ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom told the Texas Rangers before Monday’s trade deadline that he wanted to stay with the team. “I want to be here. I believe in this group,” deGrom said.The right-hander, who has a full no-trade clause in his contract, addressed reports that the slumping Rangers were approached by at least one other club about his availability. Asked if Texas presented anything specific to him about a potential deal, the 38-year-old deGrom said he wouldn’t get into any details.The Rangers went into Monday night’s series opener at home against San Francisco mired in a season-worst five-game losing streak that knocked them out of first place in the AL West. They were swept in a three-game series at Houston over the weekend, going from a half-game division lead to 2 1/2 games behind the Astros.
“Obviously, the last road trip didn’t go well, but I believe in this group and I believe we can win,” deGrom said. “I signed here to help this team win a World Series. In ’23, the team was able to do that, and I want to be a part of that in the future. ... That was the reason I wanted to be there. So I want stay here and help this team compete.”The Rangers made one trade Monday, sending utility player Josh Smith and minor league right-hander Josh Stephan to Toronto for rookie left-hander Adam Macko. Smith and Macko were both with Triple-A teams.
