With trade buzz building, deGrom affirms preference to stay with Rangers

Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom has seemingly been a target of multiple teams as the Trade Deadline approaches, but the two-time Cy Young Award winner on Monday talked with reporters about his preference to remain with the team.

"I want to be here," deGrom said. "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."

While deGrom declined to go into specifics about his conversation with the Rangers, the Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, citing unnamed sources, reported Monday afternoon that the Rangers asked deGrom about waiving his no-trade clause, but he declined. The team gave deGrom a full no-trade clause ahead of the 2023 season when he signed a five-year, $185 million free-agent deal with the team.

deGrom, a back-to-back NL Cy Young Award winner with the Mets in 2018 and '19, would provide a boost to just about any rotation in baseball. The 13-year veteran and five-time All-Star is 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 21 starts this season (113 2/3 innings).

The 38-year-old has averaged just over five innings per start this season and held opponents to a .231 average while producing a 1.14 WHIP.