Talk » The real issue with Jacob deGrom and the New York Met

s is the same one the Mets so often face Matt Moore Jersey , the one they never seem to completely answer.Are they willing to act like a big-market team?A big-market team should be willing to sign a Cy Young-winning pitcher to a long-term contract. But a big-market team also shouldn't be afraid of any artificial deadlines along the way.For all the talk of an Opening Day "deadline" in the deGrom negotiations, the only real deadline is the end of the 2020 season, when deGrom would be eligible to leave as a free agent. And even then, the Mets would still be able to sign him until someone else does.Yes, it could cost more by then. Yes, it could cost more by next winter, if deGrom comes anywhere close to replicating a 2018 season in which he had a 1.70 ERA and struck out 269 in 217 innings.Big-market teams don't need to worry much about things like that. They can afford to wait, because if the price goes up, they can afford to pay it.The New York Yankees often operate that way.With the Mets, you're never sure they could afford it. You're not even sure they can afford to sign deGrom for whatever the price would be now, and their lack of a contract offer at this point in the offseason raises uncomfortable questions.Even though the Mets have signed some stars before free agency (David Wright, 2012) and others after they reached that point (Yoenis Cespedes, 2016), their fans understandably wonder whether the owners are willing to fully commit. Just this winter http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , the Mets took on a big contract when they traded for Robinson Cano, but they stopped short of engaging with Bryce Harper and/or Manny Machado, the two biggest impact players on the market.And, of course, they have yet to make an offer to deGrom, as both sides acknowledged to reporters Thursday.There's still plenty of time between now and Opening Day for the Mets to make an offer, plenty of time for counteroffers, plenty of time for this all to become a non-issue and for the Mets and deGrom to schedule a press conference to announce he has signed.But if they decide not to meet whatever deGrom's price is now, so what? He's still going to pitch for them in 2019, with a $17 million salary that represents an appropriate raise over the $7.4 million he made in 2018. He's still under control for 2020, too.When Brodie Van Wagenen was Jacob deGroms agent last year, he tried to pressure the Mets into a deal. Now, hes the Mets general manager.Jeff Roberson/Associated Press/Associated PressAnd while there's been lots of talk about a memo written by Jeff Berry, now serving as deGrom's agent Bartolo Colon Jersey , that's most likely a non-issue as well. The memo, as published by ESPN.com in December, outlines all sorts of "player-first" strategies players and their union could use to counter what some of them see as unfair practices by management.The most relevant tactic in this case would be for a pitcher approaching free agency to limit his innings if it might help him make the case for a better contract as a free agent. Asked about that possibility at Mets camp Thursday, deGrom didn't run away from it."I think that's a discussion that's going to have to be had with my agents," he said, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.So we're supposed to believe that deGrom would ask out of games early even if it might impact the Mets' position in a pennant race? Sorry, not buying that one (and if he did, is that the kind of guy you want to sign long-term?).OK, so what about this deadline, the one first reported by the Postand later confirmed by Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen? Should it scare the Mets or their fans that deGrom doesn't want negotiations to continue into the season?No, because he's not eligible for free agency this year. And while players are often more reluctant to sign long-term deals in the winter before free agency (next winter, in deGrom's case), would deGrom really refuse to negotiate next winter when the option would be to become a free agent at age 32 at a time when free agency isn't favoring older players?Mets owners Jeff Wilpon and Fred Wilpon (with Brodie Van Wagenen) havent been able to shake the perception theyre running the Mets like a mid-market team.Frank Franklin II/Associated Press/Associated PressAny frustration deGrom is feeling right now would be understandable. The Mets told him more than two months ago they'd get him some kind of contract offer soon, according to a person familiar with the talks. Both sides said Thursday there has yet to be a long-term contract offered.It would make sense for the Mets to engage Jon Niese Jersey , not just because they said they would but because they need to find out for sure if what they're willing to pay is anywhere near what deGrom is willing to sign for. But even with an Opening Day deadline, they still have well over a month to do that.The only risk of keeping him without signing him long-term is they could be convinced they can't afford to pay him enough to stay. Small-market teams think that way and get pushed into earlier extensions.Big-market teams shouldn't. They should get an extension done if the numbers make sense and not because of fear of an artificial deadline.But there's that question again, the one that still doesn't have an answer:Are the Mets willing to act like the big-market team they should be?Danny Knobler covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.Follow Danny on Twitter and talk baseball. SEATTLE (AP) — Minnesota Twins slugger Nelson Cruz was disappointed he won’t get a chance to play against one of his former teams.Taking care of his strained left wrist was a bigger priority than trying to hit another home run in Seattle.The Twins placed Cruz on the 10-day injured list Friday with a balky wrist that was showing improvement but not enough to avoid sidelining the slugger. The move was retroactive to last Tuesday and came after Cruz missed four straight games.The expectation is Cruz should be ready to go when the 10 days expire and he’s likely to rejoin the lineup May 24 when Minnesota returns home to host the Chicago White Sox.“It’s tough, regardless of where you’re playing. But it’s a little more special to play against a former team,” Cruz said.I think I should be good for next Friday and have my wrist under control and be pain-free.”Cruz had not played since last Sunday due to the wrist strain and said the time of the year was a major factor. Rather than trying to play through the injury, Cruz and the Twins decided resting the wrist now would be the best move. Cruz said if it was later in the season, he would play through it.Cruz is hitting .270 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs and a .508 slugging percentage in his first season with Minnesota. But there was noticeable disappointment about Cruz being unable to play this weekend in Seattle, where he spent the previous four seasons and hit 163 home runs with 414 RBIs.“He has great perspective. He’s been around, he’s seen it all,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Doesn’t get easy to put him on the (injured list). … But if we can knock this out and put this past us, or not really have to worry about it playing a big factor going forward we’re going to take the next week and do that. I think he totally realizes it makes sense.”Minnesota recalled Luis Arraez from Triple-A Rochester. Arraez was recently promoted to Triple-A and had hit .342 at Double-A Pensacola.