PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. _ Jacob deGrom wants long-term security, and he wants it soon.
The Mets ace and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner informed the team within the past week that he has decided on Opening Day as a deadline to complete a contract extension, sources confirmed Tuesday. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen, formerly deGrom's agent, called it "a mutual understanding."
If there is no deal by then _ March 28 _ the club would have to wait till the offseason, at which point deGrom will be just one year from free agency, to try again.
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