DSJ Quick Take: Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom Invokes His No-Trade Clause Ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline
The Texas Rangers approached their 38-year-old pitcher about waiving his no-trade clause ahead of the trade deadline, but deGrom opted to stay in Texas.
- What has deGrom done with the Rangers? deGrom joined Texas ahead of the 2023 season, but only started nine games until 2025, when he made 30 starts and was named an All-Star.
- How is deGrom’s 2026? In 2026, deGrom’s ERA jumped from 2.97 to 3.96, highlighted by a 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros where he allowed a season-high 5 walks.
- How much is deGrom making? deGrom is set to earn $38 million in 2026 and $37 million in 2027 before the Rangers have a club option on the pitcher that offseason.
- What else have the Rangers done this deadline? The Rangers traded infielder Josh Smith and minor league RHP Josh Stephan to the Toronto Blue Jays for left-handed reliever Adam Macko.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom declined to waive his full no-trade clause ahead of Monday’s 5 p.m. CT trade deadline and told the club he wants to remain in Texas, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported.
Texas approached deGrom about waiving the clause. The Rangers awarded him full no-trade protection when he signed a five-year, $185 million contract in December 2022. He is making $38 million this season and is owed $37 million in 2027, the final guaranteed year of the deal. A conditional club option for 2028 starts at $20 million and escalates on innings and Cy Young finishes.
Rosenthal also reported that Texas asked shortstop Corey Seager and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi about waiving their no-trade protection. Seager can block deals to eight teams and gains full 10-and-5 rights at the end of the season. Eovaldi has a full clause.
The Atlanta Braves were among the clubs linked to deGrom before he closed the door. Earlier Monday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported that Texas was leaning against selling.
deGrom spoke with reporters Monday.
“I want to be here,” deGrom said Monday before the deadline when asked about the reports, according to Jason Foster of MLB.com. “I believe in this group. Obviously, the last road trip didn’t go well, but I believe we can win. I signed here to help this team win a World Series. In 2023, the team was able to do that. I want to be a part of that in the future. I signed here to do that. I want to stay here and help this team compete.”
Jacob deGrom’s Four Seasons In Texas
In 2023, deGrom made 6 starts before elbow trouble led to Tommy John surgery in May. He returned for 3 starts in 2024. Texas won the World Series in his first year with the club, and he watched most of it from the injured list.
Last season, deGrom went 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA across 30 starts. He struck out 185 batters and walked 37 in 172 2/3 innings. He was named American League Comeback Player of the Year and made his fifth All-Star team.
Through 21 starts this season, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA. He has 135 strikeouts and 29 walks in 113 2/3 innings.
Saturday in Houston, deGrom lasted 3 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros. He allowed 7 hits and 5 runs, walked 5, and struck out 3. The 5 walks were a season high. He threw 52 of his 91 pitches for strikes, and Texas lost 5-4 to drop the series.
A glute injury kept deGrom out of his final start before the All-Star break. He has not been on the injured list this season.
Texas Rangers Acquire Adam Macko
Texas completed a trade Monday, sending infielder Josh Smith and minor league right-hander Josh Stephan to the Toronto Blue Jays for left-hander Adam Macko. Smith and Macko are on 40-man rosters and Stephan is not, so the deal is 40-man neutral for both clubs.
Macko is 25 and made his major league debut on May 18. Across 22 appearances with Toronto, he carries a 4.91 ERA and a 1.545 WHIP. He has struck out 23 batters and walked 10 in 22 innings. His last outing for the Blue Jays came July 27 at Washington.
Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Macko grew up in Alberta and was drafted by Seattle in the seventh round in 2019. Toronto acquired him from the Mariners in the November 2022 trade that sent Teoscar Hernández to Seattle.
Smith was batting .213 with 1 home run and 8 RBIs in 45 games before Texas optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. He won a Silver Slugger in 2024. He is making $3.225 million and can be retained through arbitration for two more seasons.
Texas is 55-57 and sits 3 games behind Houston in the American League West. The Rangers are 1.5 games out of the third AL wild card. They open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday at Globe Life Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.
