Noah Syndergaard has reportedly agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, taking one of the top pitchers off the free-agent market. Syndergaard had been with the New York Mets for his first seven MLB seasons.

Syndergaard is joining Los Angeles on a one-year, $21 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, pending a physical. New York offered the right-hander a one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer.

Syndergaard missed the entire 2020 season and only pitched two innings in 2021 because of Tommy John Surgery. The 29-year-old went 10-8 with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 197.2 innings for the Mets in 2019.

Despite just one All-Star appearance since making his MLB debut in 2015, Syndergaard’s upside is higher than most free agents heading into the 2022 season. One of the hardest throwers in baseball, Syndergaard had a 3.03 ERA in 25 starts for the 2018 season. In 2016, Syndergaard finished eighth in the NL Cy Young race.

The Angels’ rotation had a 4.78 ERA this past season, ranking 10th among 15 AL teams. Shohei Ohtani was Los Angeles’ only pitcher who threw at least 100 innings.

L.A. has missed the playoffs in seven straight seasons.

The Mets missed the postseason for the fifth straight year with a disappointing pitching staff. Without Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom for most of the second half, New York posted a 4.41 ERA after the All-Star break for a 29-45 record.

Syndergaard’s departure could give New York a sense of urgency in trying to re-sign Marcus Stroman. Stroman is a free agent after leading the Mets with a 3.02 ERA, 158 strikeouts and 179 innings pitched in 2021.

Shortstop Javier Baez and outfielder Michael Conforto are the Mets’ other notable free agents.

Noah Syndergaard New York Mets
Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets celebrates after defeating the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 30, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Adam Hunger/Getty Images
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