LAS VEGAS -- At this early stage, it's impossible to tell if the Mets will be able to hammer out a long-term contract extension with Jacob deGrom. But they're at least going to try.
Mets officials met this week with deGrom's new lead agents Jeff Berry and Matt Ricatto, a source confirmed, expressing a willingness to discuss keeping deGrom in Flushing beyond 2020. Fresh off a National League Cy Young Award, deGrom has two more years under team control.
Generally, teams begin talking about extensions more earnestly in the new year, making a deal unlikely over the coming weeks. It remains to be seen whether deGrom, who could potentially receive a windfall through free agency, would take any sort of hometown discount to remain in New York. But he, too, is at least interested in talking, as he has said multiple times since the season ended.
• Mets working on potential upgrade in center field
"I think anybody is open to an extension if it's right for you and your family," deGrom said last month. "Nothing is guaranteed in this game until you sign that deal or hit free agency and sign a deal there. You just have to sit down and, at the end of the day, look at what's right for you and your family and kind of make a decision based upon that.
"I really do enjoy playing in New York. The fans have treated me great. I enjoy taking the mound at Citi Field in front of them, and it's rare that a guy spends his career with one team. If that was something that they wanted to do, and me and [my wife] Stacey felt like it was the right move for us, then we'd be willing to definitely explore that."
Trade talks
The Mets have remained active on the trade front at the Winter Meetings, according to sources, checking in with several teams. Among them are the Red Sox, who are trying to pare down a surplus of catching, and the Rangers, who are interested in pitching prospects David Peterson and Anthony Kay. For the Mets to part with either, they would likely need to receive right-handed reliever Jose Leclerc, a 24-year-old who posted a 1.56 ERA last season.
A source said the Mets view Red Sox catchers Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon as fallback options should they fall short in their pursuit of J.T. Realmuto.