NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 10: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets has a laugh before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on July 10, 2021 in New York City. The Pirates defeated the Mets 6-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves’ reported interest in acquiring Jacob deGrom has taken an unexpected turn after the Rangers ace invoked his no-trade clause to block a proposed contract-swap deal that would have sent Spencer Strider to Texas.
Atlanta reportedly considered pairing Strider with deGrom, two prominent starting pitchers whose sizable contracts and complicated injury histories made the potential transaction especially complex.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Braves discussed the deal with Texas before the trade deadline. DeGrom ultimately declined to waive the protection in his contract, though the report indicated that Atlanta remained willing to move Strider for a former Mets ace.
Hours after Feinsand’s report surfaced, David Wright—the longtime Mets captain and one of the franchise’s most respected former players—offered an emphatic assessment of deGrom’s legacy.
“If there was a game on the line and I could pick any teammate for a Game 7, give me Jacob deGrom every day,” Wright told MLB Network. “The stuff that he was doing with the Mets was not just on a generational level, it was on a historical level.”
Wright’s endorsement carries particular significance because he played in the same clubhouse as deGrom during the pitcher’s transformation from a little-known prospect into one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant starters.
During his Mets peak, deGrom captured consecutive NL Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019, led the National League in strikeouts in both 2019 and 2020, and earned four All-Star selections.
That résumé helps explain why Wright would choose deGrom over any other teammate in a decisive game. His strong performance with Texas has also made him an attractive target for Atlanta, despite the financial and contractual obstacles surrounding a trade.
The proposed transaction was complicated by the remaining money owed to both players. Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors noted that deGrom is set to earn $38 million for the remainder of 2026, $37 million in 2027 and a $20 million club option in 2028, which could rise to $30 million under performance or innings thresholds. Strider is owed $20 million for the remainder of 2026, $22 million in each of 2027 and 2028, while Atlanta holds a $22 million 2029 club option with a $5 million buyout.
DeGrom’s decision to block the deal left Strider in Atlanta and deGrom with Texas. For Mets supporters, however, Wright’s comments offered another reminder of the esteem in which the franchise still holds its former ace.
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