In 2021, the New York Mets selected right-hander Kumar Rocker in the first round of the MLB Draft.
However, due to injury concerns, the star right-hander was not signed.
And thus, Mets fans’ dreams of a rotation featuring both Rocker and Jacob deGrom were dashed.
With the third pick in the 2022 Draft, Rocker was selected by the Texas Rangers.
On Friday, the Rangers made a big splash in free agency when they signed the veteran right-hander deGrom, who the Mets had drafted in 2010, to a five-year, $185 million deal.
With deGrom now in Texas, it is now Rangers fans who are dreaming of a starting rotation featuring both him and Rocker.
Just as everyone envisioned, Jacob deGrom and Kumar Rocker together, headlining a starting rotation……
DeGrom was drafted in 2010 by the #Mets.
Rocker was drafted in 2021 by the #Mets.
They now pitch for the #Rangers.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 3, 2022
deGrom, Rocker Unite In Texas
The possibility of deGrom and Rocker sharing a starting rotation is now quite realistic.
However, instead of those two sharing a rotation in New York, they’ll be sharing it in Texas, which now comes at the expense of some once-hopeful Mets fans.
Of course, even if the Mets had signed Rocker, it would not have changed much with deGrom.
The veteran ace was going to take the best possible contract offer, which he received from Texas.
In addition to landing deGrom and having a top prospect waiting in the wings, the Rangers also have Martin Perez, Jake Odorizzi, Jon Gray, and Dane Dunning in their current rotation.
There is also a possibility that at some point during the 2023 regular season, the Rangers take a flyer on Rocker and give him a chance with the big-league club.
If that happens, then Texas’ rotation will become even scarier.
