Report: Jacob deGrom, Mets may need to address 'a few micro-aggressions'

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom is currently scheduled to complete a second rehab appearance for Single-A St. Lucie on Friday. As the star pitcher works to make his 2022 MLB season debut coming off the stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder that's kept him out all season, his future beyond 2022 is still very much unclear.

The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner confirmed in March he plans to opt out of his contract this fall, and ESPN's Buster Olney dropped a bombshell this past Saturday when he linked deGrom with the Atlanta Braves, New York's main division rival this summer. 

On Wednesday, SNY's Andy Martino noted that "it is far from certain that deGrom will remain in New York after this season." Martino added that deGrom feels underpaid compared to Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees and Mets teammate Max Scherzer, but money may not be the only reason the 34-year-old could look to sign elsewhere after the season. 

Per Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Martino spoke about deGrom's situation again during a segment that aired before the Wednesday evening game between the Mets and Cincinnati Reds. 

"He was definitely irritated last year when Mets president Sandy Alderson said that he had a damaged elbow ligament, and deGrom pushed back on that. There’s been a few micro-aggressions that have added up and probably need to be addressed," Martino said.

Martino also repeated the harsh truth that deGrom hasn't thrown a pitch in a meaningful game since July 7, 2021, due to multiple frustrating injury setbacks. 

"But the real talk reality as we sit here in July and he hasn’t pitched yet this season, is that deGrom’s future with the Mets and his future with any other team is very up in the air," Martino said. 

The Mets hope deGrom will log at least one start before July comes to an end.