DeGrom raring to go
Jacob deGrom is ready to snap his fingers and — presto — return to form as a potential ace of the Mets’ rotation.
After undergoing September surgery to relocate the ulnar nerve in his right elbow, deGrom felt discomfort any time he snapped his fingers. That pain no longer surfaces, leading the pitcher to believe he is ready to start throwing again.
“It feels like nothing happened,” deGrom said Friday at Citi Field, where he spoke to reporters before heading to a promotional event.
DeGrom said he expects to pick up a baseball within the next two weeks for the start of his offseason throwing program. By the time pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie on Feb. 12 for spring training, deGrom figures it will be business as usual.
He will join Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler among the Mets starting pitchers returning from surgery. Noah Syndergaard, who has a bone spur in his right elbow that wasn’t deemed significant enough for removal this offseason, is the only member of the club’s Fab Five not rehabbing.
“Health is the biggest thing and that’s what everybody wants to do is stay healthy and be able to go out there every fifth day and compete,” deGrom said. “Harvey, me, Matz, Wheeler, I think every one of those guys wants to be out there and compete every fifth day.”
Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo, both of whom thrived over the final six weeks of the regular season to help the Mets clinch an NL wild-card berth, will provide rotation insurance. And one or both might be asked occasionally to contribute as a sixth starter to help keep the rotation fresh.
“I like pitching every fifth day, but if that’s the plan that is what we’re going to do,” deGrom said. “Gsellman and Lugo have done a great job.
“If they want to fill those guys in and give us six days, then that is what they want to do. That is up to them and if it helps keep us healthy, then I am for it.”
Rene Rivera avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract with the Mets worth $1.75 million. The Mets were expected to tender contracts to the remainder of their arbitration-eligible players.