Agent says Mets should extend deGrom's contract or consider trading him

The agent for New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom said the team should think about trading its ace if it doesn't want to lock him up with a long-term contract.

Brodie van Wagenen told The Athletic in a statement that deGrom wants to discuss "a long-term partnership that would keep him in a Mets uniform for years to come."

But, van Wagenen added in the statement, published Monday: "If the Mets don't share same interest, we believe their best course of action is to seriously consider trade opportunities now. The inertia of current situation could complicate Jacob's relationship with the club and creates an atmosphere of indecision."

The agent discussed the comments later on Monday with the New York Post. He sought to clarify his statement later, telling the post it was "not a demand for a trade."

"It is simply expressing Jacob's interest to stay with the club long term, and if he is not part of the future, he understands that the club is better positioned to trade him," Van Wagenen told the Post.

DeGrom, 30, can become a free agent after the 2020 season. He is earning $7.4 million this season, which is a contract that would make him an attractive acquisition for many postseason contenders. He is under arbitration control the next two seasons.

He leads all pitchers with a 1.68 ERA but has only a 5-4 record with 149 strikeouts in 123 1/3 innings pitched as the Mets offense has struggled mightily to score runs for him in his 19 starts.

He was selected to his second All-Star team this season.

"I would love to play here for my whole career," deGrom said to reporters in Washington on Monday while at the All-Star Game, according to MLB.com. "I think it's just kind of deciding what we see as the future. It's something that's in the Mets' control, and kind of out of mine."

--Field Level Media