Even when hes healthy, Jacob deGrom cant seem to shake the stigma around his availability. See Also The Red Sox werent even facing the Texas Rangers when Boston broadcasters Tom Caron and Lou Merloni started to look ahead Sunday to the teams season-opening road series against Texas. DeGrom is on track to start the season on the active Cade Cavalli Jersey roster, and the Rangers are hoping he will play a big part in a potential rebound from a rough 2024 season for both the pitcher and the team. But a healthy deGrom didnt stop Merloni from taking a cheap shot at the former Mets pitcher. A lot of talent on that team, everybody just sort of underperformed, Merloni said on-air during Bostons 6-4 . The problem is you get them on that opening series while deGrom is healthy. You want to play them in August when hes on the IL (injured list). "The problem is you get them on that opening series while deGrom is healthy. You want to play them in August when hes on the IL." Lou Merloni Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) DeGrom is coming off a 2024 where he had to undergo his second Tommy John surgery and did return late in the season to make three starts to close out the campaign. He posted a 1.69 ERA spanning 10 2/3 innings, striking out 14 batters. Explore More Jacob deGrom will be the Rangers No. 5 starter out of camp, as The Post exclusively reported. AP While deGrom, when healthy, is the Rangers ace, Texas manager Bruce Bochy that the team intends to use him as their fifth starter out of camp to provide extra rest. That means deGrom will mi s Texas opening four-game series against the Red Sox and is in line to take the ball March 31 against the Reds in Cincinnati. Lou Merloni hated on Jacob deGrom. @LouMerloni/X DeGrom has made a mere 35 starts over the last four seasons, and just nine for the Rangers since he signed a five-year deal with them prior to their championship 2023 campaign. Hes 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA and has to sed just 41 innings with the Rangers. Bochy indicated that everything has been going well with deGrom in camp. Hes doing great. He feels good, Bochy said. Maikel Franco Jersey