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Yankees Prepare Stunning “Payback” Move by Pursuing $185 Million, Two Time Cy Young Pitcher Jacob deGrom. Mets Manager Claims New York Is Trying to Strike Back

New York – November 18, 2025
The rivalry between the Yankees and the Mets may be entering one of its most explosive chapters yet. According to multiple league sources, the New York Yankees are aggressively pursuing superstar pitcher Jacob deGrom, the two time Cy Young winner valued at 185 million dollars, in what many insiders are calling a bold attempt to reshape their rotation and deliver a symbolic blow to their cross town rivals.

The Yankees are coming off a disappointing postseason exit at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. Almost immediately afterward, the front office began discussing a dramatic overhaul of the pitching staff. With deGrom unexpectedly available, the Yankees see an opportunity to add one of the best arms of his generation while simultaneously reclaiming control of New York’s baseball spotlight.

DeGrom’s résumé remains elite. Last season, he posted a 12–8 record with a 2.97 ERA, 185 strikeouts and a phenomenal 0.921 WHIP across 172 innings. Even at 37, he continues to dominate hitters with command, velocity and experience few pitchers can match. Yankees executives believe pairing him with Gerrit Cole and Max Fried would create the strongest rotation in Major League Baseball.

Sources inside the organization say the Yankees are willing to absorb the luxury tax hit and take on the full financial responsibility if it means securing deGrom. One team official put it more directly. “This is about adding an ace. But it is also about taking back New York.”

That idea did not go unnoticed by the Mets. Current Mets manager Carlos Mendoza publicly responded to the rumors during a press conference, taking subtle but pointed aim at the Yankees’ motivations.

“It is pretty clear what they are trying to do,” Mendoza said. “We all see the timing. We all understand the message. If they want to frame this as payback for Juan Soto, that is their business. But our focus here is on building a winning team. Not chasing headlines.”

His comments immediately went viral, igniting another round of debates between Yankee fans and Mets loyalists. Mets supporters argue that deGrom’s legacy belongs in Queens and that any attempt by the Yankees to sign him would be an emotional “hit” on their history. Meanwhile, Yankees fans are celebrating the possibility of seeing a Mets legend take the mound in pinstripes.
Jacob deGrom Hall of Fame chances as of 2025

For deGrom, returning to New York in a different uniform is not out of the question. People close to him say he still holds deep affection for the city and for the competitive energy that surrounds baseball in the Big Apple. He has never ruled out a comeback to New York under the right circumstances.

As negotiations continue, the tension between the two franchises only grows stronger. If the Yankees succeed, the balance of power in the city will shift dramatically. And for the first time in years, the rivalry will have a new defining chapter.

What is clear is that this pursuit is not only about talent. It is about pride, legacy and the battle for baseball supremacy in New York.

 
 

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While Levi’s Stadium was shrouded in disappointment, Brock Purdy didn’t leave the court in silence – He went straight to Sam Darnold and delivered a chilling message about the next playoff battle
Santa Clara, California – January 4, 2026. Levi’s Stadium slowly emptied as the final whistle sounded. The 13–3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks not only snapped the San Francisco 49ers’ six-game winning streak, but stripped them of the NFC’s top seed and home-field advantage on the final weekend of the regular season. A painful fall, at the one moment they could least afford it. In that setting, Brock Purdy didn’t react like a quarterback coming off the most deflating loss of the season. Instead of heading straight to the tunnel with the rest of his teammates, Purdy turned back toward midfield and walked directly to Sam Darnold — the man who had just helped Seattle control the game from start to finish. There was no argument, no extra gesture. Just a few words delivered calmly and with intent: “See you in a couple of weeks.” It didn’t sound like frustration. It sounded like a date already circled. The game itself offered little comfort for San Francisco. Seattle smothered the 49ers from the opening drives, holding the entire offense to just 176 total yards. Christian McCaffrey was bottled up, and Purdy spent the night throwing under pressure, forced into quick decisions and short completions. He finished with 127 yards and an interception — numbers that reflected how thoroughly the Seahawks dictated the terms. Yet the most telling moments came off the stat sheet. On the sideline, Purdy never detached. Between series, he stayed engaged with his offensive line and receivers, talking through missed opportunities and reinforcing composure. There was no visible frustration, no searching for excuses — just a steady effort to keep the group grounded as the game slipped away. “We don’t judge ourselves by one game. What matters is how you respond, how you get back up, and how you play when things are at their toughest.” That mindset defined the 49ers’ locker room after the loss. The disappointment was obvious, but panic was absent. Veterans understood that the postseason doesn’t care how a team arrives — only how it handles adversity once it’s there. And for San Francisco, the role of road warrior is hardly unfamiliar. Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t shy away from reality. He acknowledged that the team had made its own path harder by losing home-field advantage, guaranteeing a more demanding playoff road. But there was no sense of resignation — only acceptance and a focus on what comes next. Inside the room, leaders like George Kittle and Fred Warner echoed the same message: the playoffs are a new season. What happened against Seattle won’t be forgotten, but it won’t define them either. The frustration remains — not as a burden, but as fuel. In that context, Purdy’s moment at midfield carried weight beyond a single exchange. It symbolized how this team chooses to confront setbacks — not by shrinking, not by disappearing, not by walking away quietly. The 49ers are willing to face the harder road, eyes forward, ready for whoever stands across from them again. The playoffs are shaped by the smallest details. A glance. A sentence. A moment after defeat. Levi’s Stadium closed the night in silence, but for Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers, it wasn’t an ending — it was the beginning of the most revealing test of their season.