I can’t dwell on it at this point."

In the end, the Rangers made deGrom an offer he couldn't refuse. It was also an offer that the Mets were unwilling to match. Now, deGrom is in Texas and Verlander is in Queens.

It remains to be seen whether Showalter and deGrom will sit down together in the future to discuss how things really played out.

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