Mets' Mark Canha: Jacob deGrom 'told me he wants to come back'

New York Mets outfielder Mark Canha has offered promising news to fans regarding the future of ace Jacob deGrom.

For a piece published Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post asked Canha about "potential free agents" such as deGrom, star closer Edwin Diaz, and fellow outfielder Brandon Nimmo. 

"Jake told me he wants to come back, too, and he really likes it here, too," Canha said during his response. "I think Jake and Max [Scherzer] and [Chris] Bassitt have a really good friendship they have developed over this year and good professional relationship, too. I’m hopeful for Jake, but Diaz and Nimmo, I have no idea where they’re at. They both had really good years. I’m sure they want to be compensated for that and deserve it, rightly so. But I don’t know where that leads us. I’d love to have them back."

Canha made his comments roughly a week after Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, who previously shared the Mets rotation with deGrom, said that the 34-year-old told him "he is happy" in Queens and merely "wants to get compensated for what he’s done." 

Back in March, deGrom publicly confirmed he planned to opt out of his contract after the World Series. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner remains on track to hit free agency, and The Post's Jon Heyman reported Thursday evening that deGrom could receive a contract worth $125 million over three years either from the Mets or a different club. 

Meanwhile, SNY's Andy Martino said on Wednesday that "the Mets are prioritizing" Diaz and Nimmo "above all other internal free agents." Martino also explained that the Mets "expect to maintain open and consistent communication with Diaz when free agency begins the morning after the World Series ends." 

Martino noted Thursday that the Mets don't "plan to fight" the New York Yankees to win the signature of All-Star slugger Aaron Judge. This, presumably, would keep funds available for the Amazins to pay deGrom and the previously mentioned Bassitt assuming they want to keep both through at least 2023.