Dec 10: The Mets have officially announced the signing.
Dec 8: The Mets and outfielder Brandon Nimmo are in agreement on a deal that would bring him back to Queens. He will make $162MM over eight years, with a salary of $20.25MM in each season. He will have a no-trade clause. Nimmo is represented by the Boras Corporation.
Nimmo, 30 in March, was considered by most observers to be the clear #2 outfielder on this winter’s free agent market, well behind Aaron Judge but also well ahead of anyone else. Nimmo is nowhere near Judge in terms of power, as he has only 63 home runs in his seven-year career, while Judge hit 62 in 2022 alone.
Despite that lack of power, Nimmo stood out from the rest of the outfielders on the market for a couple of reasons. One is an ability to play center field and a second is his ability to get on base. For his career, which began in 2016, he has a 13.6% walk rate and .385 on-base percentage. Only 17 qualified hitters have a better walk rate in that time while only seven have a better OBP. His career batting line is currently .269/.385/.441, leading to a 134 wRC+, indicating he’s been 34% better than the league average hitter.
That level of production would be welcome at any position but it’s especially valuable in center field, where many teams are looking for upgrades. Nimmo was unsurprisingly popular as a free agent, getting publicly reported interest from the Blue Jays, Giants, Yankees, Rays and Mariners, with others surely interested as well. But it will be the Mets, the franchise that drafted Nimmo 13th overall back in 2011, who will keep him. Even before the offseason truly began, it was reported that the Mets were prioritizing retaining Nimmo and closer Edwin Díaz, and they have now succeeded on both fronts.
The deal is not without its risks, as Nimmo has spent his share of time on the injured list. In his career, he has landed on the IL due to hamstring strains, a collapsed lung, a neck issue and a bruised finger. Due to those various ailments, he has only twice eclipsed 100 games in a season. Most of those injuries are a few years in the past at this point, as Nimmo stayed healthy in the shortened 2020 season, played 92 games in 2021 and then 151 games this year. That means he’s been healthy for the vast majority of the past three seasons. However, this deal has gone well beyond expectations in terms of both length and guarantee. MLBTR predicted a five-year, $110MM deal but Nimmo got three extra years and an extra $52MM, meaning this deal will take him into his age-37 season.
But the Mets are clearly as “win-now” as a team can possibly get and likely won’t worry themselves with the later years of the deal for now. Owner Steve Cohen, who just purchased the club at the end of the 2020 season, has shown he’s willing to blow well past previous spending limits shown by the Mets or anyone else. The Mets had never had an Opening Day payroll that reached $160MM in their pre-Cohen history, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. But they moved up to $195MM in 2021 and $264MM this past season. Cohen had previously hinted at a $300MM limit for 2022 to The New York Post but that number is well in the rear-view mirror now.
Today’s deals for Nimmo and reliever David Robertson bring the Mets’ payroll for next season to an incredible $322MM, according to the calculations of Roster Resource. In terms of the competitive balance tax, which uses the annual average values of contracts as opposed to just the 2023 salaries, they are at $335MM. That means they are incredibly more than $100MM beyond the lowest CBT threshold of $233MM. There are also three further tiers of luxury tax payments, going up in $20MM increments to finish at $293MM, with the Mets now more than $40MM above that top level.
The CBT also has escalating penalties for going over the line in successive seasons, with the Mets sure to be a second-time payor. They will pay a 30% tax on spending over the first tier, 42% over the second, 75% over the third and 90% over the fourth. That means that they are currently slated to pay a tax of about $67MM, on top of that $322MM payroll. It’s also possible that they’re not done, as Andy Martino of SNY reports that they could still sign Kodai Senga, even after the Nimmo deal.
It seems that we don’t really know how far Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler are willing to go in their pursuits of building the best baseball team possible. The aggressive spending yielded mixed results in 2022, as the club won 101 games, the second-highest win total in franchise history. However, Atlanta snuck in and nudged the Mets aside for the division crown in the National League East, which then led to the Mets falling to the Padres in the first round of the playoffs.
For 2023, the Mets were facing a serious challenge in even repeating that performance. They had a huge free agent class that included Nimmo, Díaz, Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker, Chris Bassitt and a whole host of relievers. However, they have pulled out all the stops in trying to ramp back up for another shot next year. deGrom and Walker have signed elsewhere, but the Mets signed Justin Verlander and José Quintana to replace them, in addition to retaining Díaz and Nimmo.
Nimmo will now return to his center field position in Queens, flanked by Starling Marte and Mark Canha. The division will be a fascinating one to watch, as the Phillies have followed up their trip to the World Series by aggressively spending on Walker and Trea Turner, while Atlanta are still loaded with all of their young stars that they have locked into lengthy extensions.
Joel Sherman of The New York Post first reported the contract details (Twitter links 1, 2 and 3).
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Edp007
Another one off the board
SODOMOJO
I think this was the best result for both parties. Long commitment, but necessary.
Francys01
I’m very glad for Nimmo for getting a very good contract. He is a good player.
Treehouse22
If Bryan Reynolds’ agent uses this as a comp in negotiations with the Pirates, they will have no chance of signing him. Reynolds is two years younger and under team control for three more years. Statistically speaking, their numbers are pretty close. I was thinking the Pirates probably offered Reynolds 6 yrs/$72 mil. If the Mets are willing to pony up 8/$162, another big spending team may have to pay Reynolds even more in this market. If the Pirates hold on to Reynolds, they owe him $6.725 mil this year, and he’ll likely get $10 mil in 2024 and $12-14 mil in 2025 (his age 30 season). Still reasonable.
Blue Baron
@BudgetBall: The Pirates have no chance of signing Reynolds no matter what. He asked to be traded because he wants out of Pittsburgh. Too bad, it’s a great town.
Treehouse22
@ Blue Baron: I’m disappointed that Reynolds wants out, but the Pirates can certainly hold on to him until another team blows them away with an offer. They won’t give him away for low level prospects. He’s the best player on the team right now and the center of the rebuild. He will likely still make $28-30 mil over the next three years thru arbitration and the Pirates can trade him on 7/31/25. He won’t be relying on food stamps to eat.
Mattimeo09
Yeah food stamps taste yucky
tiredolddude
I think the truth is somewhere in the middle of the money and losing issues
As you said, he’s playing for his next contract and he’s not going to go hungry. But I think he’s any easy read when you watch the Pirates each time out. The continuous losing has to gnaw on him and whether he’s the cornerstone of the rebuild or not, he’s bright enough to wonder if he’ll ever see the big turn around
After last season, it’s hard to fathom that he would. Despite this off season’s additions—which are a hajr above the traditional, annual dumpster dive—there is nothing here to suggest this team will contend anytime soon
Like you, I’m disappointed he wants out. He’s the closest thing to a polished player they have. More than anything else, there is no one who can replicate his homers, rbi and discounting this past season, his average
Treehouse22
Really? Sorry to hear that. Thanks for the tip, though.
Treehouse22
@Mattime: Maybe just use some ketchup on them
Tigers3232
Statistically speaking Reynolds is well ahead of Nimmo. He has played 4 seasons to Nimmo’s 7, in the time he has 3 seasons of playing 100+ games to Nimmo’s 2. He has twice hit over 20 HRs to Nimmo’s 0. Has led league in triples once with 8, equal. Has 2 seasons of 30+ doubles to Nimmo’s one. And he’s way ahead in batting average. Only edge Nimmo has is in walks. If Nimmo is the comp Reynolds is a $30 million+ player
YourDreamGM
There was never a chance of signing Reynolds. There was never a negotiation. Pirates are like how would you like us buy your arbitration and you give us 2 years for 20 million and can hit free agency at 33. Reynolds is like I want my arbitration and 150 million of new money on top of that.
louwhitakerisahofer
You know that you aren’t supposed to eat the stamp, right?
Treehouse22
He can still get that. He’ll get his arb money from the Bucs and then hit the free market in 2026 and see what he can get. Based on Nimmo’s contract and inflation, he may well get 10/$400 mil in 2026.
Treehouse22
True, but using WAR and OPS+:
Nimmo had a 5.1 WAR in 2022 to Reynolds 2.9 WAR
Nimmo had an OPS+ of 130 to Reynolds 126 OPS+
For their careers:
Nimmo has a 17.2 WAR to Reynolds 13.6 WAR
Nimmo has a 130 OPS+ to Reynolds 127 OPS+
I think it is a pretty good comp. There may be a better comp out there.
Tcsbaseball
In no hemisphere is Nimmo a 20 million dollar a year player
BStrowman
Nimmo is a 20 MM player for 4 years.
Not 8.
Stupid money this year.
thecrown24
@TCSBaseball you just saw it and Nimmo is exactly that. This is the market plain and simple and will set the stage for guys like Reynolds when their time comes for FA and or extensions. At the end of the day it’s good for the sport and good for the players going forward imo.
Treehouse22
@ Tcs: Well, he is, in both the Northern and Western hemispheres, thanks to the ludicrous contract he just signed.
Tcsbaseball
@budget clearly. He’s still not worth it tho.
LongTimeFan1
Can’t put a price on Nimmo by stats alone.
Nimmo’s a great player for the Mets – great person, great teammate. plays hard. Great OBP. Great with the media and proven he can play in New York. Fan-favorite. A great leader too. Mets told him last summer they want to re-sign him and make him team captain. He loves being a Met and looks like he’ll be one for perhaps his whole career.
Mattimeo09
@louwhitakerisahofer
But they’re called FOOD stamps.
Trust me I’ve tried eating regular stamps before and the adhesive sometimes gets stuck in your throat
Mattimeo09
@BudgetBall
Thanks! They taste SO much better
I think next I’ll try adding steak sauce
MotownWings
Pittsburgh the city is great. Pittsburgh the ball team sucks.
Mrivers
Reynolds is much more valuable.
More power, better contact skills.
No injury history.
Mrivers
Yeah, they’re not close offensively except for BBs, OBP.
Just using wRC+ as a comp doesn’t tell much of the story. One stat never gives the whole picture.
Hammerin' Hank
Uhhhh, no. Reynolds is not “well ahead of Nimmo.”
Hammerin' Hank
In no way is Reynolds “much more valuable” than Nimmo. The OPS+ and WAR numbers prove that. But we know, a lot of you don’t like or comprehend those advanced metrics.
Hammerin' Hank
Actually wRC+ is one stat that does indeed give you the whole picture on the offensive side of the game.
Yankee Clipper
Hammerin’ Hank: First off, love the moniker. Hank was just awesome – one of the best all-time of course.
But, in reference to your debate with Kevins, you both bring up great points. I do agree with you that WRC+ tends to tell the whole story offensively because of what it incorporates.
However, I would like to add something, if I may. I believe that part of this equation rests in the subjectivity of what a specific team (in this case, fan) is looking to get from that player.
I think Nimmo is a really good player and the Mets were smart to re-sign him, which seems to be a relatively unpopular opinion to some degree. Nonetheless, I would {personally} rather have Reynolds for a couple reasons: he’s a switch-hitter; he’s got more slug; he’s a better defender: and he’s younger.
I *think* what kevins is trying to convey is that WRC+ doesn’t capture some of that. Anyway, hope my diatribe contributed something…… I agree with your assessment though. It’s objective.
Tigers3232
Nimmo has played 7 seasons to Reynolds 4. He should b much further ahead in WAR. Even if it mainly can b attributed to missed time, the fact that he has regularly missed that much time is a huge red flag.
Tigers3232
@ Hammerin, the WAR #s prove that?? In 3 extra seasons Nimmon has barely 3 WAR higher then Reynolds. It actually proves the opposite, on average per season he has been far less valuable than Reynolds over the course of his career
Deadguy
A1 yeah it’s that important
Deadguy
I’d rather have Reynolds wrap over Nimmo foil anyday
cdouglas24000
I think he is a good player but his 162 game averages are about 90/16/.270/60/6. When did that kind of production warrant this kind of contract?? Yes he gets on base plenty at .385 his career, but this is an overpay by 40 mil at LEAST to me. I’m glad Mets pulled the trigger & not the M’s. I’ll eat crow if he takes a step forward power wise but basically they are paying for Tom edman but nimmo will steal 25 less bases.
fre5hwind
Yes, Baron great city, bad team.
Pageup
Yeah, when a guy, Seager, leaves $42 million on the table, the money is insane.
DCartrow
If Swanson signs with the Dodgers, Reynolds will be a Bravo, baby!!
Treehouse22
Should also mention that Nimmo’s career wRC+ is 134 and Reynolds’is 126.
.
Clip, I have it on good authority that The Hammer had the strongest/fastest hands & wrists the game has ever seen! Dangerous dangerous dangerous haha
dugmet
Worth is determined by what someone will pay. In MLB his value is ~ $20m/year which in 2030 dollars will be more like $16m.
metman
its a new world now. Just like when they thought Seaver wanting 100k was nuts and Ralph Kiner 1/2 of that nuts years before
metman
if he can ever learn to steal, be more value
Treehouse22
Cool. Ben will be wanting Acuna for Reynolds.
Tigers3232
@Page, I’m assuming u mean Turner and not Seager. And he did not leave $42 million on table. Playing in SD he would play 81 home games in CAL plus extra division games in CAL, all at a much higher state tax rate. Not even factoring in any cost of living. Only looking at $5-10 million left on table over life of contract.
Treehouse22
One side note: If the Mets had offered Nimmo a 6/$72m contract in 2021, he would have thought he had died and gone to heaven. By waiting, the Mets had to pony up an extra 2/$90m. This years’ contracts have been completely irrational.
elscorchot
Great, great , great. Jesus. Expand your vocabulary.
JavyTheJoker09
Idk if we both watching the same players here but are you good like Bryan Reynolds
And Brandon Nimmo numbers are not even close to each other are you insane? Have you checked Brian’s numbers he’s played fully all four years. Brandon has played only played 2 full years in his career he was way overpaid by Mets with the years and money he was worth less than 50 to 55 milli with 4 years tops with theses number anyone that says he was paid because he’s good doesn’t know baseball at all and I don’t know what any of you guys are watching smh numbers are pretty close. Are you dumb in the last two years he tops Brandon numbers so like I said, I don’t know what the heck you watching because you don’t know numbers if you think there numbers are close
Bill M
Nimmo’s stolen base ship has sailed. His speed is declining and he never really had the base stealing chops. But I still like the signing for the Mets. He’s got a lot of talent and he benefited from being in the right place at the right time – meaning he was a fan favorite on a team with a wealthy owner, having a good season during his walk year at a time when the only other worthy FA center fielder was untouchable. Good for him!
JackStrawb
@Bill M It’s always a good idea to check Statcast’s sprint speed numbers before making such claims.
Nimmo’s speed has been constant throughout his career, and he rarely steals bases because 1) you’d need to steal at around 75% in today’s game just to break even, and 2) the few runs it would add are more than subtracted by the injury rate among most basestealers.
ASapsFables
With this kind of flawed logic pitchers should be dissuaded from ever throwing any type of breaking ball.
Zissou
Mariners better be trading Flex/Marco for a bat…
MLB Top 100 Commenter
62 home runs in the past six years
Holy overpay, Batman!
Mystery Team
This contract will make the Aaron Hicks contract look like a genius move.
Long Suffering Mets Fan
Nimmo was in the top 20 in almost every offensive category among outfielders in 2022. Read that again Outfielders not just Center Fielders. His job is not to hit home runs. It is to get on base and score runs and he does both within the top 5 of OFs.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Goldie 26 m/year
Harper 25.3/yr
Tatis 24.2/yr
Realmuto 23.1 m/yr
Austin Riley 21.2 m/yr
Nimmo 20.250 m/yr —– FINDING NIMMO
Jose Ramirez 20.1 m/yr
Bregman 20 m/yr
Schwarb 19.7 m/yr
M Olson 19.1 m/yr
Y Alvarez 19.1 m/yr
Julio Rodriguez 17.4 m/yr
Salvador Perez 20.5 m/yr
Acuna 12.5 m/yr
S. Alcantara 11.2 m/yr
Nimmo 8 years
Olson 8 years
Alvarez 6 years
Freeman 6 years
Springer 6 years
Alcanta 5 years
Realmoto 5 years
Perez 4 years
And Nimmo has 62 home runs in the past six seasons.
Holy overpay, Batman!
Prospectnvstr
Manny: Chicks might “dig the long ball” but everything isn’t about the home run.
Yankee Clipper
Hey, Prospect, you might be happy only getting to second base but some of us love scoring….
Oh, wait, are we talking about the same thing? Ohhh, you mean baseball!
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Agreed! But Nimmo is NOT a superstar. He is a role player with a good on base percentage. MLBTradeRumors estimated 5 years $110 million. Nimmo received over fifty percent more than that with an eight year deal. Nimmo is now paid like he is one of the 25-40 best players in baseball. Just on the Mets, Mark Canha had the same on base percentage as Nimmo and Jeff McNeil had a higher on base percentage than either of them by fifteen points. McNeil is only 11 months older than Nimmo. McNeil must be a $162 million player in your books.
Holy overpay, Batman!
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I would take Michael Harris or Daulton Varsho over Nimmo and neither of them are the $162 million dollar man.
That being said, I don’t disagree that Nimmo makes the Mets better. I just think either 5 years $110 million or 6 years $120 million should have signed him even in today’s burgeoning market
MarlinsFanBase
How does Nimmo make the Mets better? He was on the team last year. This is status quo at best because they stay the same.
Assuming that he has the same year again.
I can’t wait for Mets fans to be screaming in 2 years about this contract. Will he get the Jason Bay treatment or the Jason Heyward treatment?
case
Runs scored is a team stat and he’s about 20 ops points from being league average offensively, though I suppose not for a CF if he can stay healthy with positive defensive metrics.
bryan c
They are rookies. They will be $30m players in 6 years when they hit free agency. That’s short sighted. Totally agree this is a bit of an overpay, especially with Alex Ramirez looming, but the cool thing here is he shifts nicely to Left when Ramirez is ready. Outfiield ages far better than infield. Again, no disagreement that this is 2 years past my comfort zone but he’s been in the league 7 years while the two guys you mention just ended rookie status. J Rod is better than all of them so….
MarlinsFanBase
Whether runs scored is a team stat or not, I’m pretty sure a lot of leadoff hitters would’ve scored more runs being on base for Marte, Lindor and Alonso.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I meant better than they were the day before the contract, not better than 2022
SgtGrumbles
Only the Ellsbury deal can do that.
rct
“This contract will make the Aaron Hicks contract look like a genius move.”
Literally how?
Hicks signed 7/$70 million prior to 2019. In the four seasons since, he’s put up a grand total of 3.3 WAR while making $10 million a year. Nimmo put up 3.6 WAR in 2021, then followed that with 5.1 WAR in 2022.
.269/.385/.441/.827/130 OPS+ for his career. Hicks? Never had a BA, OBP, or OPS+ in any single season higher than that.
Haters gonna hate.
rct
Manny:
Nimmo – 5.1 WAR
Goldie – 7.8
Harper – 2.5
Tatis – 6.6 (in 2021, 0.0 in 2022)
Realmuto 6.5
Austin Riley 6.5
Jose Ramirez 6.0
Bregman 4.5
Schwarb 2.2
M Olson 3.3
Y Alvarez 6.8
Julio Rodriguez 6.2
Salvador Perez 2.7
Acuna 2.8
S. Alcantara 8.0
Also, that is an extremely cherry-picked list including very few true free agent signings (many here were extensions that bought out Arb years) and guys from all kinds of positions (including pitcher with Alcantara–almost literally every player in baseball looks like an overpay compared to Alcantara).
But even still, Nimmo fits right into that list.
LongTimeFan1
Career .441 SLG and superb on base guy. His primary role isn’t homers.
Lyman Bostock
What’s wrong with status quo when that means making the playoffs again? Once you get there, anything is possible.
Roguesaw2
Fangraphs had him something like 27th or 28th in overall WAR last year, right in your 25 to 40 window.
162MM is no longer superstar money. They get twice that now.
LongTimeFan1
@Lyman Bostock
You make good point. I’ll take status quo getting to the playoffs every year.
I also remember when Lyman Bostock died when an active major leaguer. A good player too. That was really sad. If I correctly recall, he was murdered. He must mean something to you to have him as your screen name.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Is that 27 or 28 among MLB players or batters? Also, I am guess that is based just on 2022 rather than a larger body or work
TheGr8One
Manny your comp to the sites projection of 5-110 isn’t the best argument that he’s overpaid when that was a higher AAV than what he got.
Home run fans think this is an overpay
Baseball fans see this is a solid deal for both
yewed
Get the point but free agency is all about timing.and market.
Mrivers
Assuming WAR is a useful stat, of course.
Mrivers
Has to stay healthy, though.
Which outside of his contract year and the short season he definitely hasn’t.
8 years is a huuuuge risk.
Hammerin' Hank
To say that a lot of leadoff hitters would have scored more runs in front of those guys is ludicrous, given his sky-high on-base percentage.
yewed
Mets didn’t have him yesterday and now they do. Not better?
Comparing it to last season doesn’t mean much. Signing him doesn’t mean they’re better than last season but not having him means they aren’t the same. With him they won 101 games last season.
It’s not about him by himself, it’s about the team they make around him. If signing him is status quo and they improve the team around him, then it works.
.
Hammerin' Hank
Nothing is wrong with status quo in this case, Lyman. Marlins Fan Base has always had this irrational hatred for Nimmo. Brandon Nimmo is a better player than anyone in his cheap, wretched team’s current lineup.
Lyman Bostock
Yes, he was tragically murdered. His story and he does mean a lot to me. So I pay homage to him with this handle. Here’s his story ..
sportscasting.com/the-murder-of-rising-mlb-star-ly…
Lyman Bostock
5 WAR is 5 WAR either way. Plus there’s intangibles he brings that even WAR doesn’t account for. He’s a gritty guy. Grinds at bats, runs to hard to first every single play, always plays hard. Always smiling and in the mix of things with all his teammates. Do I think the money is getting insane this free agency? Yes. But if we want to keep pace with the Phillies and even Braves, we needed this guy. thank goodness we have Cohen and not the Wilpons.
kenphelpsformvp
the big question is when acuna starts pouting about his low amount..
Deadguy
It’s at least as bad as the Eric Byrnes overpay? Cohen at this point is like let’s set my whole wallet on fire F-it like those fireball commercials I’m gonna need a shot when my payroll is 400 million after tax penalties and STILL loses in the first round!
Mystery Team
WAR is the problem that stat is ass it’s deceiving. Everyone keeps saying that it’s not his job to hit HRs but you don’t pay a guy over $20M a year to walk and play good defense. That kind of money suggests big run producer which he is not. Plus let’s be honest he’s always injured. I find it odd that in his contract year he has his first healthy season. I mean come on.
Mystery Team
Top twenty for one out of seven seasons, big deal. Brandon Nimmo is the poster boy for WAR the most idiotic stat invented. It makes average players look like stars. Hey let’s invent a stat that tells us how good a guy plays after he eats tacos on a Tuesday when the sun is out.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
RCT
Good response! But If you take an average weight of the past three or four years for the players, it will not be as favorable. You can’t just take the one year he played more and stayed mostly healthy and ignore the rest of his body of work. But you do make the point that if he stays injury free that is more questionable than horrible
Mystery Team
Manny some of these fans are too fixated on the make believe stats they stopped looking at the actual run producing stats and that’s how players like Nimmo gets paid. The Mets literally paid this guy double of what he was worth and they’ll realize that every time he hits the IL.
Mystery Team
How you ask? Neither guy has done anything to earn the type of contract they received. Do you really believe that Brandon Nimmo and his .800 OPS for this one healthy season is worth over $20M a year for 8 years? If so please share whatever you’re puffing on. He doesn’t hit for power, he doesn’t drive in runs or produce many for that matter. He plays solid defense and walks a bunch. Like I asked earlier if you want to use on OBP as a stat knowing that walks can skew the number then show me how many of those walks produced a run. If not then the number is useless.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
RCT
Goldie 26 m/year WAR 2019-2022 18.6
Jose Ramirez 20.1 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 18.3
Bregman 20 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 16.6
S. Alcantara 11.2 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 16.2
Realmuto 23.1 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 15.8
M Olson 19.1 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 15.1
Harper 25.3/yr WAR 2019-2022 14.8
Acuna 12.5 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 13.7
Tatis 24.2/yr WAR 2019-2022 13.6
Y Alvarez 19.1 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 13.6
Salvador Perez 20.5 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 12.1
Austin Riley 21.2 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 12.0
Nimmo 20.250 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 11.4
Schwarb 19.7 m/yr WAR 2019-2022 7.7
Nimmo averaged 2.85 WAR for last four years. Also, Nimmo gets a premium for playing CF, but he may be moved to a corner spot in a couple years. Nimmo adds value as a CF, but less so as a corner OF.
metman
just one of those times when the prices go crazy………I remember gas was .75 people thinking a buck a gallon!!! Crazy! Now? 3.30 Is a bargain.
MarlinsFanBase
@Hammerin’ Hank
FYI – OBP is not the end all for leadoff hitters. There are some other valuable things that makes it ludicrous that you only mention OBP.
There is baserunning, which all of us know, despite having nice speed, Nimmo has always been horrible at. He makes many mistakes on the basepaths (no small sample either). He often clogs the bases with some poor baserunning. He’s doesn’t contribute to manufacturing runs. He also doesn’t steal bases…even having low numbers by today’s standards.
I’ll even go as far as saying that if the scrub on my team, Jon Berti, were batting ahead of Marte, Lindor and Alonso, he’d score more runs than Nimmo…even with his low batting average and low OBP. I can’t even imagine how many runs a guy like Trea Turner would score in front of Marte, Lindor and Alonso….and that’s even with Turner hitting more HRs than Nimmo and we choose to subtract those numbers from the total.
Learn the game so you can figure out how runs are scored.
That’s the flaw with you analytics guys. You have no concept of the on-the-field and in-game play stuff, so think stats you recite are the end-all because you don’t know enough about how to play the game to know the other factors that aren’t measurable in stats (yet if ever).
MarlinsFanBase
@TheGr8One
Let me see….I played T-ball when I was 4. Played baseball in Little League, High School and Division I. I had my son do the same. We are Marlins fans that attend the games and other college and high school games.
Hmmmm…I think I may be a fan of baseball.
And I think Nimmo’s contract is an overpay for his performance and ability. However, I knew that his AAV would be in the neighborhood and I was only about a year off in my statements throughout the offseason about what he’d get, even debating with those that said he’d get less. However, I knew he’d get in this ballpark of salary because I know how much he’s hyped as being far better than he is.
So, in short, I’m a baseball fan that thinks Nimmo got overpaid for his talent; does not see it as a solid deal; but knows the reality that he was getting this due to his overrated value based solely on the analytics guys….most of which are not knowledgeable in the game to watch it without a spreadsheet…and even when they do, they have no clue what their looking at with the intricacies that a lot of us that did play past rec league do from our years spending everyday for so many hours trying to get better and perfect our fundamentals…unlike those of you who were learning baseball by playing video games and fantasy leagues. And it shows in how many of you steering your discussions with certain stats, and not addressing anytime myself or others mention on-the-field items related to how to play the game.
Ella B
I’m trying where “MarlinsFanBase” is a reliable source for baseball stats. No luck. Maybe being “pretty sure” isn’t worth much.
Ella B
Cool story dude. Do you really think you’re the supreme baseball mind? You’re delusional.
MarlinsFanBase
@Ella B
Did I hurt your feelings? Did I disturb your version of reality in which video games and fantasy league are the same as actually being able to play on the field and learn that way?
or
Did it hurt knowing that for the two years you played rec league and batted at the bottom of the lineup, that when your coaches told you to crowd the plate and don’t swing because “a walk is as good as a hit” just so you can get on base for the guys that can actually hit the ball? Come on…coach couldn’t destroy your self-esteem by telling you the truth that he told the parents of the good players, away from your parents, that “The poor kid has no chance to help the team by swinging. I have to keep him from swinging so he has a better chance of getting on base so my good hitters can come up. It’s even worth him clogging the bases because my good hitters will eventually drive him in…no matter how clueless he is out on the basepaths. I’ve got to make the most out of all my players, even the bad ones that won’t be on my team next year. And I’ll let his coach next year know too, especially since the kid has nice parents, and very likely next year the kid will do everyone a favor and quit until he tries out for high school ball and is cut the minute the coach sees what’s there in the first two drills.”
Long Suffering Mets Fan
His job is not to hit homeruns. If you think that is what determines salary then you are missing the point. The guy ranked in the top 5 of center fielders and the top 15-20 of Outfielders in 2022 and he just keeps getting better.
case
I dunno, an 8 year contract for a 30 year old outfielder with injury concerns that’s coming off an .800 ops season? Seems iffy.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Maybe comparable to Angel Pagan with fewer SBs and the David Wright injury curse!
Slightly exaggerating, not profusely.
JackStrawb
@case Downright weird, given the chance he’ll be on the field at the start of the deal’s 6th year seems very close to zero.
metman
If we get to a WS or 2, early in this contract, all worth it and that is what will be remembered, not the contract.
JackStrawb
The point was that the structuring of the deal was weird, not that it was a bad signing.
But, if you don’t get to a WS or 2, and you probably won’t since Cohen gives every evidence of going cheap or in the wrong direction for the third season in a row, you’ll have team after team in 2025, 2026, 202…7 hamstrung by long deals or the ongoing absurdity of aiming for 2nd in the division on a $360 million payroll.
thecoffinnail
They will regret this signing. Nimmo will have a decent year or 2 but will then become the Mets version of Jacoby Ellsbury. Way too many years for such an oft injured player. They should have signed Benintendi to a similar contract (more than likely only needing 4-5 years of similar money just a guess). Marte is capable of handling CF and Benny could spell him for 30 games a year. Like Judge in the Bronx they overpaid to keep their guy. Verlander won’t be the same pitcher next year. 40 seems to be the magic number for pitchers. Ask the Yankees how well Randy Johnson turned out when they brought him in for his age 40 season. He was pretty dominant the year before as well.
Hammerin' Hank
Benintendi is nowhere near the player that Nimmo is. The Red Sox traded him away for Franchy Cordero, lol.
JackStrawb
They both came up in 2016. Career:
Nimmo: 17.2 rWAR
Benintendi: 15.7 rWAR
Benintendi’s 2 years younger. “Nowhere near” is simply jabber.
JackStrawb
@thecoffinnail You’re making the mistake of thinking the money even remotely matters. It’s only a vague sense of peer pressure that’ll keep Cohen from sending payroll to $400 million, PLUS luxury tax penalties. It’s all play money to him. Even with a pitiful ROI he’s making half a billion a year just by sitting still on his $17 billion pile.
And Marte can’t handle CF. He couldn’t even handle RF for more than 118 games.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Jack
Concur. This contract will be ok for two to three years if Nimmo is uncharacteristically healthy but an albatross after that. Cohen may not care.
metman
he might have some rings by then
Baseball_dude
Too many years and too much money, 5 years (6 years max) at about $15 to $17 million a year was plenty
baseballpun
Price of poker is going up.
VonPurpleHayes
That’s not adjusting for the current market. I think the AAV is fine.
Best Screenname Ever
Really? Nimmo’s 30 next year and has 5 years tops as an average MLB. player or better. 32+MM of Nimmo is a good real annual value??
I mean good for him, he rode a great platform year to successful free agency and cashed in. But anyone who thinks this is a ‘fine’ AAV would likely believe any AAV is good.
Before his platform year, his previous 3 years had a 2.1 FWAR average. Completely average centerfielder in other words.
VonPurpleHayes
162/8 = 20.25 MM.
rememberthecoop
Where do you get 3wM AAV?
Best Screenname Ever
Because as I said Nimmo has max 5 years as an average or better major league centerfielder. To repeat, he had an ave. 2.1 FWAR for the 3 years preceding 2022. He has as much chance of being a major league player in 8 years as I do. 8 years is merely a luxury tax contract length to drive down the official AAV. The real AAV comes from a realistic 5 years / 162MM. He could be out of baseball easily in 2027.
phenomenalajs
I don’t think he’ll be out of baseball then, but I thought you were including the luxury tax in the value of his contract.
LongTimeFan1
He’s getting better year by year and can’t put a price tag on his leadership, positive demeanor, authenticity, beloved in clubhouse and all the intangibles he brings in addition to all he does on the field. Watching him day to day is a treat.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Thank you Grandpa or Grandma Nimmo
Smacky
So he was instrumental in helping the Mets blowing an up until now insurmountable division lead to the champion Braves. Priceless.
bryan c
As a Cubs fan who just cut ties and paid $20 million the Heyward to play for the AAA Dodgers your jokes seem a little cliche about bad deals for outfielders. How about Nimmo, with. 5.1 WAR in 2022 is making a hair more than Bellinger who barely hit .200 in 2023. Sure, it’s short term but…….
Mrivers
True, it’s the 8 years that’s really dumb.
metman
late bloomer
Bk11235 2
Who cares!! They literally have no one signed after 2024 outside of lindor.
Sunday Lasagna
Long term contracts are bad, it’s good they only have a couple, and having no other commitments plays into the long term plan of the farm producing in the future.
joeyrocafella
And Diaz
Smacky
Diaz and Bobby Bonilla will still me cashing checks then. As Will Starling Marte. That’s $42m right there plus whatever they end up over paying Pete Alonso.
Cmurphy
Plus Verlander’s vesting option for 35M in 2025 is a possibility.
bryan c
Precisely. Smart short term agreements to most allow payroll flexibility. Ohtani and Soto are already on the radar. No guarantees on either but dude ElA good knowing the Mets will be a serious player rather than stuck with a 41 year old short stop
SocoComfort
Yea The Mets have a two year window with this group in other words. Braves and Phillies set themselves up with a much longer window.
bryan c
No. The Mets have a two year window of overspending. Then the books clear. They will absolutely be all in on Ohtani and Soto while their farm graduates. Braves and Phillies are licked in to their current teams. That’s not a bad thing over the next two years. We shall see how it looks in three when the Mets have loads of flexibility
LongTimeFan1
@SocoComfort
Mets are building from within for the future and that’s the end goal – sustainable winning through the farm. It will just take some time in the Steve Cohen era for the farm to build to that point.
Smacky
The people commenting on here are shockingly terrible at math. I guess it’s homerism wishful ignorance. I just find it weird b/c you can find payroll obligations on like 25 different sites.
Smacky
So you think this year is the end of the rapid upward contract inflation trend? 3, 4 years from now $450-$500m is going to buy you the same players that are getting $225-$300m this Winter.
bryan c
New? Deferments don’t count toward the cap. Based on current contract AAV. Deferred money is genius because it lowers the actual value for the owner. It’s a trend that many teams now follow. Bobby Bonilla deal was a trend setter and widely followed today. The Bobby Bo thing is played more than Nickelback.
SocoComfort
@Longtime I do agree that’s the path the Mets are taking but that isn’t the same window. This window will close and they want to open a new one a couple years down the road. Braves and Phillies are the pretty much one window
JerseyShoreScore
Not sure why any fan would sweat Steve Cohen spending more of his endless money. Cohen said money is irrelevant, is a man of his word, much respect towards that… Also, great for Nimmo.
dugmet
From the M Donald Grant era to the Uncle Stevie era, what a long strange trip it’s been.
kroeg49
We’ll trade you Reinsdorf for Cohen. What do you say?
Blue Baron
Indeed. I remember that very well. Remember what a savior Wilpon was in 1980?
Long Suffering Mets Fan
We already made that trade when we acquired Cohen.
SocoComfort
Cohen seems like the kind of guy who is going all in for a WS. My concern if I was a Mets fan would be if this is his pet project and he gets bored after winning a WS or two and moves on to another project to throw money at
bryan c
Good point. But he is a businessman first and a lifelong fan. I doubt he stops being either soon.
LongTimeFan1
@SocoComfort
Steve Cohen has been a Mets fan his whole life. He waited many years to buy the team he loves. He wants perrenial winner. and is committed to it. That’s the beauty of having an owner whose been a Mets fan since he was a kid.
dirkg
When one player gets (massively) overpaid, it raises the bar across the board. Boras will use the new comp on every player from this point forward. Hopefully everyone understands the price of the player eventually trickles down to the fan or to the team’s inability to sign other players.
If tomorrow morning you walked into work and suddenly your direct colleague got a huge raise, you’d 1) want one two, 2) others would as well, and 3) the end result would be a price increase in your end product or service. Lord knows your boss is not taking a cut.
Blue Baron
@Baseball_dude: It wasn’t too many years and too much money per the free market for the player’s services. Supply and demand know better than you.
myaccount2
Sure, Blue Baron. They have the right to give him as much as they want. I have a feeling they bid against themselves, though.
bryan c
Was never gonna get it done cash wise but yes, agree on years. My guess is Toronto offered him the same salary and they pushed another year to get it done.
Rumor has it San Diego offered 28 years at 45 million and ownership of Sea World and a free lifetime membership to the famous zoo and he turned it down.
LordD99
Wow. Somewhere Andrew Benintendi is celebrating.
Yankee Clipper
And Scott Boras is fully oiled and slipped into his skin tight leather body suit……
As he leans over the hole in his living room floor he drops a basket with oil & Correa’s contract to the GM stuck down there…
“It puts the lotion on the pen”
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Clipp, can I send you the psychiatrist bill for the mental trauma I just suffered from reading your post and the corresponding image it created in my mind??? Some things should be left unsaid my brother, especially any combination of Boras, leather, and lotion.
.
Clip I already have Buffalo Bill nightmares as it is! Thanks buddy!!!! Haha
Hammerin' Hank
No one’s giving Benintendi this kind of money.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
At this point , one just has to laugh at the absurdity of the situation and partake in adult beverages. “LOL let’s throw an 8-year deal at dude who has completed ONLY ONE “full season” of 550+ AB HAHAHAHA next highest approx 450 AB HAHAHAHA” Ever in his life. 1.8 full seasons he has completed thus far. Going out on limb here, but likelihood of dude still being in baseball thru the later years of contract = not a snowballs chance in Hell’s Kitchen.
LongTimeFan1
@Innorant Son
Your screen name aligns with your post.
Mets fans love the guy, so do his teammates. He plays with joy, energy, passion, is an on base machine, a leader, and is thoughtful, hard-working and authentic. You have to watch him day in and out to appreciate how valuable he is.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Long time
You already posted this same post further above, Grandpa Nimmo
Sid Bream Speed Demon
Is there an advanced metric that rates authenticity? I mean, what is he so authentic about that warrants you mentioning it in every comment? What does it even mean?
.
Sid, it can be measured but it requires a 23&Me work up.
worthington
SO overrrated.
Buzz Killington
This whole offseason seems like nothing but overpay, however maybe not. Baseball might actually be raking in money hand over fist right now.
Hammerin' Hank
Of course they’re raking in the money. Not that they’re going to open up their books and show us the numbers, though.
Oppo Taco
Go Pokes!
ArmChairGM-
Oh man they’re going to regret that. He’s not going to age well. Won’t be playing in CF much longer.
OPS will drop into the .700s and stay there starting next year.
candymaldonado
That’s why you’re an armchairGM and not a real one.
ArmChairGM-
Just poking fun at the Mets fans.
Nimmo has great OBP skills
mookiesboy
doesn’t have to. Alex Rameriz will be the CF in 2024
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Nimmo only got big bucks due to CF scarcity, so if he will become a corner OF he will be overpaid and underperforming in a few years.
SgtGrumbles
Likely the last 2 years are a wash, but the dood gets on base. His BB% was a little down last year and could even regress positively. If you said the risk was his injury history I would agree, but I think it’s clear when healthy he can be a threat to walk or keep the line moving.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
SGT-When he’s in the lineup..which is what? 60% of time?
Hammerin' Hank
That’s about as often as Aaron Judge has been in the lineup throughout his career, too. Players always tend to stay healthy in their walk years.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Tell me that your misspelling of dude was due to autocorrect
bucsfan0004
Another waste of money in free agency 2022. Good for Nimmo though… seems like a nice guy
Bk11235 2
Waste of money? Lol there are alot of players woth ridiculous deals and this is not one of them
bryan c
He got $2M more than Walker got from the Phillies and plays a premium position quite well while getting on base and actually playing with passion and hustle. He will be a corner outfielder by 2025 or earlier depending on how quickly Alex Ramirez moves through the minors. And he and Lindor are the only long term deals on the team. As opposed the genius moves the Pirates make I think this is pretty ok.
BStrowman
You can’t compare $ per year when the length is drastically different.
VonPurpleHayes
This comparison is ridiculous. AAVs are completely different. One is an OF. One is a pitcher.
bryan c
One will be able to move to a corner and plays every day. One pitches every fifth and has stamina issues. I think $20M for a 5.1 WAR centerfielder is better than $18m for a league average pitcher. Too long of a deal but his centerfield replacement is coming in two to three and his game is built on a great eye and patience which both age well.
VonPurpleHayes
I don’t mind the Nimmo deal, but again comparison is ridiculous. Apples to oranges.
terry g
woah. That’s a lot of money. Did not expect that at all.
yetipro
LOL, this owner probably has a whole lot of agents that love him! Unreal how much more they have to pay players just to go to (or stay with) the Mets. Good for Brandon though, take it to the bank!
Sunday Lasagna
Yanks offered Verlander more than the Mets and Verlander turned them down. Diaz said he didn’t want to go anywhere else, NY was home, Quintana was an underpay compared to this years market. Who exactly did the Mets overpay for?
VonPurpleHayes
McCann. By a ton.
Sunday Lasagna
Agreed Von, but I don’t see it this year
VonPurpleHayes
I don’t like the Verlander and Scherzer deals either, but they are both short-term, so it won’t matter.
avenger65
McCann should never have left the wsox, but he didn’t really have a choice. He was very good behind the plate, caught Giolito’s no-hitter, not grandal, and handled the pitching staff like a charm. Hated to see him go. A change of scenery hasn’t gone well unfortunately.
Dogbone
I’m sure the Mets would have no problem trading him back to the Chisox.
bryan c
Two years. Then payroll drops to 80m. Ohtani and Soto will absolutely be in play. 2 years to settle the disaster left by the Wilpons while resetting with a top 5-10 farm depending on the opinion. This is business savvy. May backfire but it’s short term with an end in sight. Now having three guys making $100m for the next 7 or 8 years like SD. That’s questionable even though the Padres fans are super feeling hurt over that hot take
YankeesBleacherCreature
The Yankees did not want kick in the third year vesting option. No monetary terms of their offer was ever disclosed.
yetipro
Everyone they’ve signed this offseason, for example? Except for Quintana
Mad Hatter
Wrong about Yankees offer to Verlander. Source?
Sunday Lasagna
Kate Upton mobile.twitter.com/nyporchsport/status/15998181422…
VonPurpleHayes
Kate Upton is great and loves to antagonize. This could be a complete joke.
Sunday Lasagna
She did flip off the Phil’s didn’t she….a spark plug she is.
LongTimeFan1
It wasn’t her,
sfes
Thats a parody account
VonPurpleHayes
She flips off opposing fans all the time. And when she flipped off Phillies fans, those same fans cheered. She gained their respect.
myaccount2
Diaz. They overpaid Diaz by a ton. I don’t see anything in your comment that is evidence they didn’t overpay him. And I don’t think the Yankees offer for Verlander was more than the Mets’ offer. Where did you hear that? I’m not seeing it anywhere.
YourDreamGM
Lindor was a overpay. I don’t believe he would have gotten that contract in free agency. He still had to play an entire season before he was a free agent. In exchange for injury performance insurance you aren’t supposed to pay full price. Why not let him play a year and see how it goes. Was he going to get 380 400 million as a free agent. Awful move.
bryan c
True but 341 to Lindor or $280 for Bogaerts? $175 for Baez? Total gut reaction move but overpay vs what we have already seen this year is significant less than it was when signed. Hey, at least he didn’t break both wrists riding a motorcycle and get nailed for PEDs like the other $340m guy
YourDreamGM
All of those are bad contracts. Extension worse than free agency though. Even with all of the spending the past 2 off seasons the lindor contract is still massive. Baez is the worst though because he is the worst player.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Tatis is getting 25 mil a year and Ninmo 20.5 mil a year, the Tatis deal will age better if he matures a little – after Tatis is much younger
bryan c
Was comparing Lindor to Tatis. The fact you thought I meant Nimmo shows my point well.
padam
Damn it! Not the Met I was hoping they’d bring back.
Bk11235 2
Really? Who was then seth lugo? Lol
rememberthecoop
Cleon Jones.
padam
Close. Bruce Boisclair.
phenomenalajs
Well-played! Ed Kranepool’s still alive and was on the 1962 team. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Met you wanted to return was one of Bassitt, Ottavino, and Trevor Williams. Personally, I’d love to see Bart come back for his age 50 season. 😀
Say Hey Now Kid
The guy from Tron?
padam
No. Doug Flynn’s dog.
padam
Healthy life? In his 7 years he’s played 100+ games twice. He has more injuries than Lebron James on a road trip.
Simm
Man even in this crazy market is was thinking 1245m.
Simm
125*
ham77
So in reality they’ll be paying about $40 million this year with that 90% tax bracket they are already in. Stupid.
VonPurpleHayes
More than 40. They were paying 34 before this contract. This will add about 18 to that. It’s crazy, BUT Cohen will probably add even more. It’s not a good way to run a business, but it’s a good way to make your team better. Good for him. Good for the Mets fans.
Ma4170
Yeah, and that’s clearly all he cares about now is winning.
avenger65
It’s nice to see an owner do all he can to put a winning team on the field. At least he cares about winning. If you own a team, what’s the point of your not doing anything to win? I don’t understand why these billionaires don’t care about the teams they bought or the fans who expect and deserve better. This one’s for you,Reinsdorf.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
For a lot of these billionaires, I would surmise, buying a baseball team is somewhat of a frivolous expenditure…something to gawk at, like putting a bubbling fountain in the back patio would be for one of us. They really know nothing about baseball, don’t care to learn, but owning a major league sports franchise is a notch in the belt…something to check-off the billionaire bucket list, impress the new girlfriend. What they are all spending is, as they say in some parts of the country, “F&cK You Money” free to throw around willy-nilly, they DGAF.
oz10
But he is running it how we wish every owner would and not as a business. Can’t gripe that billionaires don’t spend money on their teams out of one side of your mouth while also complaining when they finally do it.
Not saying you do this but lumping all fans together.
VonPurpleHayes
It depends on the team and the owner. Some teams would be ruined by this. Cohen will be fine. Mets will be fine. But in 3-4 years Mets will need to retool and get under the cap. The hope is their young prospects are studs by then. Dodgers are doing the same thing.
NMK 2
They will cut $20+ million from Robinson Cano’s deal after this upcoming season. I’m sure they’ll also have some young talent ready for the major league grind – e.g. Brett Baty.
As a Met fan, I’ll be thrilled when we don’t have to spend $40 million/season on a player.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@VPH They still have to re-sign Alonso. Dipping completely under the cap will be tough sell to him.
rct
McNeil also will need a contract soon.
bryan c
Here is a man that gets it!
True story and I just remembered this the other day. The day the Phillies signed Von Hayes I remember my dad coming home so excited and telling us about what a huge pick up it was. I was a kid. Yes I’m from Philly. Was a fan until I met Mike Schmidt and he was not very friendly to any kids when my family worked on the March of dimes walk. Turned me off big time and then we moved to Florida and thank goodness they didn’t have a team yet so wound up with the Metsies. Been a long hard road but finally we have a smart owner that cares.
Roguesaw2
In fairness to Mike, he may have been on his greenies when you met him. Most people are cranky when torqued out on those.
Ma4170
Yes, and extending Alonso now in this market is probably $250M minimum, as crazy as that sounds. They have Cano, Carrasco, Canha, Escobar off the books next year. Scherzer year after that, then Verlander, Quintana, McCann after that (that’s 164M off by 2025). They’re banking on their higher level prospects (Alvarez, Baty, Parada, Ramirez, Vientos, Tidwell, Williams, potentially Mauricio) developing these next two years. If half make the kind of impact they like, they’ll be happy, but that would be a high percentage. And they’ll pray Allan gets healthy and Ziegler develops. Then I’m sure they’ll go hard after either Ohtani or Soto to build around with Lindor and Pete. And of course any trades in the meantime…
VonPurpleHayes
You see how the Dodgers let Seager, Turner. Scherzer, Machado and others go? That’s the Mets path going forward. Splurge for 3-4 years then reset try to get under the cap and still try to win with what you have. My point is, extensions aren’t guaranteed. Cohen will have no problems letting stars go and replacing them with short-term FAs. I can see a world where Allnso and McNeil are gone in favor of Ohtani.
Ma4170
I could see it with everyone except Alonso – he’s the Mets’ version of Judge, face of the franchise. Otherwise, I’m with you
VonPurpleHayes
deGrom was the face of the Mets a few years ago. He’s gone and already being bashed by the media. I don’t necessarily think Alonso will go, but I don’t think the Mets will be sentimental.
Ma4170
The thing is, Jake was our best player, but never a vocal leader like Pete is, both w teammates and the media. Jake was just an amazing player, but never a leader. Alonso is captain material, so that’s why I have such strong doubts they’d do that. Even though that less sentimental approach is smarter from a business perspective, especially in this market.
Bk11235 2
And mets will sell out and sell merch and make money. Who cares
YankeesBleacherCreature
Merch sales revenue is divided equally among all teams.
kroeg49
Jerry Reinsdorf thanks you!
Yankee Clipper
As David Cone said yesterday, “they should spend because baseball is entertainment and competition. It’s not supposed to be for saving money. Your fans should see the team spend to get the best people they can.”
This one belongs to the Reds
Just goes to prove the luxury tax don’t mean a thing to prevent teams overpaying and ruining the game for fans of small market clubs.
Sourhaze
That’s some BS
Tell your small market team owner to spend money and not pocket it
This one belongs to the Reds
That’s BS that large market fans like to spread like manure to cover up the fact they have an advantage over the 20 other teams.
Sourhaze
Because your owner refuses to spend. Thats not any other teams fault. There’s a penalty for it and they’re choosing to pay it. It’s too bad your team won’t even splurge on someone.
Dickiesox
It’s BS that most owners probably aren’t even fans of the teams they own (and probably not even of the sport itself. Just a business opportunity/investment). Mets are lucky to have an owner who is a lifelong, diehard Mets fan who simply just wants his favorite team to win and make the fans happy and enjoy their success and is willing to pursue that at any cost. ALL owners have money but most of them only care about making more at the expense of their team and their fans. F’ing shameful. Don’t be a cheapskate. Invest in your team and they could win more, which means more fans showing up and buying more merch. That’s good for everyone.
This one belongs to the Reds
You mean because the team spends within their means, which is far less than the 8-10 who can spend unlimited because of their profit advantage mainly by massive local TV contracts about 20 teams don’t have? (among other things )
I know that’s a new concept for you but try to keep up.
Face it, many have posted here ad nausea about how the game is being killed by the inequity between clubs but you big city boys don’t want to hear it.
The end is sooner than you think. Look around and see if you see young kids playing baseball like they used to. Get a clue.
kroeg49
exactly what Reinsdorf is doing. Even after getting $30M from MLB for selling their 15% share to Disney.
But all is not lost as we have super-duper sub Leury Garcia.
avenger65
The big market teams may have advantage in sales and number of fans, but all owners are billionaires no matter if it’s small or large markets. They don’t have any excuse not to spend to get good players.
Clepto_
Avenger. 100% Wrong. Dead wrong. Research before spouting non sense.
rct
“That’s BS that large market fans like to spread like manure to cover up the fact they have an advantage over the 20 other teams.”
Again, there is *nothing* stopping billionaire owners of small market teams from spending except their desire to rake in tons of profits every year and when they decide to sell the team down the road.
A’s – owned by billionaire John J. Fisher, whose mommy and daddy founded GAP. Royals – owned by billionaire John Sherman. Reds – majority owner is Bob Castellini, whose net worth is half a billion dollars. Bought the team for $270 million, now it’s worth more than $1 billion. Pirates – owned by billionaire Bob Nutting. You’re telling me they can’t spend more money?
They simply refuse to in order to make money. Take a look at the Padres. Their owners’ net worth is (according to the internet) only slightly higher than Bob Castellini’s. Are they crying poor or are they spending?
Clepto_
Bob Nutting is NOT a billionaire. Fact. Not disputable.
Get your facts right.
Cheap, maybe, billionaire no.
Maybe instead of spouting a tired false narrative, you research revenue streams, by team.
BStrowman
There’s a whole bunch of sites that say nutting is in fact a millionaire.
I don’t really care if he is or not. He’s “barely” a billionaire if he is but I’d perhaps hit Google if I were you.
Yankee Clipper
Clepto & everyone else here: This is from 2021 and the very site on which we are participating in this discussion with sources, which states that Nutting is in fact a billionaire (valued at $1.1B). To put him in context, Hal Steinbrenner is worth $3.6B, but the whole list is there. Conversely, Castellini is worth $400MM. Huge disparity between Reds and Pirates owners in wealth.
mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/mlb-owners-net-worth.ht…
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Forbes estimates value of Pirates at over a billion. Nutting just sold a ski resort for over 100 million. Good for Nutting.
rct
@Clepto: literally every source I am looking at for Nutting has either his or his family’s net worth at over $1 billion. He also bought the Pirates for $92 million just 26 years ago and the franchise is absolutely worth over $1 billion now. If he is crying poor, he should sell the team and take his billion dollars elsewhere.
This is not a ‘tired false narrative’, it is a FACT.
And by the way, each team receives $100+ million in revenue sharing each year:
baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Revenue_sharing
Pirates payroll has never come close to that number. They are raking in profits every year while the franchise value keeps soaring. Maybe it’s *you* who should be doing some research here.
This one belongs to the Reds
Billionaires don’t become billionaires by losing money so smart people aren’t swayed by that false narrative that they can spend more if operating expenses don’t cover the expenditures.
Astros2017&22Champs
Stop watching the reds. Stop going to games. That’s how you get the owner out of there. You fans deserve better but you can’t be upset if you keep spending your money on them.
Ma4170
Interesting to see that people really believe these smaller market clubs can’t spend a whole lot more than they currently are. They absolutely can, but they choose not to. Sounds like some may have bought into a false narrative about wealthy owners being poor, not the other way around.
Hello, Newman
8 years?!?
Best Screenname Ever
8 years is a phoney number to drive down the official AAV for luxury tax purposes. Nimmo has no more chance of being a Met in 8 years than we do.
Nothing
8 years for this guy is nuts, AAV isn’t too bad though. Good for the Mets. Have no idea what Jays do to replace Teoscar now. Michael Brantley? Is he even capable of playing the outfield anymore? Doesn’t seem like they’re gonna move a catcher.
solaris602
Based on the fact that he has a history of shoulder issues, going forward his time in the grass should be pretty limited. At this point he should be mostly used at DH. Maybe put him in LF once maybe twice a week.
Ella B
Huh?
DATE INJURY
9/21/22 Quad
5/30/22 Wrist
5/17/22 Knee
4/15/22 COVID-19
9/4/21 Hamstring
7/31/21 Hamstring
5/1/21 Finger
4/22/21 Right hip
5/21/2019 Neck
This one belongs to the Reds
Gives a new meaning to “finding Nimmo”.
avenger65
All this talk about moving a player from one position to cover another and trying to sign broken down players to fill a need is even more proof that expansion continues to ruin the quality of the game as a whole. The talent is spread thin. Players who wouldn’t even be considered before expansion are now being given jobs that they are not good enough to man. No matter how much some teams spend, they are still looking to fill spots. Not enough quality to go around.
LongTimeFan1
Expansion? There hasn’t been expansion in MLB since 1998.
This one belongs to the Reds
They will be contracting before expanding. They have even discussed it once.
Scott_11
Jays will trade for Bryan Reynolds. The off season just started. Be patient.
Nothing
Knowing the Pirates they’re asking for some gigantic package that our prospect hugging front office won’t want to pay. Get ready to see Kevin “can’t hit a beach ball” Kiermaier to be the opening day CF lol.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Plenty of time for Toronto to move a catcher for an OFer. Smart of them to wait out the market as teams will be willing to trade more back in return once the good free agents have signed.
theknuckler
I could see a trade with Arizona and their surplus of OF’s.
Bk11235 2
But 11 years for turner and bogaerts is great? Hows trouts 12 years going? Judge 40 mill for 9 as bog as he is? Hows that gonna look? What has he won for them? What has trout won? Braves gave olson 9. How much more valuable then nimmo?
Nothing
I don’t think any of those deals with look good if you only focus on the last few years of the contract. My point was simply that 7+ year deals should be reserved for the truly elite players of the sport, and Nimmo, as good as he is, is not that. Contracts have been kinda crazy this off-season (you can thank the Padres and Cohen). Hopefully teams operate with more sensibilities in the future.
VermonsterSD
Its the market these days. Boras is making bank right now…..lol
DarkSide830
I guess we have to see him sprinting to 1st after walks for eight more years? Yuck.
ham77
Yup. Makes me want to barf every time I see that.
SeltzerM
Yep, hate seeing guys who hustle on literally every play and actually seem to love playing the game.
avenger65
Yeah. It’s time to take Pete Rose’s nickname away. The show-off.
SheaGoodbye
Weird thing to get triggered by.
kripes-brewers
Ha! Nobody likes a suck-@ss
VonPurpleHayes
By his 8th year he probably won’t be able to sprint anymore.
Ella B
Von, if anyone can have positive results in years 5-8, it should be someone like Nimmo. Not a guy to get distracted by the NY nightlife and seems to live a healthy life. Play a competent CF for 2-3 years and move into a corner when the kid comes up. $20 mil for a (hopefully) productive corner is reasonable.
VonPurpleHayes
@Ella We can’t ignore Nimmo’s injuries though. A bad neck is a pretty scary thing to deal with. Still, like I said before, I think the AAV is good. NO way the Mets regret this one.
bryan c
Trea Turner will be 40 at contract end. He plays short stop compared to guy moving to a corner OF spot in a couple years. Weird flex
VonPurpleHayes
It wasn’t a flex, or a bash of the contract, just a fact. Neither the Mets, nor Phillies care about the end of the deal in terms of years. Both deals are long-term to lower the AAV for the players’ prime years. I love the Turner deal. In a vacuum the Nimmo deal is good too, but it does go against the Mets strategy a bit. They now have 3 longterm contracts which makes their reset after 3 years plan a bit more difficult, but still fairly reasonable. I think where the Mets will run into trouble is when players want to get extended. They already lost deGrom because he looked at Max’s AAV and said “Hey. Give me that.” Alonso and McNeil may do the same which throws things off. Cohen has a great plan, but all the players need to buy in, and some of those players may want bigger deals and longterm security. Basically, I think the Mets are going to be perenial contenders, but I think fans shouldn’t buy and jerseys because fan-favorites are going to be moved a lot.. It’s a good plan.
jwt421
I’d argue they lost DeGrom when they offered Bauer $35 million in the 2020 offseason. Scherzer was just icing on the cake.
I have nothing to back this up, but if he hadn’t gotten hurt in 20201 and made more of an impact last season, I believe they would have reworked his deal. As it is, they paid him over $30 million not to pitch.
His last four starts were nothing to write home about and he looked a little she’ll shocked in his post season appearance when the Padres CF ( I can’t recall his name) took him deep on a 100 mph fastball.
cpdpoet
@darkside & vph, Rose did the same thing and all of Philly loved it….
We hated Dykstra, until he came to Philly……Personally meh @Nimmo…..but let him be him….(cracks a Sam Adams..)
VonPurpleHayes
Oh yeah. I don’t hate Nimmo, and I think it’s a decent deal. I don’t see another bat the Mets could have replaced him with right now.
bryan c
What a travesty to watch a guy hustle compared to saying he fu*cling hates this town. Or watching a $330M right fielder half ass his path to a ball that got past him. What a schmuck playing like he was taught and showing hustle. Us fans hate that. Cmon
VonPurpleHayes
Calm down, sir. It’s a joke. And I wouldn’t call sprinting when you get walked hustling. The play is dead. It’s extra hilarious when he does it on called strikes that he thought were balls. Nimmo is a good player. No one is bashing him here. Just teasing.
cpdpoet
@Bryan…..as Sgt Hulka said – Lighten up Francis…..
casey
Remember a few years ago when no one was signing? No one wanting to spend money? That was the worst.
richardc
Good for Nimmo, he deserves to get such a substantial deal.
I think he’s one of the more underrated quality players in the game today, & it’s nice ti see him compensated as such.
As a Braves fan, it is too bad he couldn’t have gotten that deal somewhere outside of the NL East though..lol
VonPurpleHayes
Reminds me of Heyward in his prime. Skillset doesn’t age well, but while 8 years seems too much, the AAV isn’t bad at all. Mets will be fine.
ham77
You’re too nice Von. The Mets make bad decisions. The Phillies may spend stupid money but the Mets just spend money stupidly.
Ma4170
Why? 4-72 for Taijuan Walker is not a good move, so not sure where you’re getting that the Phillies are spending more wisely. Or that ANY team is this offseason, really.
ham77
I like the player but feel like it was an overpay. At least they’re not being taxed at 90% for every dollar they spend from here on out.
User 401527550
What decision has not worked out for them under Cohen? They won 101 games and getting better. I guess you just like saying stupid things.
VonPurpleHayes
McCann so far. I’d argue Scherzer too, who got rocked in two huge games and missed a huge chunk of the season before that.
Ma4170
All in all, scherzer had a very strong year though. McCann terrible move, agreed. I still think Castellanos will do well for Phillies after a down year in his first year. This will be a really competitive and fun division.
User 401527550
Sherzer had a 5.4 WAR and a 2.29 ERA. Hardly say that was a bust. McCann hasn’t worked out but with salaries what they are , 10 mil a year isn’t devastating sting..He is still a good defensive catcher and calls an extremely good game. I think the Rangers are going to get him to catch Degrom.
ham77
I don’t think JV and Scherzer will make the combined 60+ starts they are hoping for. Not worth the $86M they are spending on those two.
kroeg49
All you have to look for is Giolito being trash as a pitcher since he lost his personal catcher, James McCann.
Ella B
Von, McCann was no doubt a huge mistake. It was like Cohen wanted to sign someone…anyone. Hopefully Alvarez will be ready for ST, they’ll need his bat. I disagree on Scherzer though. While he didn’t perform at an ace level for the entire season, I like what he brings from an experience standpoint. From everything I’ve seen, the guy has a crazy serious work ethic. This upcoming season is going to be interesting in the NL East, no doubt about it.
Bill
McCann was signed before Cohen purchased the team.
cpdpoet
Not really sure how “stupid” applies to the Phillies’ spending since Middleton said it….? Knebel, Familia sure….but the big ticket guys have done well….
jakec77
Heyward is who I think of too. By the end of the deal he is likely going to be a very useful, but very overpaid, 4th outfielder.
It’s just a question of how many years into the deal before he makes that transition from quality starter to quality backup.
VonPurpleHayes
Yeah. I don’t see the Mets regretting this one. I fully expect years 6-8 to be a disaster, but it’s 20.25 MM a year. For all we know that will be league average by then. Mets needed a bat. Who better than Nimmo at this point? Mets are legit, and they aren’t done.
sfes
We all know all these contracts will be nightmares at the end. It’s the next 2 years of a window that the Mets and Phils are signing these players. However the key part is that the prospects are still there whether they are a bust or not. The dodgers are the model.
Simm
This has to be the most crazy free agent market ever.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Or call it a market adjustment. MLB raked in $11B as a whole and another $900MM for their BAMTech sale.
Simm
That’s 30m a team which doesn’t go all that far in this market.
I think things will cool down shortly and I’d expect next year there will be less spending because so many of the big spenders have now spent a lot of their money. Specially with length of these deals, the money will dry up sooner or later. As of now you have the dodgers, giants, red Sox and cubs left that don’t have huge dollars tied up. Most of the money to spend has come from the padres, yankees, phillies and rangers. Pretty much all those teams are locked in to some long term spending that will make it more difficult to continue to spend.
Ma4170
Jeez… well, 20M a year isn’t terrible, but 8 years is. I don’t think his actual impact matches his numbers, but he’s a great team guy, gets on base, and hopefully can play CF for at least three more years.
Yankee Clipper
Congrats man. Good bat to bring back. Back end won’t be good (like all of them) but if you win on the front half…who cares? Either way, you guys got a good one. Plus, if you think about it, he’s only making the QO….not bad.
Ma4170
That’s true.. and I guess look at it this way (even though they’re different positions), id rather have Nimmo at 20.25 a year than walker at 18 a year… silver linings
vaderzim
Reports are saying Padres’ offer of $277 Million was rejected, Guardians fall short of signing Nimmo as well.
C-Daddy
Admittedly haven’t seen this guy play much but this deal seems absurd.
SheaGoodbye
You do realize Baseball Reference is a thing, right? Or Fangraphs? Mlb.com? What’s absurd is forming an opinion that something would be absurd without spending the minute or two it would take to look up the relevant stats and weigh in.
Best Screenname Ever
Nice comment. You’re obviously a real expert.
xBraveNewWorldx
I looked up the relevant stats. It’s absurd, homer
SheaGoodbye
Compelling argument, homer.
This one belongs to the Reds
Insane.
I can hear some guy now: “what is he, Babe Ruth?”
Neon Cop
All that just to finish third in the east…
User 401527550
With Robertson and Nimmo, the Mets are going to be the favorites in the East. They probably still get a top starter and two more top relievers.
Neon Cop
I’m sure you thought they’d be the favorites last year too…
User 401527550
They had 101 wins and the Braves had 101 wins. You thought the Braves were drastically better didn’t you?
Neon Cop
The Mets didn’t even make the real playoffs, silly. Atlanta will be much better this year than they were in 2022.
User 401527550
The real playoffs? The ones were the Braves got bounced by the Phillies? The Braves aren’t getting better but keep lying to yourself because the Mets and Phillies keep adding.
slider32
The difference is the Braves have a young team, with most of their stars signed for reasonable contracts. AA is looking like a genius after this winter.
slider32
You don’t win the world series in the winter!
VonPurpleHayes
I still like the Phillies better on paper, but the game isn’t played on paper. If the Mets get Senga, or go insane and get Rodon, then I’m really worried.
User 401527550
Don’t get me wrong. With scheduling next year all three teams can win 100+. I would be shocked if all 3 aren’t in playoffs and battle to last weekend.
Neon Cop
NYM will be relying on 2 geriatric pitchers. Also need to factor in their annual collapse, of course. Meanwhile, the Braves have a young talented core that will only get better. Can’t wait!
Neon Cop
Meet the Mets
Justin Verlander 39 years old
Max Scherzer 38 years old
Carlos Carrasco 35 years old
Jose Quintana 33 years old
Eduardo Escobar 33 years old
Mark Cahna 33 years old
Starling Marte 34 years old
Jeff McNeil 30 years old
Darin Ruf 36 years old
LOL
VonPurpleHayes
That’s the thing though, the Mets roster’s age would be extremely problematic if they were relying on this guys longterm. They aren’t. We’re in year 2 of Cohen’s 3-year plan. Scherzer and Verlander can very realistically have great seasons in 2023, and the Mets have the depth to give them extra days off. They only really need them for the playoffs. It’s not unlikely that they dominate a series or 2 in the playoffs. I fully understand Cohen’s plan. It’s not crazy. It could work.
bryan c
JV – contract up after 2024 w possible vest
Scherzer – contract up after 2024 w opt out after 23
Carrasco – contract up after 2023
Quintana – contract up after 2024
Escobar – contract up after 2023
Canha – contract up after 2024
Marte – contract up after 2024
McNeil – defending MLB batting champ still in arbitration
Ruf – contract up after 2023
Also: Ohtani – contract up after 2023
Soto – contract up after 2024.
Not a coincidence
LongTimeFan1
@bryan c
Marte signed 4-year deal. His ends after 2025.
bryan c
Oops. Good catch. But still….. largely short terms
flamingbagofpoop
The mets have depth at SP to give them days off? Did they sign more starters
VonPurpleHayes
They’re currently favorites to land Senga. Even without Senga, they currently have Scherzer, Verlander, Carrasco, Quintana, Peterson, Megill. They’ll likely land either Senga or Stripling. Which moves one of Peterson/Megill to the pen. They’re definitely going to use a 6-man rotation during the regular season in my opinion. They may cut down to 5 in the 2nd half. We’ll see.
HalosHeavenJJ
8 years is way longer than anyone projected. Market is insane this year.
Ma4170
Problem w/ Nimmo is that so many teams were in on him just because he plays CF and has a high OBP. It’s like gold in this market, which is already out of hand.
slider32
Everybody is getting paid, the new streaming money has given the owners money to burn!
hopper15
Wow. That’s way too much.
Os fan in PA
He is one of the most consistent OBP guys in the game.
bigdaddyhacks
How do you overpay your own guy? Wow lol
User 401527550
He had the most teams in the league after him. I guess you know more then almost every GM in baseball. LOL
ayrbhoy
He was the most coveted OFer after Aaron Judge with at least half a dozen teams genuinely trying to land him
flyingblindsquirrel
YESSSSSS!!!
Cleon Jones
Good move by the Mets
I speak the truth
Haha
CravenMoorehead
Normally I’d say that’s an overpay on the Mets part and laugh but I just saw my favorite team sign an injury prone 30 year old for $360 million over 9 years.
dom d
Thank you Jesus!
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
They said the exact same things about me: great when healthy and much lower AAV with more years than expected
BetterMuppet:JUDGEorKERMIT?
It sounded like he was going to get 25 a year….this actually sounded light to me…..I get term and his injury history, but with the crazy numbers being thrown out this year thought he was gonna push 200
People seem to forget Judges injury history.
flamingbagofpoop
Even with his injury history, Judge has more than doubled Nimmo’s production over their careers.
Judge: 36.1 fwar
Nimmo: 17.9 fwar
cpdpoet
As a Phillies fan, good for the Mets, imho an overpay. But the contract has a decent chance to work out…Better for the NL East….
Kevin Michael Farrell
I think I just cried a little! Brandon was the absolute most important move this offseason!
LETS GO METS!!!!
getrealgone2
All that money and will still choke.
Milwaukee-2208
Terrible contract
User 401527550
This isn’t an article about Yelich.
j_butte
Braves fan that’s happy to see this contract.
getrealgone2
and just added 37 year old roberston. They’re banking on a bunch of old guys staying perfectly healthy.
alonsoalfonzo
No one asked!
giantsguy41
Mets fans – it’s a lot of money, sure, but feel fortunate to have a team in a big market that can afford this…or just as important a team/location where players want to go. I’m a bitter Giants fan (have the money but no one wants to come here). Congrats Met fans (and Yankees fans yesterday). I’m jealous.
LongTimeFan1
@giantsguy14
Your Giants have a winning pedigree including 2010, 2012, 2014. On;y matter of time before you compete for another ring. It’s been only one season since won 106 games.
Mets are seeking to win for the first time since 1986.
fred-3
It’s World Series or bust for the $330M Metropolitans.
theo13919
Pretty good for a player who has never hit more than 17 Hr’s or more than 65RBI’s. 20M/yr for 8 years. The owners can pay what they want, but there will be a course correction sooner or later as these contracts, expecially for the really old and frequently injured guys just blow up.
LongTimeFan1
Keith Hernandez never hit more than 17 homers yet is legendary.
Bledcam
Wow, I thought he would get 5 years at the most. Happy for Mets fans though, he’s a great member of that team and hopefully will be throughout all eight years.
SheaGoodbye
If he only got 5 years that AAV would’ve been significantly higher. At best, maybe they could’ve shaved off a year while keeping that figure as low as it is.
Bledcam
I agree, I definitely think you save on the AAV with the length he was given. I’m a big Nimmo fan and I always like to see players resign with their teams. If he’s a member of a World Series winning team, nobody is going to care if he doesn’t last the eight.
meckert
And that’s how you get things done boys.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
Breaking: The Padres offered a 30 year, 2.4 zillion dollar deal, but he chose to stay in NY.
utah cornelius
Except that didn’t happen.
flamingbagofpoop
What gave it away, maybe the 2.4 zillion dollar contract? Get off the internet and go do your homework.
JoeBrady
Nimmo wasn’t on my list of 11 for the RS, but he’d have made a pretty good fit for the RS. But like I said, no good can come from trying to outbid Cohen or Preller.
User 401527550
Is that the Redsox new philosophy? Don’t bid on anyone that wealthy teams might bid on?
SheaGoodbye
Looks like the underrating of Nimmo continues by the masses. No surprise there. Would’ve preferred 6-7 years—8 is probably a bit of an overpay—but the lower AAV makes it more palatable.
My main concern with him would be injury, as it would be for most players getting a very long term contract entering their 30s. But he has missed some significant time in past seasons, although he’s been healthy in two out of the last three campaigns if you count the pandemic season. Thankfully, those injuries haven’t shared a common theme so perhaps they were more bad luck than anything else.
On a per-game basis, Nimmo has been worth 3+ WAR across each of the last 5 season, and he’s coming off a 5+ WAR campaign to boot. Had he not missed significant time in 2021, he very well may have been on his way to a third 5ish WAR performance in five years. That’s not too shabby.
More importantly, as a contact/OBP-oriented player who is a plus defensively he’s less likely to age poorly, which helps sell a deal as long as this one to me. And in a market as hot as this one for the top FAs, it looks a little more reasonable than some of the other very long-term deals for the power bats who are heavily reliant on bat speed to provide value.
pdubs2907
These guys are getting crazy contracts. Nimmo is a good player but he’s hurt a lot. I wouldn’t want him at this price tag.
xBraveNewWorldx
Wow
Dudes played more then 100 games twice in his career.
SheaGoodbye
To be fair, we foolishly refused to play him much his first two big league seasons when he was relatively healthy, and he didn’t really blossom until age 25. Since then, he’s played in five campaigns, staying healthy in three of the five (one being the pandemic season) while missing significant time in the other two.
Not great, but probably not as bad as some might think. But even if he had stayed relatively healthy to this point, once you get up their in age injuries are always going to be concerned
DarrenDreifortsContract
20 million a year for an average player.
YourDreamGM
That obp ain’t average
bmfmagee
A lot of money for a guy who Avg’s 86 games a year
Joshy
Looking at the current lineups, an Astros Mets world series seems likely
Augusto Barojas
Astros/Mets not unlikely, but Phillies and Dodgers might have a say. Can’t count out Pads, Braves either. NL is super competitive, a ton of good teams. Astros are really the dominant team in the AL until somebody else steps up big time. 6 straight ALCS appearances, 4 ALCS wins in past 6 years. Best stretch any team in MLB has had in a long time.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Unlike the other deals, this one isn’t that much of an overpay but it is a lot of years.
Murphy NFLD
Yea 20per year isn’t so bad I’d guess it was the Mets, Jays and others adding a year here and there tell the Mets landed here. I really don’t know what the Jays do now. STL seemed like there best trade partner not an OFer, Bellinger would have been my choice for CF this year. They can’t trade Kirk for Varasho or whatever his name is from the snakes. Im really unsure where they go for there CF they need now. No way the snakes trade carroll for Moreno/Kirk.
uvmfiji
Bader trade looking pretty good in the Bronx
YankeesBleacherCreature
Bader: .245/.317/.405 – OPS+ 97
Nimmo: .269/.385/.441 – OPS+ 130
It’s not even close.
utah cornelius
How about the postseason? OPS of like 1.3 for Bader to Nimmo’s .885, against the best pitchers.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I’ll give Bader that in a small sample size. Hopefully, it’s a sign of a late bloomer with the bat and he’s not the next Mike Tauchman.
User 401527550
Why? He will gone next year in free agency. He’s played an all of 18 games for the Yankees and the pitcher they gave up went crazy after the trade.
uvmfiji
Bader
JayRyder
Wow stupid money everywhere!
LongTimeFan1
Oh wow – am so happy. Nimmo and David Robertson – Great night to be Mets fan.
bravesnation nc
Unbelievable the types of contracts and length of years these dudes are getting.
tuna411
ridiculous
.
Tuna, Festivus is almost upon us! I’ll go get the pole from the crawl space!
deeds
Mr. Met just got 15 million for 8 years!
.
Hahahahahana Nice Deeds!
justinkm19
Funny how the Mets fans think this is a great contract but deGroms was ridiculous.
Smacky
Mets really acting out here! That’s a lot of money for a no-time All-Star. I’m sure this will work out swimmingly.
Smacky
And SportsCenter just repeated this take. Guess their producers are perusing MLB Trade Rumors for content. Intresting!
Chemo850
I remember when 7+ year contracts was reserved for superstars. Now this offseason teams are giving all these guys insane years and money. I’m sorry, but Xander, Nimmo and some of these others guys are not superstars. They are very good players, but 7+ years or 300+ million good? Heck no
allphilly
I wonder how the Marlins will do next season since they don’t have to play the three power teams in the NL East 54 times. Mets Braves Phillies will be so tough.
Pachoo
With this and the Robertson signing, Mets CBT payroll is about $331M lol. That makes their luxury tax penalty $64m, almost the payroll of the entire Athletics roster. Their payroll with the tax is $395m, about 3 times the payroll of about ten teams. Talk about buying championships (or attempting to).
If they run this same payroll next year, as a 3rd time offender, the luxury tax would be $84M lol. Jesus christ.
To finish 2nd or 3rd in their division.
Good luck ever resetting the CBT tax penalty.
StreakingBlue
I don’t like how the CBT tax is punitive. It should set a floor for payroll to be, and prevent teams from overspending to make it uncompetitive. I don’t think the uncompetitive part os even close. However, there are the freeloading teams who don’t want to compete and just want their hand out to the other MLB teams to subsidize them.
This one belongs to the Reds
I agree with the floor, it works well in the NFL and I believe it is 80% of the cap. But I think it should either be a hard cap or have a lot more teeth than it has. It is obvious it is not a deterrent to go above it as many teams with larger income streams that are NOT shared are.
ASapsFables
Unbelievable how some teams just blow past the CBT thresholds without batting an eye. Unfortunately, none of those teams play in Chicago.
BaseballisLife
What he’s not capable of is staying on the field.
Mystery Team
First of all good for him for getting the money he has a good agent. With that said I just don’t get the fascination with Brandon Nimmo. His numbers don’t match this contract at all. He has 63 HRs in seven seasons and he’s never driven in more than 64 runs. Once again walks skew numbers. His on base is great because he walks but how many of those walks directly contributed to an actual run being scored? Nimmo is a good ball player but for that money and years I feel like the player needs to be better than just good. The Mets can do this because they have the money but Nimmo is more of a role player than a difference maker.
mookie1
Role player? Lifetime 130 OPS+ Sorry, he’s not Hank Aaron, just a guy that literally every MLB team would want to have as a starting OF.
LFGMets (Metsin7)
@mookie1 OPS+ is a garbage way to evaluate players. Park adjusted stats are basically meaningless. OPS+ ignores batting average and makes players that play in “pitcher friendly parks” like Dodger stadium, Citi Field, and the Athletic’s park higher ranked. If you look at Arenado, hes basically the same player he was in Coors but his OPS+ is higher because he doesnt play in Coors anymore. Makes no sense. These “Park Adjusted” stats don’t take into account real life
User 401527550
100% agree
mookie1
@LFG Mets
Fine his career OPS is .827, my point still stands. That’s a starting OF on every team in MLB, not a role player.
Mystery Team
One good season and it wasn’t even that good. Stop looking at WAR and look at the real numbers across the board. Why do people refuse to acknowledge the actual numbers.
WSnotAstros2017
What will Benintendi get. Will he fall next now that Nimmo off board. Makes me wonder on others Rodon and others left. Will he stay a Yankee Beni that is. Would not mind him in Houston but think they get hand me downs now after getting Abreu and Montero. Will someone offer Brantley or Conforto something now too.
jeff51488
Since we didnt sign JV and missed out on Contreras we still have plenty to spend. I dont think we’ll get hand me downs. But they need to do something soon because theres not much left.
WSnotAstros2017
I wonder if Houston offered Contreras anything or not. I think Houston wants to better the spot. I do agree everyone mentioned with them most have gone elsewhere but agree need to do something soon if want any of others they are interested in
LosPobres1904
Dang it was hoping we would get him
Attystephenadams
As a Mets fan I’m happy to have him back in the fold, and I think that he’s worth the AAV. Remember it’s just barely over the QO. So what that it’s 8 years? If he’s not able to play on the grass in years 6-8 he’ll be a heck of a DH. Good for Brandon. He shows up to play hard every day when he’s healthy, his enthusiasm is contagious, and by all accounts he’s a good teammate. You can’t win if you don’t score, and you can’t score if you don’t get on base. He gets on base, bottom line.
flamingbagofpoop
Wait, so you think 36-38 year old Nimmo is going to be hitting the same as 30 year old Nimmo?
Mystery Team
I love it “He shows up to play hard every day when he’s healthy”. Lol he’s hardly healthy, he’s had one healthy season. If anything that would give me major pause when dealing with him. The fact that his one healthy season just happens to come in his contract year.
stroh
Overpay on years for a 30 year old but given the recent 9 and 11 year contracts it’s par for the course
10centBeerNight
Cohen has surprised me. Of course we knew he’s spend in the kind of fashion LAD do. And had to overcompensate for Mets lacking farm system when he purchased team. But this is approach of “it’s just money – eliminate every question mark on paper that we can” is somethin’ else
StreakingBlue
The Dodgers of the past 5 to 7 years are not anywhere like Cohen. They targeted strategically with contracts that are short term, but not unreasonable when needed. They are smart with money.
hockeynick97
Let me guess…Padres made a better offer but he chose to stay with NY?
James Midway
Haha best comment yet
utah cornelius
It’s not the best comment yet. First of all, it’s the third time in this thread. Second, it wasn’t funny the first two times. And third, it didn’t happen and it doesn’t happen any more often than with most other teams. Win some, lose some. That’s the game.
James Midway
Wow chill dude it’s a joke. I know the Padres didn’t offer, it was still funny and I’m a Padre Season Ticket Member. Try something for me, hold your ears and say wooo-sahh everything will be ok.
flamingbagofpoop
Someone is butt hurt.
johnrealtime
I have no stakes in this but I will back utah on this one. No excuse for bad, reused jokes. It’s 2022. Be original. Sport fans need to step up their comedy game
billneftlebergjr
Fans of small market teams have no right whatsoever to complain. They choose to live where they do. The cost of living is lower, houses and apartments and tickets are less. Some seats at Yankee Stadium are $2500 a pop.. but all we hear is how “unfair it is.” Small market teams are subsidized by the Big market teams. Stop being hypocritical. Personally I think they should get rid of all teams that can’t pay their own way. Baseball would be better with 16 teams. Every time I hear one of these whiners I want to hurl. Who made you so entitled? Baseball was just fine before expansion. Why does Kansas City or Tampa deserve a team over New Orleans or Carolina? Answer is they don’t. So why should fans be paying for small markets to have teams? The answer is they shouldn’t have too. That’s what’s really unfair.
Samuel
billneftlebergjr;
The Mets are an expansion team.
YourDreamGM
Expansion and revenue sharing made it possible to give out these 300 million contracts. More people interested and watching baseball is good business.
This one belongs to the Reds
Only a large market fan would say that…or some kid that doesn’t know any better.
Have fun when there are only 12 teams in the major leagues in a few decades, if they exist at all.
I personally would like the game to thrive for centuries but not just in certain large markets.
VonPurpleHayes
People were saying the same things you are in the 1960s. Baseball is totally fine. It’s not dying. No owners need to spend like Cohen, but your owner absolutely needs to spend more, and he he 100% has the means. There are only 3 teams in the league not spending. I’m sorry you root for one of them. But that’s not a baseball problem. That’s a Reds problem.
SupremeZeus
This is great for the sport. Undoubtedly will put pressure on the prominent miserly billionaire owners to answer for their embarrassing stewardship of their cities franchise. Also might hasten the establishment of a salary floor. Gross revenues approaching $11Billion and these charlatans are crying poor.
StreakingBlue
The sad thing for the Mets they have the highest payroll, but are not going to sniff the world series.
seamaholic 2
Let’s say it all together shall we: Wealth of owners has NOTHING to do with payrolls. Independent wealth of owners is walled off from their teams, which are separate businesses. Teams pay their employees from the revenue they earn. The Mets can afford a $390m payroll because they are based in the country’s biggest market. Period full stop. Doesn’t mean the A’s and Reds can’t afford bigger payrolls than the ones they run. But they can’t do what the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, etc do, or even within half of it.
seamaholic 2
Ratio between highest and average payrolls, including taxes, is now up to 4:1. Mind you, that’s AVERAGE. I couldn’t calculate the ratio between highest and lowest, since the A’s technically have a zero payroll at the moment (all their players are pre-arbitration.or arbitration). But if you take their projected total it’s almost 14:1.
I realize it’s the A’s of the world that need to change, not so much the Mets. But this is ridiculous and unsustainable.
BStrowman
I need a raise!
scruffmcgruff
While most of the time the big contract numbers tend to be given to guys that provide a lot of home runs or general power numbers. Nimmo’s on base and run scoring skills are outstanding. The only question for me is, do you think hes going to be healthy enough to be worth that contract? In his 7 yrs, hes played through an entire season twice? Weirdly enough he was hit-by-pitch 22 times and 16 times in those seasons so its not like that contributed to him not getting through a season. Time will tell if this was a good deal or not.
MarlinsFanBase
Congrats to Nimmo. 8 years…wow! He’s got a great agent.
This is a mutually wanted deal. Nimmo really isn’t as valued in