The New York Mets were able to get a big weight lifted off of their shoulders early yesterday. With Justin Verlander now signed, the Mets can place their attention elsewhere across their roster that has needs.
Now, with Jacob deGrom off of the market, the best free agent out there from the 2022 Mets is Brandon Nimmo.
The Mets lineup has a concern at the top currently, with Nimmo not under contract.
Luckily, it seems as if the Mets do strongly value Nimmo and hope to bring him back.
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Mets have had dialogue with Brandon Nimmo:
At Winter Meetings yesterday, Mets general manager Billy Eppler met with reporters. On where things stand with Nimmo, Eppler said, “Still dialogue.” Eppler would not confirm if he will meet with Nimmo out at Winter Meetings.
According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, Nimmo happens to have a very busy market with “at least 8 to 10 teams in on him”. Certainly, making things tough for the Mets to execute something with Nimmo. Following Trea Turner signing yesterday, the Mets’ need for a prominent bat atop their lineup has intensified. And from the Mets’ point of view, after Nimmo, the options on the market are less than ideal, to say the least.
Finding a way to get Nimmo back, even with his robust market, has now got to be the Mets’ top priority. The encouraging thing is that they are at least maintaining some sort of dialogue.
Nimmo is coming off of a career year in which he batted .274, hit 16 home runs, and drove in 64 runs while improving in center field. His ability to work counts leading off the Mets lineup is extremely valuable. Nimmo is still a young player at 29, entering his prime years, and a core member of the Mets clubhouse. Hopefully, the two can find a way to agree on something soon.