The Mets’ roster is facing a good bit of potential turnover this winter, with Jacob deGrom, Edwin Diaz, Chris Bassitt, Brandon Nimmo, Taijuan Walker, Seth Lugo and Trevor May among the many names able to reach free agency. DeGrom has an opt-out he’s said he plans to exercise even after missing time due to injury. Bassitt has a mutual option, which are very rarely exercised by both parties. Walker has a player option he should be able to easily surpass on the open market.
The 29-year-old Nimmo (30 next March) is a pure free agent at season’s end, but he tells Mike Puma of the New York Post that the Mets informed him as recently as the All-Star break that they’re hopeful of retaining him beyond the current season. There’s no indication the two have engaged in meaningful extension talks, but teams have a five-day exclusive negotiating window with their own free agents following the conclusion of the World Series. Failing to reach a new deal in that window — or sooner, as nothing’s technically preventing the two sides from speaking now — will prompt the team to make a decision on a potential qualifying offer for Nimmo.
Nimmo is a somewhat under-the-radar QO candidate, even with the hefty price point somewhere in the $18-19MM range. He’s been a bargain playing on a $7MM salary this season, hitting .269/.355/.421 with 10 homers, 21 doubles, five triples and anywhere from average to plus defensive marks in center field (-1 DRS, 2.7 Ultimate Zone Rating, 5 Outs Above Average). Opinions on the overall quality of his glovework may vary, but Nimmo has at the very least made himself into a passable defender who’s nowhere near the liability in center field he was just a few years ago.
On a rate basis, Nimmo has quietly been one of the league’s most-productive offensive players over the past several years. Dating back to 2018, he’s a .267/.387/.448 hitter in 1861 plate appearances. Out of 295 qualified hitters in that time, he’s tied with Mookie Betts and Alex Bregman for the sixth-best on-base percentage in baseball, and he has the game’s 15th-highest walk rate (13.7%). Nimmo’s brand of OBP-driven value at the plate may not hold the same appeal to fans as that of a prototypical .290-.310 hitter or 30-homer slugger, but it’s one that MLB front offices have proven to value nonetheless — particularly in center field, a premium position on the defensive spectrum (see: Dexter Fowler, Lorenzo Cain). By measure of wRC+, Nimmo has been 36% better than league average at the plate since 2018.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the necessity of specifying “on a rate basis.” Nimmo is a very good or even great offensive contributor when he’s been on the field … but health issues have hampered him immensely throughout the years. In his Major League career, Nimmo has been on the injured list for a hamstring strain, a partially collapsed lung, a finger contusion, a neck injury (which kept him out more than three months), a bone bruise in his hand and another hamstring strain. Even prior to his MLB days, Nimmo suffered a torn ACL (playing high school football), a strain in his other ACL (in the minors) and a torn tendon in his left foot. It is a long list of injuries. Since 2018, he’s played in 69.7% of possible games with the Mets.
Notably, Nimmo has been healthy for the bulk of the 2022 season. He spent four days on the Covid-related injured list earlier this season but has otherwise been a mainstay in the lineup and in center field. His walk rate is “down” to 9.1% (still above the league average), but he’s also striking out in a career-low 16.7% of his plate appearances.
When looking at a player’s free agency, age and market context also matter greatly. Nimmo will turn 30 on March 27 next year, which makes him on the younger end what’s typical for free agents. He’s also one of very few everyday center field options on the 2022-23 free agent market. Fellow free agent Kevin Kiermaier has an even longer list of injury troubles, with multiple surgeries on his track record — including a recent season-ending hip surgery from which he’s currently rehabbing. Enrique Hernandez could arguably be included as a true center field option, but he’s about to turn 31 and has hit .209/.273/.340 — his third well below-average offensive season in the past four years — in a year that has also seen him miss more than two months with a strained hip flexor.
Add up Nimmo’s production on a rate basis, his vastly improved defense in center, his age and the generally thin market for center-field help, and he probably has a stronger free-agent case than some would give him credit for. He placed as an honorable mention on MLBTR’s recently updated Free Agent Power Rankings, but Nimmo was No. 11 on our list, sitting just behind his teammate, Diaz.
Coming off a (so far) healthy and productive season, he should be in a good spot to cash in on a multi-year deal that’ll probably exceed the expectations of many onlookers. Nimmo likely didn’t hire the Boras Corporation back in January in hopes of negotiating a team-friendly extension, after all. The aforementioned Cain/Fowler contracts ($80MM and $82.5MM, respectively) figure to be benchmarks Nimmo’s camp will look to exceed.
Hope they can find him again once they lose him.
I am wondering why Michael Conforto hasn’t signed with a team yet. I think the deadline is passed for the QO hit on a signing team. Looks like Conforto should’ve took the money.
His shoulder is still not healthy. No one will sign him with a slight chance he can DH in September. He screwed himself out of a lot of money looking for a couple extra mil.
I could see someone like the Braves, Phillies, or Dodgers scooping him up for the stretch run and hope he makes it back; however, he’ll more likely get a 1 year, $10M or less “prove-it” contract in the offseason,
This is his second major shoulder injury so I’m sure teams are particularly leery, especially without certainty that he’ll be back in Sept.
The only indication we have that he’s able to play at all is a rumor started by his agent so….
So he’s more like an agent provocateur?
The answer starts with a B and rhymes with Pot Porous
Panks!
The on base and centerfield skills are in high demand. 5 yrs $90M.
For the reasons you stated, he’ll get north of $100MM.
I’m in the minority here I guess. While I like the guy, his injury history worries me at 5 or more years and that kind of AAV.
Yeah, no way he gets 5 years and probably less than $20 per. 3 years $18 per.
$20 million doesn’t hamper a team like it used to. The Mets are eating Cano’s contract without hampering other player signings.
So you think the 40 MIL Cano boat anchor for 22 and 23 seasons had no bearing on the decision not to sign another FA in the 40-60 MIL range? I respectfully disagree. Eppler had a FA budget after 2021 season and he probably exceed it by signing Scherzer. The FA contracts came to 258.5 MIL.
Scherzer 130 MIL
Marte 78 MIL
Canha 26.5 MIL
Escobar 20 MIL
Ottavino 4 MIL
—————–
Total: 258.5 MIL
These contracts bought them 2.4 yrs of service time at 107.7 MIL/year. These 5 players are 19% of roster but they consume 42% of 2022 payroll (260 MIL). Free agents are by far the most expensive way to build a roster and there’s little evidence that teams which overspend on them win more..
Well then it’s a good thing the Mets have 4 prospects that are highly regarded that can start the youth movement in 2024 with a bang. The next two years don’t matter. A $350M payroll is not out of the realm of possibilities next year.
outside of escobar i would say atleast for this year they are have been worth their contracts. Scherzer obviously has been injured but i hear he has been vocal and pushing the team. When he has played Scherzer has been the ace while degrom has been out and hopefully will shine in the playoffs.
A good way to look at player value objectively is to divide AAV by their wrC+. Using that measure, every Met FA signing since 2021 is grossly less efficient than pre-arb and arb players. Case in point: Canha earns 13 MIL AAV, He’s 6th in wrC+ among Met regulars yet he earns 10 MIL more than McNeil and 6 MIL more than Alonso and Nimmo. Teams that rely too heavily on veteran free agents to fill key roster positions typically struggle to win consistently. They drive up the cost per RS or RA. Mets are actually moving in the right direction. If Baty and Alvarez can successfully make the jump from prospect to major league starter by 2023, team will have 4 of 8 position players that are pre-arb or arb. If they re-sign, Nimmo, they would have 5. That’s better than average.
I doubt that very much.
& you’ll be signing him for age 30-35 seasons. Not sure id be penciling him in as my starting CF for all of them.
He might get 5/90 but I’d hope my team doesn’t do it.
Looking at the pros and cons laid out here by Steve A, seems like Brandon is worth every bit of 18 mil. But one year at a time?
Considering his offensive output plus his “premium” defensive position balanced with injury history and his advanced age, the Mets and Brandon work out a version of the NFL franchise tag? Instead of 18 to 20 over 3 to 5, go one year at an average salary of the top 5 CF salaries in the league (or something of the like). Then, revisit each year thereafter. Fair to each side?
I’m sure there are holes here in my amatuer GM logic, including Scott B. probably being the wrong agent for a GM to try this with?
Nimmo would never agree to a one year contract, even at a premium AAV. Once you hit 30, it’s probably your last shot at big multi-yr contract. The league has devalued position players over 34. In most cases, their performance tails off and they’re more injury prone. Nimmo has a 5 yr window to make his fortune. I really hope he gets it but mets shouldn’t be the team to overpay.
@worsethanitlooks; yes, agreed, that is the landscape by which players get paid today.
I don’t know Nimmo. But, truly, the human instinct of self preservation is powerful and works differently in each of us. If he wants as much as possible, he should go for it, by all means.
So they’ll be looking for, but not sure if they’re finding…Nimmo….
So they’ll be looking for…but not sure if they’re finding…Nimmo…
He went with Boras so one of 2 things will happen….he’ll take a contract that overpays him immensely or he’s gonna be waiting for a job still come spring training.
Boras will sucker a team into a 5/$100M deal for Nimmo. I just hope it isn’t Boston that bites on that; the last two years of this deal will be a disaster.
Maybe you’ll get lucky and see Brian Cashman pull another Ellsbury hahaha
1 World Series title in 22 years and non in 13 years and counting, despite staggering payrolls (very often the biggest payroll in MLB) year after year after year. Should have been fired years ago.
TheOpener with an excellent (and truthful) take.
Dorothy, after this disaster season, I’m expecting major changes centered around defense and pitching. Such means I believe JDM and Bogie are gone and the team will pay and sign Devers IF he agrees to DH. Great defense saves the arms more than we talk about.
5/100 for Nimmo sounds pretty good to me
Cohen’s money is a huge boon to the Mets, but it’ll likely increase asking prices as well. Nimmo’s a perfect fit for NY. He’ll be asking for a lot, but I don’t see the Mets losing Nimmo.
Tbh I’d rather have him all day over a healthy Aaron Hicks but then again even when Hicks is healthy he’s an absolute rally killer.
Von. Of course Cohen has the most money but he’s a business man too. Many owners have deep pockets but they still work under a budget. His budget may be larger than others but Nimmo is important but not sexy like deGrom or Scherzer. It won’t cost that much but whether the Mets win it all this year will likely influence his big time spending next year.
True, any team in MLB could have the highest payroll if it really wanted to.
That’s the thing, the Mets showed this offseason that they really do want to have the highest payroll, although the Dodgers eventually surpassed them.
Oh my goodness, fans still think an owners deep pockets have something to do with payroll!!!!! Businesses are not run from the owners pockets! Businesses are run from revenue. How naive and ridiculous that fans still refuse to get this very elementary fact about business. Businesses cannot be run by simply throwing money into it, money added by the owner is investment, which… ah, never mind. Fans will believe what they want.
@Cosmo I agree, but this offseason the Mets spent at a record pace and it worked. I can see them doing this until it doesn’t work.
Von – Agree. One more season of it, then look at the Mets payroll starting in 2024… Cohen has plans on competing with a high payroll until the youth movement begins to supplement the roster in 2024. I don’t know why people don’t accept that this has been the plan all along. In addition, Cohen is investing $250M+ into the scouting and analytics department. People have got blinders on if they think the Mets won’t continue to spend until they don’t need to spend anymore.
Generally speaking, that’s true, Cosmo. But there are exceptions. Some owners act from motives that don’t apply to the average business owner.
The late Mike Ilitch dug into his own pockets to fund the acquisition of Prince Fielder, handing him a contract that virtually guaranteed the team would lose money. He took tremendous pride in his role in the Detroit community and he wanted to bring a championship to the Tigers fans before he died. Most businesses compete for market share and profits, but there aren’t intangibles like civic pride and the desire for a championship driving their investment decisions.
Agreed. There are exceptions but that wasn’t how the post I was responding to stated it. Even still, owners can only invest in a team, they can’t just be like, don’t worry, payroll is on me.
Your right on the money with that assessment.
Tigers could use a leadoff hitter and they have a large LF to cover, so he would fit. I just don’t think his agent does, however.
I don’t see it. Too many other pieces to re-sign and too much money already committed.
Also, this article mentions all of the FAs but Alonso and McNeil will get big Arb raises and McCann and Marte’s contracts increase a few million. Unless he wants to pay luxury tax penalties every year, I don’t think Cohen will spend on Nimmo.
Cohen has no problem blowing past the “Cohen Tax” for the next two years. Don’t be surprised to see a $350M payroll. Reinforcements from an ever-improving farm system on the way starting in 2023 (cups of coffee in September). At which point, the payroll will reduce significantly. This is the factual plan that has been laid out by Mr. Cohen over and over again.
To all of the trolls dismay here – DeGrom, Nimmo, Alonso, and Diaz are going nowhere. Welcome to the new era of NYMets baseball.
@rct
The Mets very much see it. They’ve already told him (during All Star break) they would like for him to be the next Mets captain.
That distinction will belong to Mr. Alonso; however, co-captains is also on the table.
@You Can Put It in The Books –
The Mets have already spoken to Nimmo about wanting to sign him long term and becoming the next team captain. This occurred during the All Star break. Nimmo divulged this.
That’s just talk. I don’t believe anything like that until something is official. How many GMs/teams have said publicly that they want to re-sign someone only to let them go in free agency? Or have said that Player X is not on the trading block, only to trade him later? Or that a manager’s job is safe, right before firing him?
As I said, the money doesn’t work unless Cohen wants a hefty luxury tax bill every offseason. Or, somehow, Nimmo takes a below-market value contract. Neither one seems likely, especially with Alonso’s and McNeil’s salaries about to skyrocket.
@rct –
It’s not just talk. They called him during the All Star break to let him know they want to sign him long term, view him as leader and want to make him the next Mets captain.
@LongTimeFan1: It’s literally just talk. No contract has been signed, nothing even preliminarily worked out. He’ll become a FA at the end of the season. If they re-sign him, great. But until then, it is only talk. GMs and Front Offices have been saying things publicly and then doing another since they’ve existed.
Sounds like Freddie freeman with the Braves last year to me. Called during all star break said we wanted him forever. History speaks for itself I don’t buy this logic when teams posture this way
Agreed, if mets were confident in Nimmo, they would have offered him a contract before season. Now they’re hoping Nimmo agrees to a hometown discount. Not likely to happen.
He wants to stay and Mets have told him they would like him to be the next team captain. For that I think he should be paid more. He’s not better than Starling Marte, so that AAV can be used as guide.
His defense is also very solid. Even his throwing mechanics have improved with still additional room for it and his footwork to improve. I would like to see him get on base at higher clip. Even .370 OBP would be fine. He’s hovering in the .350’s well below career norm. He’s a fine player, plays hard, helps his teammates, well spoken, thoughtful, authentic, good guy, and a leader. I root hard for him and have since he was in low minors.
Martes contract would work perfectly for both Nimmo and the Mets. They could also offer some extra $$ for meeting some high games played milestones
How do you know that he’s a leader?
@rememberthecoop
If you watch the games, see him in the dugout talking with his teammates discussing game info after AB’s, hear him in post game interviews, know that he’s team union rep, etc., it’s rather obvious.
And the Mets then made that extremely obvious by telling him they want him to sign long term and be the next Mets team captain. The man is universally respected and plays the game hard.
A true leadoff hitter is so rare these days. Miss the days of Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Tony Gwynn and even Wade Boggs and Tony Phillips. Enough power to keep the OF honest, and just always on base.
Nimmo, Bassitt and DeGrom are perfect fits on the Giants, but I’m sure Cohen will do whatever he can to sign DeGrom.
They’re a perfect fit for any team. Silly comment.
But not every team has the money and the space for them. But if it gave you laughs, enjoy.
Sorry but .355 OBP when he has three elite hitters batting behind him is not very impressive. He should be at .380-.400 OBP. LeMahieu’s OBP is .387. and he earns 15M/yr playing for richest team in league.. Nimmo will probably get 4-5 yr contract worth 20 MIL AAV but he’s a 15-17 MIL/yr player with durability issues.
Mets are not a World Series team. Too many gaps and the payroll is already very high and Scherzer is at the point where he could fall off a cliff at any time (and this year will be the lowest number of innings pitched in his career).
Wishful, subjective thinking. The Mets are one of the most complete teams in baseball.
Yankees aren’t either.
Scherzer’s averaging more innings per start this season than last year (95.2 IP/15 GS this year vs. 179.1 IP/30 GS in 2021), so this feels like you’re unfairly dinging him for missing time on the IL. And, for what it’s worth, it feels like keeping the overall workload lower for a guy who had issues in the playoffs with a tired arm would be *smart*, wouldn’t it?
The team really only has lesser bat at 3B & C; every other position has guys with OPS+ over 100. The bullpen will be less of an issue in the postseason because you can ride your horses harder when games are every other day. And having deGrom/Scherzer at the top of the rotation, potentially 4 times in a 7 game series, is enough to make them an extremely dangerous playoff team.
Good points about OPS+.
And the lesser bats can be dramatically replaced with two very high prospects in the minors knocking on the Mets door.
You are wrong Hater. They have as good a chance as any team
Anyone who uses the term ‘hater’, immediately deduct 10 points of presumed IQ.
Unless they are misspelling Josh Hader, then deduct 20.
You are the one that said the team with the best starting rotation in baseball, best closer in the game and the most consistent lineup was not a World Series contender.
I was being polite I could have as easily said Schmuck
That would be too kind, mook
Right, just keep on throwing around personal attacks on message boards… You’re nothing.
Tell me you dislike the Mets without telling me you dislike the Mets and this is coming from a Yankee fan.
This won’t be the lowest pitched innings in his career, the 2020 season was. – insert HaHa emoji here.
2020 season doesn’t count, obviously. Dodgers still don’t have a legitimate World Series title since 1988. How fitting- Clayton Chokeshaw’s only World Series title is a fake one.
The Braves weren’t a “World Series Team” last season either …
And the dodgers still don’t have a legitimate World Series title since 1988?
You are aware tho it was a short season, the dodgers played in that season along with 29 other teams right?
Wonder if whatever team it is you root for was to win, if you’d still think they weren’t legitimate World Series champions. Doubtful.
If deGrom and Scherzer are both healthy in November, which is far from a sure thing, then the Mets are certainly easily in the mix with the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, Atlanta and Padres.
I would like to see Miami sign Nimmo. Headline “Fish find Nimmo”.
Cute.
The Padres don’t belong in that crop. The Mets do. The Padres are in that second tier along with the Phillies and whichever teams wins the weak central.
“Mets are not a World Series team.”
Literally any team who makes the playoffs could be a World Series team. Also, the Mets have the second best record in baseball and a very healthy run differential and just got deGrom back. With Peterson in the mix, they could go to a six man rotation down the stretch to keep guys fresh. Plus Megill is coming back.
Seems like completely baseless hating to me.
Better watch that though- didn’t Max say one of the reasons he didn’t want to go back to LA was that they rested him and caused him to be injured for the postseason?
For what it’s worth, Max has already had 6+ weeks off this season and the Mets have the depth to go to a 6-man rotation down the stretch.
@rememberthecoop: If that’s true, I would think (more accurately, ‘hope’) that the Mets coaching staff would talk to Max and the others and get their preferences regarding a six man rotation. I bet at least deGrom and Carrasco would benefit from it.
You seem like a crybaby squirt to me
@TheOpener… hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…..♾
Dynamite drop in, Monty
Scherzer’s well below avg innings workload will only help him by playoff time. Ditto deGrom. That’s what makes mets so dangerous.
“Not a World Series team”… what does that even mean?
5/$100M is probably what I’d aim for signing him at. He could probably push for a higher AAV but I think that his injury history brings him back down a little bit.
The Mets could issue as many as five QOs. Lugo and May won’t get them, but deGrom, Diaz, Nimmo, Bassitt, and Walker (in that order from most likely to least) all could. I think Steve Cohen will do everything he can to at least retain the top three. He really should try to extend Alonso and McNeil, too.
Let’s go Brandon!
Stealing nuclear secrets is not a joke.
Buying into the constant negative Trump propaganda isn’t a joke either. How many time do you need egg on your face.
Imagine thinking that any negativity about a career con man is ‘propaganda’.
It’s been days since the raid. If they had anything the man would be all over the news being handcuffed and arrested. Big mistake. All they did was rally his supporters which is in excess of 80 million people.
That is not how law enforcement works. Indictments are coming.
.
Hell yes! he’s developed into one of the best CF in the game. Not just a walk pony, but a legit CF and leadoff guy!
He means so much to the Mets, I really hope they find a way to retain him.
When deGrom said he planned to exercise his opt-out, he was really telling real estate agents in Chicago to be ready to go house hunting..
Why would he leave the Mets, to go to Chicago? When he wouldn’t even have a chance to make the playoffs? Much less get a ring. And if think the White Sox are going to out bid, the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Phillies or Padres for him, you are a homer.
Although there may technically be two Chicago teams, only the Cubs count. Same in NY. You have the Yankees and that other team.
Jimmy Foreskin is about to find out the times are changing.
The Cubs are barely the third best team. In the second worst division in the majors. $”
I could see the Mariners being in on him. He could play left, move Winker to Right. It would not only improve the Mariners outfield defense. It would also give them another base runner, in front of France Rodríguez and Crawford.
But Marlins Fanbase told me he is a fourth outfielder at best and repeatedly said the Marlins had better players. Easily the most short sighted assessment I’ve ever seen on this site.
@bryan c
That’s because @MarlinsFanBase is the least informed and emotional troll on MLBTR.
Notice he’s been mostly silent here since his boisterous proclamations in Spring Training about how “all the Mets fans will disappear by June and I’ll still be here”… hardly…
With Miami’s tragic season, he’s probably busy playing shuffleboard with the seniors at his 1 bedroom condo in Fort Myers, FL… or yelling at his wife to heat up his Hungry Man dinner so he can watch the replays of Tucker Carlson in the living room.
.
.
no he is busy watcing replays of marlins of their playoff run in 2020 shortened season that said how much better they are than everyone else in the NL East and how the mets will forever be in last place looking up at the marlins.
To be honest, I’ve been quite critical of him for not being able to stay on the field for a full season but so far this season, he’s done a great job. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in New York but ends up signing with the Yankees.
Only because it’s a walk year. I’m tired of guys upping their game to get the money only to falter once they do.
I like thin crust pizza
I prefer a thick crust or Chicago style pizza. Mostly because it’s easier to hide the steroids inside that I used to prolong my sham of a career.
Lovely
I would think that would ruin the taste.
It’s Chicago style, it comes pre-ruined
Where is Conforto at in his rehab? Draft is done wouldn’t he get picked up as a September flyer?
@phillyballers,
Conforto is rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
Problem is you don’t know if you’re getting 145 games Nimmo or 60 games Nimmo. You don’t know if you’re getting peak Nimmo worth $25M for a season of production or mediocre Nimmo worth maybe $10M.
Seems like a compromise might make sense.
5 years/$75M guaranteed base salary w/ incentives worth up to an additional $5M per season and a 6th year vesting option that could take it to a Mac value and length of 6 years/$126M and a minimum length and value of 6 years/$90M.
Nimmo is wayyyyyy overrated. I know that there arent many good hitting cf that can hit but I’d rather just move Marte to CF, bring up Baty for thirdbase, McNeil to the outfield, and Guillorme at 2nd. Nimmo is not worth 5 years at 100 mil per year. Nice guy though
LFGMets (Metsin7) 5 mins ago
.
“Nimmo is not worth 5 years at 100 mil per year.”
.
Yeah, $100M per year would be excessive : )
.
He’s not overrated, the stats back up his value, but otherwise your plan of letting him walk and replacing him from within is a good one.
Nimmo is a very good p[ayer and as the article points out, he’s probably the best CF on the FA market which should drive up his price BUT that doesn’t change performance facts on the ground.
– Among Met regulars, he has the lowest team winning pct in games he starts:
2022 Mets: 73-39 (.652)
Highest:
When McNeil starts: 63-30 (.677)
When McNeil doesn’t start: 10-9 (.526)
Lowest:
When Nimmo starts: 62-38 (.620)
When Nimmo doesn’t start: 11-1 (.916)
Nimmo’s .355 OBP is good but not elite. His HR% is well below league average and most alarming, he’s only hit 1 HR at CF. That’s a red flag for a team that needed more HR power. Since acquiring Vogelback, Naquin and Ruf, team has scored 6.23 runs/gm over past 17 games!! Before these acquisitions, they were scoring 4.6 runs/gm.
Finally, Nimmo’s BB%, BAbip, slash line & OPS+ is well below his 2021 performance. At his age, he should be peaking, not slipping. Buyer beware.
Lowest team winning percentage in games in which he starts? Ok you win the prize for dumbest, most asinine statistic ever.
Unless Nimmo strongly dislikes loads of money, the Mets have more than just a fighting chance. They will need a CF and there aren’t many good ones available – although Judge sometimes does play CF…
Notwithstanding all the jokes about Cohen’s wealth and willingness to spend, there could be some merit to overpay as a Mets owner: This team is an afterthought to the Yankees. If Cohen can position his team as an All-Star troupe, he could gain significant attention the the biggest market. So signing Judge, Verlander and Arenado might make some sense.
Gruß,
BSHH
Overrated. Walks a lot because he keeps fouling off meatballs.
Walks a lot means he then gets on first base a lot. Exactly what a lead off batter is supposed to do.
I like Nimmo, but not for $20 mil a year, If Nimmo leaves they can put Marte in CF and put Vientos in RF. The Mets need to pay deGrom , Bassitt. and Diaz before Nimmo.
Try to trade McCann and his $10 per, bring up Alvarez ,see if they could trade Escobar and his $10 mil bring up Baty, not resign Carrasco and Walker and let Megill and Peterson back in the rotation, don’t resign May and Lugo with that $50+ mil use on deGrom and Diaz and some bullpen guys.
The Mets will do everyone in the East a favor if they bring back Diaz. How can people ignore this is his contract year? It has nothing to do with your arbitrary Lindor-esque argument that he settled in. No, it has everything to do with him wanted more money. Please bring him back!
Vientos cannot play RF. He’s a 1B maybe but likely DH only at the major league level for a contender
They will pay Nimmo a 3-year/$60-70million contract to get him to stay, and then drop him when Alex Ramirez is ready to be the Mets every day CF.
The length of the contract the Mets offer Nimmo will tell you exactly what they think of Ramirez’s chances to be the next Mets CF.
Thing is, Ramirez has nothing to do with Nimmo. The Mets have even been moving Aram to RF.
He’s also a 19 yo A baller 3 years away. If the Mets have Nimmo, and Ramirez looks great at the end of 2025, they can also deal one of them or move one or both to a corner (if they aren’t both already there).
You don’t make decisions (especially at positions of dire need) based on a guy presently in A ball who you’re not even sure can handle the position. He’s not Alvarez after 2020, or Vlad Jr in 2017.
There’s also the pleasant fact of three OF positions. Canha departs after 2023. The assumption with Marte was always that he’d probably be a 4th or 5th OFer by 2025 (otherwise he’d have gotten a 5 year deal in the 2021-22 offseason). Even with Nimmo around and even if Aram has a miracle development path, there’s sure to be room for him.
Re-sign Nimmo. I just don’t think the Mets can afford him, though. They need a bullpen. They need a closer. They need a #1 and #3 starter, minimum. They have steep arb raises pending. They need a real 4th OFer and a real 5th OFer.
Unless Cohen wants to go way past $300m the Mets have to cut somewhere important.
5/$110m is the absolute minimum for a 4 WAR CFer in a very weak pool at the position and who, once the Mets overhauled their ‘medical’ staff, showed he was able to stay in the lineup.
Count on him as a 125-game player from here on out. His rate stats will improve, but even on an intelligently run team he’s going to miss games.
Nimmo is also coming off a 5.4 fWAR, 5.0 rWAR season. George Springer is a good comp. In the five years before his 6/150m deal w Toronto, Springer had a 132 OPS+ in 615 games in five seasons incl 2020, whereas Nimmo in his five nearest seasons has a 134 OPS+ in 507 games. Price Nimmo at (507/615 * $150m) and you get $124m.
Their games have different shapes and Nimmo’s a year younger than Springer was. The expectation was that the Jays would preserve George by playing him primarily in a corner (his defense was also starting to look iffy) so he’s less of a CFer than Nimmo is. .
If Nimmo has a 4 WAR base then a 0.6 WAR age deduction thereafter, from that base you get 4.0, 3.4, 2.8, 2,2, 1,6 WAR, totaling 14.0 WAR. At $8m per WAR that gets him $112m. Scarcity might drive that higher, as it did with Springer, but either way he’s getting paid.