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Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom offering a reaction.

The New York Mets are expected to be heavily involved during the 2025 MLB trade deadline. The Mets, who have arguably been the best team in the National League, are in a position to make a move. The rotation has stepped up massively throughout the 2025 campaign, but it’s only a matter of time before the Mets have to make some decisions with the rotation.

When searching for potential trade options on the market, Joel Sherman of the New York Post proposed a trade idea for the Mets to acquire right-hander Jacob deGrom. DeGrom has been one of the best starters in Major League Baseball history, and after the Mets already saw that, there’s reason to believe they could be interested in a reunion.

Would New York Bring Back Familiar Face?

However, deGrom’s New York Mets career didn’t necessarily end as well as he would’ve hoped, and he has a full no-trade clause.

That’s something Sherman examined in this idea.

“Let’s deal with the most intriguing name first: Jacob deGrom. I do not think the Rangers want to concede. DeGrom has a full no-trade clause. Routine and comfort are huge to him, and there are those who have played with deGrom who think he and his family are comfortable in Dallas and he would not waive his no-trade. “There also is the little business that he is being paid $40 million this year, has two years at $75 million due for 2026-27, and has a lengthy injury history…

“But here’s the big thing — when he pitches, he still pitches great. He has a 179 ERA-plus, which is better than his career mark of 157, which is fourth best ever. DeGrom is a Game 1 starter, yet just might be too risky and costly even if the Rangers decided to sell and the righty waived his no-trade. But wouldn’t a return to Flushing be something,” he wrote .

What Other Options Should Mets Pursue in Pitching Market?

Given the unlikelihood of the New York Mets being able to acquire deGrom, unless he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause to return to New York, Sherman examined some other potential options for the Mets.

He named right-handers Mitch Keller, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Freddy Peralta as potential options.

“Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller is interesting, but I am not sure he is markedly better than what the Mets have. The Rays are contending, but are nimble at the trade deadline, so buying and selling is not beyond them…

“Also, I keep wondering whether the Brewers might follow a route similar to when they traded Josh Hader even while contending and deal ace Freddy Peralta to capitalize on a hungry market at a time when starting pitching depth is a strength. So much can be gotten for a pitcher this good with just an $8 million price tag for next year. And keep this in mind: Stearns did many good things while running Milwaukee’s baseball operations. Trading Adam Lind for Peralta might be the best,” he wrote.

Career-wise, deGrom has been better than all those arms by a wide margin. Even in 2025, he has a 2.12 ERA.

With the injuries being somewhat of a concern, however, the Mets would be taking a risk if they sent any sort of decent package for him.

The expectation is that the Texas Rangers would want a decent haul for the future Hall of Famer.

Jon Conahan covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Since 2019, his sports coverage has appeared at Sports Illustrated, oddschecker, ClutchPoints and Sportskeeda. More about Jon Conahan