Jacob deGrom's Latest Comments Prove Mets Are Completely Blowing Extension Talks

​New regime, same Mets.

Despite a successful first offseason under new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, the Mets still have one very important decision remaining on the docket. With ​2018 NL Cy Young Award winner in need of an extension, the Mets are on the clock, hoping to strike a deal before Opening Day in just a week. With deGrom seemingly unwilling to discuss a new contract during the season, it sounds like talks aren't going as planned in Queens.

This is a surprising development, especially because both sides remained optimistic as recently as last week. Frankly, deGrom ought to be able to name his price. While the "blank check" strategy of negotiating surely isn't smart in most cases, deGrom's earned the right to make whatever he wants, ​especially given the recent wave of contract extensions around baseball.

With Justin Verlander inking a two-year deal in which he'll make around $33 million per season on Saturday, it's deGrom's turn to reset the market, as much as it may pain Van Wagenen and the Mets executives.

There is no debate here. No silver lining, or alternate option. If the Mets want to establish a consistent winner, they'll need deGrom to be a part of that core.

At 30 years of age, deGrom is coming off his best season, in which he posted an absurd 1.70 ERA to go with 269 strikeouts. Pay the man.