DeGrom (side) threw a 22-pitch bullpen session Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux looked to be all smiles after the pitcher completed his mound work, which seems like a good sign. The ace is a little behind schedule due to some tightness in his left side, which cropped up at the start of camp, but he's progressed well since then. While deGrom is not expected to appear during the team's first week of Cactus League games, it shouldn't be long after that assuming all goes well.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said deGrom (side) will throw his first bullpen session of spring training Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom will wind up having his spring throwing progression pushed back about a week on account of left side tightness, after the minor injury coupled with cold weather in Arizona prompted the Rangers to scratch him from his previously scheduled bullpen session last Wednesday. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was able to resume throwing and fielding drills Sunday, and after experiencing no setbacks while working out for the past few days, deGrom will step back on the mound Thursday. He's not expected to be included in the pitching schedule for the Rangers' first week of Cactus League games, but deGrom nonetheless looks to be on track to be fully ramped up well in advance of Opening Day.

DeGrom (side) played catch Monday for a second consecutive day, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom is ramping up at a measured pace after the Rangers held him back from throwing last week. Texas manager Bruce Bochy would not put a firm date on when the right-hander will throw a bullpen session, but the manager expects that to occur later this week.

DeGrom (side) felt good during his workout Sunday and appears on track to continue his throwing program Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shortly after reporting to the Rangers for his first spring training with his new organization, deGrom experienced left side tightness in a bullpen session, resulting in the coaching staff shutting him down for workouts for a few days. However, the minor side injury looks to be mostly in the rearview mirror at this point, and if he can get back on the mound within the next day or two, he shouldn't find himself too far behind the Rangers' other starting pitchers once Cactus League play opens next weekend. Though deGrom isn't expected to pitch during the Rangers' first week of spring games, that's likely in deference to his status as the staff ace rather than any legitimate concern about his injury. Instead, expect the Rangers to use the first week of spring games to get longer evaluations on some of the pitchers who are fighting for spots on the Opening Day roster.

DeGrom (side) isn't expected to pitch during the Rangers' first week of Cactus League games, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom was removed from workouts for four days with tightness in his side but is scheduled to resume on-field activity Sunday. The Rangers are exhibiting an abundance of caution with the right-hander, and Grant notes that deGrom's initial action may come in "B" games or intra-squad games, where the environment is more controlled.

DeGrom (side) won't throw a bullpen session Sunday but will play catch and go through fielding drills, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom is dealing with some side tightness early in camp, and while the issue is a very common one for pitchers to experience at this stage of spring, it's brought extra scrutiny given deGrom's talent level and lengthy recent injury history. The Rangers have suggested he would be able to pitch through the problem in the regular season, but there's no reason to push things with Opening Day still nearly six weeks away. DeGrom will take part in some activities Sunday with an eye towards potentially throwing a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday.

DeGrom (side) could resume throwing Sunday or Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom's throwing program is on pause after he felt some tightness in his left side during a bullpen session earlier this week. The Rangers have downplayed the severity of the issue, suggesting the veteran right-hander would be pitching if it were the regular season. The injury isn't a concern at this point, but obviously deGrom will be watched closely over the next several days.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that DeGrom felt tightness in his left side during a bullpen session earlier this week and won't throw again for another day or two, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though anything remotely injury related pertaining to deGrom is sure to raise concerns for fantasy managers, Levi Weaver of The Athletic relays that the Rangers said that the side issue isn't serious and would be something the star right-hander would be able to pitch through during the regular season. However, with spring training in its earliest stage and due to the unseasonably cold weather in Arizona, Young said the Rangers opted to delay deGrom's next throwing session out of "an abundance of caution." Those invested in deGrom will still want to check back on the news over the next few days to ensure that he did in fact resume his throwing program, as Young suggested will be the case.

DeGrom signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The contract includes a conditional sixth year that would make the deal worth $222 million. He has a full no-trade clause. The commitment from ownership in Texas has been quite impressive, as they committed $556 million to Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray last offseason. DeGrom unsurprisingly opted for a longer contract, as durability is the only question mark with him. The 34-year-old righty logged a 3.08 ERA, 2.13 FIP and 0.75 WHIP in 64.1 innings last season with the Mets after dealing with a shoulder injury for the first four months. He dealt with an elbow injury in 2021. According to the Statcast park factors, Globe Life Field is the 19th most hitter-friendly park while Citi Field ranked 26th, so it's a slight park downgrade and a major supporting cast downgrade.

DeGrom declined his $30.5 million player option for 2023 on Monday, becoming a free agent.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom chose to exercise the opt-out clause in the five-year, $137.5 million contract extension he signed in March 2019 to try his luck in free agency for the first time since being drafted by the Mets in 2010. Though he was bogged down by a shoulder injury to open the campaign, the 34-year-old was electric when on the mound this season, producing a 3.08 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with 102 punchouts over 64.1 innings in 11 starts. After making at least 30 starts in four of his first six seasons in the league, deGrom has logged only 38 total outings over the last three years. Even so, deGrom maintains a career 2.52 ERA over nine MLB seasons, and his otherworldly numbers on a per-start basis make it likely that he earns the largest average annual value contract for any pitcher in this season's free-agency class. The Mets will presumably make retaining deGrom a high priority, but expect several contending clubs to at least put forth competitive offers.