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

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.

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.