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Jacob deGrom Declines Trade to Braves, Stays with Rangers After Invoking No-Trade Clause
On August 3, 2026, Texas Rangers right‑hander Jacob de Grom exercised the no‑trade clause in his contract, keeping the two‑time Cy Young Award winner in Arlington. The move shut down a potential blockbuster that would have sent de Grom to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher Spencer Strider.
Sources close to the negotiations confirmed that the trade was in advanced stages before the deadline. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that the Rangers had been willing to part with de Grom for Strider, a swap that would have exchanged two of the league’s most productive right‑handers. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand added that Strider was discussed as part of a “contract swap” for de Grom, a detail that only recently emerged.
De Grom, who turned 38 in June, has been a mainstay for the Rangers since signing a five‑year deal in 2023. He finished the 2025 season with a 3.80 earned‑run average (ERA) over 149 ⅓ innings and is owed $37 million for 2027, with a $20 million club option for 2028. Despite his age and a history of injuries, de Grom has remained relatively healthy in the last two seasons, recording at least 25 starts in consecutive years for the first time since his back‑to‑back Cy Young Awards in 2018‑19.
Strider, 27, has struggled with injuries in recent years. He has made only 33 major‑league starts since the beginning of the 2024 season, missing time due to elbow surgery in 2024, a hamstring strain in 2025, and oblique and elbow issues in 2026. In 2026 he posted a 5.31 ERA across eight outings and is owed $22 million over the next two seasons, with a club option for 2029.
The trade would have given the Rangers a younger arm with a lower salary‑cap hit, while the Braves would have acquired a proven ace. The Rangers had negotiated a full no‑trade clause into de Grom’s free‑agent contract, a clause that he chose to exercise on deadline day. The Braves had shown interest in de Grom earlier in the season; the Post noted that the team was confident a deal could be reached and that the trade would have been a “contract swap.” The move would have also addressed the Braves’ desire for a durable, high‑velocity right‑hander—a role that Strider had struggled to fill due to his injury history.
The trade never materialized. De Grom’s decision to stay in Texas was confirmed by the Rangers’ front office, which said the player’s preference to remain in the state outweighed any potential benefit of a trade. The organization also noted that the Rangers had already begun planning for the 2027 season, when de Grom’s salary will increase to $37 million.
The episode underscores the complexity of modern MLB transactions, where contract clauses, player preferences, and injury concerns can outweigh the financial and competitive benefits of a deal. While the Rangers will continue to rely on de Grom’s experience and performance, the Braves will need to explore other options to strengthen their rotation.
As the 2026 season progresses, both teams will focus on their respective playoff aspirations. The Rangers aim to build on de Grom’s consistency, while the Braves look to integrate younger talent and address lingering injury concerns among their pitching staff. In the coming weeks, the Rangers will monitor de Grom’s health and performance as they prepare for the final stretch of the season. The Braves will continue to evaluate their pitching depth and consider potential trade partners to acquire a reliable right‑hander for the 2027 campaign.
The trade that never happened remains a notable footnote in the 2026 MLB trade‑deadline narrative, illustrating how a single player’s contractual rights can shape the destinies of two storied franchises.
Sources close to the negotiations confirmed that the trade was in advanced stages before the deadline. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that the Rangers had been willing to part with de Grom for Strider, a swap that would have exchanged two of the league’s most productive right‑handers. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand added that Strider was discussed as part of a “contract swap” for de Grom, a detail that only recently emerged.
De Grom, who turned 38 in June, has been a mainstay for the Rangers since signing a five‑year deal in 2023. He finished the 2025 season with a 3.80 earned‑run average (ERA) over 149 ⅓ innings and is owed $37 million for 2027, with a $20 million club option for 2028. Despite his age and a history of injuries, de Grom has remained relatively healthy in the last two seasons, recording at least 25 starts in consecutive years for the first time since his back‑to‑back Cy Young Awards in 2018‑19.
Strider, 27, has struggled with injuries in recent years. He has made only 33 major‑league starts since the beginning of the 2024 season, missing time due to elbow surgery in 2024, a hamstring strain in 2025, and oblique and elbow issues in 2026. In 2026 he posted a 5.31 ERA across eight outings and is owed $22 million over the next two seasons, with a club option for 2029.
The trade would have given the Rangers a younger arm with a lower salary‑cap hit, while the Braves would have acquired a proven ace. The Rangers had negotiated a full no‑trade clause into de Grom’s free‑agent contract, a clause that he chose to exercise on deadline day. The Braves had shown interest in de Grom earlier in the season; the Post noted that the team was confident a deal could be reached and that the trade would have been a “contract swap.” The move would have also addressed the Braves’ desire for a durable, high‑velocity right‑hander—a role that Strider had struggled to fill due to his injury history.
The trade never materialized. De Grom’s decision to stay in Texas was confirmed by the Rangers’ front office, which said the player’s preference to remain in the state outweighed any potential benefit of a trade. The organization also noted that the Rangers had already begun planning for the 2027 season, when de Grom’s salary will increase to $37 million.
The episode underscores the complexity of modern MLB transactions, where contract clauses, player preferences, and injury concerns can outweigh the financial and competitive benefits of a deal. While the Rangers will continue to rely on de Grom’s experience and performance, the Braves will need to explore other options to strengthen their rotation.
As the 2026 season progresses, both teams will focus on their respective playoff aspirations. The Rangers aim to build on de Grom’s consistency, while the Braves look to integrate younger talent and address lingering injury concerns among their pitching staff. In the coming weeks, the Rangers will monitor de Grom’s health and performance as they prepare for the final stretch of the season. The Braves will continue to evaluate their pitching depth and consider potential trade partners to acquire a reliable right‑hander for the 2027 campaign.
The trade that never happened remains a notable footnote in the 2026 MLB trade‑deadline narrative, illustrating how a single player’s contractual rights can shape the destinies of two storied franchises.
