Noah Syndergaard headed to Angels on one-year deal

On Nov. 7, a day after the Mets extended him the $18.4 million qualifying offer, Noah Syndergaard posted a GIF on Twitter that depicted how loved that gesture made him feel.

Turns out money beats love, though.

Syndergaard spurned the Mets’ offer on Tuesday when he agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Angels announced the deal Tuesday night after Syndergaard, 29, passed his physical, which was no small matter considering Syndergaard has thrown two innings over the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Mets were somewhat surprised, but not exactly shocked, by Syndergaard’s decision.

Despite Syndergaard’s publicly expressed love for New York, there was a growing sense he preferred to reset his career (and value) somewhere other than Flushing to maybe avoid the intense scrutiny he was used to in a Mets’ uniform, according to a source.

That probably explains why the Mets were never given an opportunity to counter the Angels’ bid; it’s unlikely they would have gone beyond the $18.4 million qualifying offer, anyway. They learned of Syndergaard’s exit after he already was headed to the West Coast for his physical.

Because they tendered him the qualifying offer, the Mets will be awarded a second-round pick in next year’s draft as compensation.

Syndergaard had until Wednesday’s deadline to make an official decision on the Mets’ offer. The offer was a calculated risk in itself because Syndergaard was not allowed to throw breaking pitches during a pair of late-season, one-inning outings.

After the first one, on Sept. 28 vs. Miami, Syndergaard said of returning to the Mets next season: "I’m fairly confident that we’ll reach an agreement and I’ll be pitching here next year. New York has a special place in my heart and always will be."

And when told the Mets were planning on extending him the qualifying offer, Syndergaard said: "It's something I'd be extremely grateful for. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. It's definitely something I'm hoping for."

All the Mets have right now in their rotation is hope. That, and owner Steve Cohen’s checkbook.

Without Syndergaard, the Mets go into 2022 with a top three in their rotation of Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker.

DeGrom didn’t pitch after July 7 because of a mysterious shoulder ailment. Carrasco made only 12 starts because of a hamstring injury and underwent elbow surgery after the season. Walker, after an All-Star first half, had a 7.21 ERA in the second half.

Marcus Stroman is a free agent and he could barely contain his glee on the Syndergaard news in a Twitter post.

"Shout to my brother," Stroman wrote. "One of the hardest working dudes in the game. Excited to watch you deal all future!"

Left unsaid by Stroman was that if Syndergaard can get $21 million after two innings, what is Stroman worth after throwing 179 innings in 2021?

Actually, it was only partially left unsaid. Stroman retweeted a post saying exactly that.

There are a number of other free agent starters out there, including Cy Young candidates Robbie Ray and Kevin Gausman and the potential Hall of Fame trio of Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander, plus intriguing options Carlos Rodon, Jon Gray and former Mets lefthander Steven Matz, who is unlikely to return for a reunion.

The starting pitching market is moving quickly. Eduardo Rodriguez left the Red Sox for the Tigers and agreed to a five-year, $77 million deal. Jose Berrios, a year before free agency, agreed to a seven-year, $131 million extension with the Blue Jays.

The Mets are still in the process of finalizing the hiring of former Yankees executive and Angels general manager Billy Eppler as their general manager. That deal is expected to close by Thursday after Eppler undergoes a background check.

Syndergaard came to the Mets from Toronto along with Travis d’Arnaud in a six-player trade on Dec. 17, 2012, that included Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey going to the Blue Jays.

Syndergaard burst onto the Queens scene in 2015, when he finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting and, along with deGrom, Matz and Matt Harvey, led the Mets to the World Series.

With his 100-mile per hour fastball, flowing blond locks, penchant for shirtless antics and "Thor" persona, Syndergaard quickly became a Flushing fan favorite before Tommy John surgery upended his career.

His final record with the Mets is 47-31 with a 3.32 ERA.

With David Lennon

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.