After receiving a PRP injection in October, Carlos Santana said that “Now, I feel 100 percent” in the wake of an injury-plagued season, the Royals first baseman told The Kansas City Star’s Lynn Worthy. This tracks with the 4-6 week timeline Santana initially gave in the wake of the injection, which was meant to help treat the Grade 2 quad strain that plagued the veteran slugger during the last six weeks of the season. Between the quad and other leg problems, Santana clearly wore down in 2021, batting only .185/.217/.284 over his last 351 plate appearances.
With this rough season lingering, Santana said that he is “working on a couple things that I need to help me, my swing and my body. That’s the only thing I changed. I started early, working out, compared to the year before.” Now entering his age-36 season, Santana has posted two below-average offensive years (as per the wRC+ metric) since his 2019 All-Star campaign, which is a little ominous for a Royals team that still owes Santana $10.5MM in 2022. While Santana has bounced back strongly from disappointing years in the past, 2021 was the worst of his 12 big league seasons by just about every metric, so Santana will have more of a climb to recapture his old form.
More from around the baseball world as we enter 2022….
- Brandon Nimmo is a free agent next winter, and “the expectation is” that the Mets will pursue a contract extension, The New York Post’s Mike Puma writes. Nimmo has a strong .266/.393/.445 slash line over six career MLB seasons, yet he has only 1695 PA and 457 games on his big league resume due to a variety of injuries. Given this checkered health history, one wonders how much of a long-term commitment New York would be willing to make to Nimmo, or if the Mets might only be willing to offer an extension at a relatively team-friendly price. From Nimmo’s perspective, he will have to weigh locking in some form of a guaranteed payday, or perhaps betting on himself to stay healthy and productive, thus potentially setting him up for a much richer free agent contract from the Mets or another team in the 2022-23 offseason. Hypothetically, the incentive-heavy extension between the Twins and another oft-injured outfielder in Byron Buxton could serve as something of a model for a Nimmo extension, if likely at a lower price point than the $100MM in guaranteed money that Buxton will receive. (Interestingly, Nimmo and Buxton are more comparable than one might think, in terms of fWAR.)
- Cardinals prospect Ian Bedell is set to make some light throws off a mound this week, according to Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This marks Bedell’s first work off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery back in May, and the 22-year-old has been able to continue his rehab normally with minor league staff, as Bedell and minor league team personnel aren’t subject to the lockout. The right-hander is tentatively still on schedule to return to action by May 2022, as Bedell is eager to resume a pro career that has already been set back by the pandemic and now his TJ procedure. Bedell was a fourth-round pick for the Cardinals in the 2020 draft, and he tossed only 2 2/3 innings for the team’s high-A affiliate before being shut down for surgery last season.
When healthy Buxton is one of the best players in baseball. Nimmo is at best a 4th Outfielder and no way is he worth anywhere close to $100 million
Nimmo is at best a quality leadoff hitter with a high OBP, a starter on a playoff-quality team.
Nimmo is a good player when healthy. I’ve heard some people talk about him like he’s a superstar when healthy and that’s not true. Someone said the other day that people don’t realize how great he is because he is usually injured. A .266 batting average with an OPS below .850 is definitely above average but I wouldn’t even call it all star level much less superstar. His best skill at the plate is taking walks. I love guys that take walks but that still shouldn’t be your strongest attribute. The Mets should try to keep him but not on any big long term contract. I’m not that concerned with what WAR says. When Nimmo and Buxton are both healthy Nimmo doesn’t even belong in the same conversation. Unless you are specifically talking about both of their penchants to stay injured.
@Please, Hammer. Don’t hurt ’em
Nimmo’s actually become good big league hitter, not just skillful in working the count.
,288 hitter in 2020-2021. combined. .454 SLG.
He also makes hard contact. And has very good speed.
He good all around player who hasn’t yet ceiling on either side of the ball.
I don’t think anyone is calling Nimmo a superstar, that’s a bit of a straw man there. At his best he plays at an all star level when healthy but certainly not a superstar.
Agree on his OBP, and should get even better now with Marte behind him and a return to form from Lindor, Alonso and McNeil. But if he can’t stay healthy, the OBP means squash!
Right … a 4th OF with a 400 career OBP.
Nimmo’s done pretty well for a fourth outfielder, then, given that he’s been playing at starter-level when healthy.
LOL, he has a career 134 wRC+ and grades out average or better in left. His problems are that the Mets continually miscast him as a CF and that he can’t stay healthy. When he’s in the lineup he’s a very good player. His one mostly full season he was a 4.5 fWAR player and was a 3.5 fWAR player in 90 games last season.
Whether he’s worth $100M is debatable, but it’s ridiculous to call him a 4th OF “at best.”
Rsox has given me my first laugh of 2022.
At best a 4th outfielder – LOL.
.288/.402/.454/.856 OPS over his last 147 games, 2020-2021, 611 PA’s
25 2B, 6 3B, 16 HR
Footspeed of 28.9 feet/second is in the 91.7%
Average Exit Velo – 89.3
Such a good 4th outfielder, he could be a 1st through 3rd outfielder.
I hate the Mets, but I would love Nimmo on my team. He’s a starting outfielder on a playoff caliber team easily.
Rsox: You may want to be cautious or you will incur the wrath of a Samuel diatribe – chastising, insulting, deriding, and presumptuous as usual.
Then he will tell you how he predicted this and wrote about it for years but nobody listened.
I don’t even know what you’re referencing, but it screams “I got called out for being a turd, and now my feelings are hurt”
BeansforJ: That was not intended for you, nor was it referencing anything you said.
It’s a commenter on the boards who consistently insults others through punishing novels filled with opinion and insults. He frequently speaks of how he predicted several current MLB events and wrote about them years ago. He just happens to be a Mets fan, unfortunately for good Mets’ commenters like Cosmo and some other good people on here.
Rsox: you wanna checkout stats like OPS+, stats experts agree are inclusive an useful. No “4th outfielder” has an OPS+ as high as Nimmo’s. I’m sorry, but you’re stuck in baseball’s Stone Age and have no leg to stand on here. Every time I hear someone call Nimmo a 4th outfielder I gotta question their baseball knowledge and commitment to actually learning about the sport. Statistics are your friend.
All those stats mean nothing when you have only scored more than 51 runs in 6 years.
I’m sorry, but I think the Mets would quickly cut bait with Nimmo if they sign Bryant or add a more dependable corner outfielder in any Davis, Smith or McNeil deal.
Merrifield and a $$ pitcher to Mets for Nimmo and McNeil? I think Khalil Lee can provide similar stats as Nimmo simply because he can take the field more often. If Nimmo can play 135 games, by all means, keep him! If not, package him, Davis, McNeil and Smith for Mullins and Means if Merrifield is a no-go for the Royals. But I’d love yo see Whit in a Mets uniform.
Merrifield can play CF, 1b AND 2b, thus eliminating the worry of Cano taking the field. He covers the Dom Smith role who can then become tradebait for an OF and/or pitcher. Davis brings us another pitcher. Sign Trevor Rosenthal, Danny Duffy (June return) and one more healthy pitcher.
Make it so!
Mets wouldn’t cut Nimmo because they rely on EXPERTS who understand that Nimmo is a very good hitter. Experts who, unlike you, understand that you can’t rely on stats like runs scored which are team stats, predicated upon circumstance and unreliable for individual evaluation. I suggest you study modern baseball understanding a bit because your ignorance to what paid experts who study the sport intensely have concluded is showing. The Mets listen to experts, not talk radio and not folks like you who refuse to actually study the sport with modern, academic understanding. Try looking into stats like OPS+. But you probably won’t, you’ll just keep on with your assumptions without studying the subject.
@ Jim stem
Are you sure you would be willing to give up all of the Mets scraps for the Orioles best hitter and pitcher? Maybe the Os should throw in that C prospect we’ve heard about to make it more fair for Mets fans.
@Cosmo
It’s a silly argument. On a team with 3 superior outfielders? Nimmo is a 4th outfielder. Otherwise not.
I don’t get why so many people are so down on the guy. While I don’t agree with the Buxton comp, I think most teams would gladly have a Brandon Nimmo on the roster…and most teams would indeed start him.
@Sherm
I mean, technically, on a team with 3 superior outfielders prime Hank Aaron is a 4th outfielder. When someone says Nimmo is a 4th outfielder they’re saying in general, in other words, he’s not good enough to be a starter. Otherwise why say it? Let’s not unnecessarily confuse things.
If you think Nimmo is a 4th outfielder at best, your IQ of baseball is very low. Please try again.
What percentage of his team’s games has he started? It’s right in line with every team’s 4th man in.
Listen, I love watching the kid play but he simply is not durable enough that you can depend on him to be out there 150 games a year. Do you think he’s going to play MORE often as he gets older? On top of that, he’s an average outfielder with an average arm who doesn’t produce enough in a corner OF power position. He maybe plays 90 games a year so you still need another outfielder. You don’t like calling him a 4th outfielder, so what is he?
He has proven himself to consistently be a part time starting left fielder who is only available 2/3 of the season in the final year of his contract.
I call him a 4th outfielder at best because that’s the role he is PERFECT for, 90 games a year. He starts against righties, comes off the bench late in games to pinch hit, run and double switch and starts when the other three outfielders need a rest or get hurt: 4th outfielder.
Sign Bryant: 4th outfielder.
Trade him to half the other teams and he starts – until he gets hurt.
He’s been hurt a lot. That doesn’t make him a 4th outfielder by any logic. That he can’t stay healthy is certainly a valid criticism. Again, your opinion is uninformed and goes against experts but whatever. Seriously, I suggest you actually look into this, study done analytical understanding. I was sceptical at first too, but believe me, it’s backed up. It’s irrefutable.
So Buxton is nothing more than a quality 4th outfielder? Averages about 70 games per year and got a $100m contract. Career average under .250 with a .300 OBP, 23 HR, 62 extra base hits, .461 slugging, OPS .761, OPS+ 102
Nimmo’s career averages? 76 games per year
.266 average, .393 OBP, 17 HR, 50 extra base hits, .455 slugging, OPS .838, OPS+ 131
Brandon Nimmo is a GREAT offensive player when healthy. Possibly one of the most underrated players in baseball today due to his injury history. The statistics back it up. He just sails under everyone’s radar.
He is a decent outfielder. Never going to be a superstar but won’t hurt you. I know some do have him pegged as much. I know his obp is good but needs to swing the bat more and stop looking for the walk. Assuming he is healthy.
“Needs to swing the bat more and stop looking for the walk”. So you want him to go against what experts advise? To stop avoiding outs and get on base less? To go against what Ted Williams understood generations ago? I have to shake my head at opinions like this. Opinions that can be refuted by the slightest, most rudimentary study of the subject.
Barry Bonds, inarguably one of the best hitters, if not the best, of his generation said the most important stat is OBP. He further opined, if OBP is high you know you’re doing everything correctly. It’s certainly a critical stat for a lead-off hitter.
I know Nimmo is miscast is CF often, but didn’t he play about league average there anyway?
Statistically he was about average last year, but was terrible the year before. Ideally he plays left field.
Are you sure Barry didn’t say OPS because that (and steroids) is what made him the best hitter during his time.
Brandon Nimmo since 2018-
Nearly .400 OBP
WRC+ 139
Offensive production 39% better than league average.. Don’t sleep on Nimmo.
I always really enjoyed watching Santana play when he played for Cleveland. I hope he can get it back on track.
Regardless of cause or explanation, Santana has ONLY played well throughout his career in CLE. His numbers in PHI and KC have been absolutely dreadful. Wouldn’t mind seeing CLE bring him back for the last year of his contract and likely career.
Rsox is very slow. That is all
Guy has been in the league for 6 seasons and has played over 70 games in a season twice. But I’m the one who’s slow.
Nimmo will be benched or traded if the Mets sign Castellanos or another Outfielder.
You’re wrong. The Mets don’t share your Neanderthalic opinion on Nimmo, you’re projecting your ignorance onto them. Oft-injured? Yes, but he’s been very valuable when healthy (check out his WAR) and the Mets aren’t casting that off. It’s one thing to have such a foolish opinion, but assuming experts share it is just absurd. Nimmo is very valuable even if he only plays a half season.
@cosmo2…considering their string of “success” it looks like the Mets should be listening to different “Experts”. Also, the one statistic that makes Nimmo most relevant at this point in his career is “ Drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round(13th) of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft”.
What are you talking about? Nimmo’s OPS+ has been phenomenal. No experts on any team are gonna toss away a player like that. I can’t tell if you’re one of those who doesn’t understand how stats work or if you just couldn’t resist taking a potshot at the Mets. Either way, whatever.
1.Nimmo LF
2.Marte CF
3.Lindor SS
4.Alonso 1B
5.McNeil RF
6.Correa 3B
7.Canó DH
8.McCann C
9.Escobar 2B
I’m almost 100% sure that this will likely be the Mets starting line up. Correa is likely to sign with the Mets or Tigers to play alongside Baez or Lindor. He’s not going back to Houston or signing with the Yankees!
Or it could be as follow.
1.Nimmo LF
2.Marte CF
3.Lindor SS
4.Alonso 1B
5.McNeil DH
6.Correa 3B
7.Escobar 2B
8.McCann C
9.Canha RF
I like that better, but I don’t think the Mets are signing Correa. Replace him in the lineup with Smith/Davis and juggle the defense accordingly.
A lot of teams would love a lead-off hitter with an OBP near .400. If he can find a way to play 140+ games he could be an All-Star.