Brandon Nimmo

New York Mets Tender All Arbitration Eligible Players A Contract

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yankees, New York Mets, Marcus Stroman

The New York Mets have tendered all eight of their arbitration eligible players a contract.

The New York Mets’ announced last night that they have tendered a contract to all of eight of their eligible players.

This should come as no surprise considering who the eight players were.

Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo are both starting outfielders for the Mets, and all-star caliber players. There was never any doubt that the Mets would ever consider not tendering them a contract.

Marcus Stroman, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz were also never in jeopardy. They’re three of the Mets starting pitchers for the 2020 season.

The Mets traded for Stroman in July and he pitched well for them. The Mets view him as their internal replacement for Zack Wheeler. Noah Syndergaard is one of the top 20-25 best pitchers in baseball. He had a down season last year, but even then his fWAR was higher than that of Dodgers’ ace Walker Buehler. Matz is one of if not the best number four starter in baseball. On another team Matz would likely slot in as their number two starter.

Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz were also never in doubt. Lugo is one of the best relievers in baseball. He may have never been an All-Star, but he’s also never been a close before. He’s made his money working as a multi-inning relief ace to put out fires and bridge to the closer. He was excellent in that role and he was excellent was asked to close in 2019. Despite his down year, the Mets were never going to non-tender Diaz. His ceiling is way too high and they gave up way too much to let him leave.

Last is Robert Gsellman, and while it was unlikely he would be non-tendered there was a slight chance. Gsellman hasn’t excelled in either the bullpen or the starting rotation. He’s been mediocre at both and hasn’t given the Mets much reason to pay him more than a relief pitching free agent would cost. However, his versatility and his consistent mediocre ability are worth something. Not everybody has to be good, teams need mediocre middle-relievers too.

New York Mets: Brandon Nimmo Year in Review

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Brandon Nimmo was slated to be a table setter for the New York Mets in 2019, but an unfortunate injury forced him to miss a chunk of his season. Nimmo returned to his 2018 form towards the end of the year and gave hope that he will be a star for the 2020 season.

He made a name for himself due to his infectious smile, hustle and genuine love for playing the game. Nimmo was the original lead off hitter, but fell in the order due to his high strikeout totals. He battled through a neck injury for almost two months, but it took a toll on his numbers. Nimmo only hit .200 with three home runs, 14 home runs and 48 strikeouts in 130 at bats through May 20th.

Forgotten Man

Nimmo was on the shelf until the beginning of September due to his neck. During that period of time, it gave J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith the opportunity to shine. Both took advantage of their playing time which helped bring the Mets back into the race. In turn, this made it hard for Nimmo to play everyday once he finally returned.

When Nimmo played, he made it impossible to get him out of the lineup. He returned to being a dominant on base machine and reclaimed the role as the leadoff hitter for the Mets. Nimmo had a .261 average, .995 OPS, five home runs, 15 RBIs and 20 walks.

This was the Nimmo the Mets expected to see from the beginning of the season and if healthy, he adds to a dominant Mets outfield for 2020. His only criticism at a hitter has to come with the amount of times he strikes out.  Some of his strikeout totals will be higher because he works deep counts, but the more he limits his strikeouts, the better he will be.

Grades:

Hitting for Average: D+, Unfortunately his September was a case of too little, too late. He still finished the year a .221

Hitting for Power: C: Only 8 home runs in 199 ABs, but showed promise in September

Defense: C+, Not great, but not bad either. Average to below average in left and center field.

Speed/Baserunning: C-, 3 for 3 in Stolen Base opportunities. He is a good baserunner, but is too fast to only steal three bags.

Intangibles: A+, No one else on the roster can match the hustle and drive of Nimmo

Overall: D+, His September is the only thing saving him from being an F. Do not give up on him, he is poised for an All-Star 2020 season.

New York Mets: The Resurgence of Brandon Nimmo

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Brandon Nimmo was a forgotten New York Met just a month ago. He was spending time rehabbing from his neck injury and no one really knew when he would comeback. Not only has he battled back, but he has comeback into the starting lineup with a vengeance.

Nimmo started the year in a disappointing way. While he was still getting on base at a good clip, he was only hitting .200, with a .323 slugging and struck out in 37 percent of his at bats. His hustle and smile never wavered, but it was visible that he was not playing at full strength.

The Mets put Nimmo on the 10-day IL, hoping for a quick recovery. Nimmo ended up missing about three months and was replaced by the combination of Dom Smith and J.D. Davis. Once Nimmo, came back from the minors he returned to the form the Mets expected throughout the season.

Nimmo’s Hot Streak

Since Nimmo returned on September 1, he is hitting .291 with an outstanding .481 on base percentage. To put that in perspective, Mike Trout has the highest OBP in baseball at .438. Nimmo is doing it over small sample size, but this is the type of production that Nimmo has been capable of when healthy.

Over his last seven games, Nimmo is hitting .381 with a .458 OBP and three home runs. During the three game series in Colorado, Nimmo had big home runs during the first two games and provided the game tying hit during game three’s comeback win. Even if the Mets do not make the playoffs, they have to be very pleased with what they are seeing from Nimmo going forward.

New York Mets: Mets to Activate Brandon Nimmo Prior to Sunday’s Game

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The first player of the Mets group of reinforcements makes his return Sunday in Philadelphia. Brandon Nimmo has been on the Injured List since late May and will return as another option in the outfield. The Mets have missed his smile, hustle and versatility while he was on the shelf.

Nimmo has not played since May 20 because of a bulging disc in his neck and suffered a couple of setbacks during his rehab. After a breakout season in 2018, he was disappointing to start the season. When he landed on the IL, he was only hitting .200 with a .323 slugging percentage and struck out 48 times in 130 at-bats. The injury played a big role in his slump, but he looks ready to step back into an everyday role upon his return.

Who Gets the Boot?

No one will need to be sent down thanks to the September roster expansion. The Mets also have 39 men on the 40-man roster which means the Mets can activate Nimmo without having to remove someone. If the Mets activate Jed Lowrie before the season ends, they will be forced to make a move. J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil have all played well in the outfield but only Conforto is a natural outfielder. This leaves Juan Lagares as the odd man out.

Lagares has brought back his gold glove defense and has hit better, but cooled off of late. He is 5-for-32 over his last 10 games and will likely lose the most playing time with Nimmo’s return. The Mets will not run Nimmo out there everyday over the last month of the season until they see he is fully healthy. Lagares will likely be relegated to spot starts, much like Rajai Davis.

When to Expect Him in the Starting Lineup

Nimmo should play in either of the next two games, but it is unlikely he plays in both. After Sunday night’s game, the Mets have a quick turn around and play a day game on Monday against the Nationals. Mickey Callaway does not like to over use his players, especially ones returning from injuries. Nimmo will get a large amount of playing time through this home stretch and the Mets need his energy to make a comeback.

New York Mets: Jed Lowrie and Brandon Nimmo Continue Rehab Assignments

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Two forgotten Mets who have been on the shelf with injuries are quickly making waves in their return to the big leagues. Brandon Nimmo started playing games at Triple-A and the glassboned Jed Lowrie actually started playing games with the Mets Single-A team.

On Tuesday Nimmo went 2-for-3 in another minor league appearance with the Syracuse Mets. He played center field for five innings in his third game of his rehab assignment. The Mets do not have an exact time for when we should expect to see Nimmo again. They will make sure he is fully healthy before bringing him back up.

Lowrie Finally Playing Games

Jed Lowrie saw his first action in months with the St. Luice Mets. He went 1-for-4 with an infield single and ran without any issues. The Mets are certainly going to take it slow with the 35-year old infielder. Since camp started in February, he has been dealing with leg ailments. They are confident he will be fine just DH’ing before going back to the infield.

The Mets have to give Lowrie plenty of time to get back to game speed, but the Mets could use his bat and versatility on their bench. He was signed to a two-year/$20 million deal in the offseason and was projected to play a huge role throughout the season.

How Do They Fit in if They Comeback?

The Mets lineup has lot of potential when both of these guys return. Nimmo could assume the centerfield role and allow a healthy Jeff McNeil to play second base. Nimmo will not have the pressure of batting lead off with McNeil and Amed Rosario securing their roles at the top of the order. He can hit lower in the lineup to get his bat back in the form it was in 2018.

Lowrie would be a key part to fill in at either third base or second base when the Mets want to give Todd Frazier, J.D. Davis or Jeff McNeil a rest. He will not have the pressure to play everyday either since the Mets will do everything they can to keep him healthy. Along with Dom Smith, important players returning will give Mickey Callaway options he has never had as manager of the Mets.

New York Mets: Brandon Nimmo Begins Rehab Assignment

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Brandon Nimmo has not played with the Mets since May 20th, but his heart and hustle is on his way back. Nimmo had his first game action for the St. Lucie Mets as he attempts to fully recover from his neck injury which has plagued a majority of his season.

He did exactly what you would expect during his first at-bat by drawing a walk. Nimmo finished the night 1-for-3 with a sharp single up the middle. He will likely need at least a week of action in the minors to get back to the big leagues. The Mets will be extremely careful with Nimmo, especially since he is recovering from a bulging disc in his neck.

Forgotten Man

Nimmo broke out in a big way for the Mets during the 2018 season. He slashed .263/.404/.483 with 17 home runs and 22 hit by pitches. The Mets were counting on another big season from Nimmo to join Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil in the outfield heading into 2019. He struggled from the start, only hitting. 200 and striking out 48 times in 161 plate appearances before he was put on the Injured List.

As the season drifted on, the emergence of Dom Smith and J.D. Davis as outfield options softened the blow of losing Nimmo. Now with the Mets extremely weak bench and injuries to McNeil, Smith, Robinson Cano the urgency to have Nimmo back is higher.

With the Mets losing three out of four and Cano likely done for the season, Nimmo’s can become a spark plug as the left handed bat they desperately need. Their hot streak has also faded out, after losing three out of their last four. Nimmo’s return will be a shot of energy to the club and his return to his 2018 form is the type of player the Mets need to get themselves into a playoff spot.

What does reliever Brad Brach bring to the New York Mets?

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New York Mets sign Brad Brach.

The New York Mets made a flurry of roster moves Thursday, headlined by signing veteran reliever Brad Brach. The Chicago Cubs released him on August 5th after a nightmare season. In 42 games he had a 6.13 ERA and walked 28 batters in 39.2 innings, after multiple good years.

This is a low risk move that couple pay off in a major way for the Mets. Judging by his ERA and walks this season, he would fit the mold of the June Mets bullpen. Diving deeper into the numbers shows a FIP of 4.13 which is lower than Steven Matz. His 10.2 K/9 is on par with the past years in his career.

How Can Brach Improve?

Pitching coach Phil Regan has played a major role of getting the Mets pitching staff back on track and they hope he does the same with Brach. He was one of the most consistent relievers in all of baseball during his time with the Baltimore Orioles and half a year with the Atlanta Braves in 2018. He pitched at least 60 innings, was an All-Star in 2016 and only had one year with an ERA above 3.50.

Just based on his pedigree, he might have needed a change of scenery to reclaim his past success. At worst, Brach deepens the Mets bullpen as a useful seventh man and if he reaches his potential he will pitch key innings down the stretch. Teams not too long ago were fighting to acquire Brach. If he turns his season around, along with Edwin Diaz, the Mets all of a sudden have one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Brandon Nimmo To The 60-Day IL

Donnie Hart was optioned to Triple-A after only one scoreless inning with the Mets. Brandon Nimmo was sent to the 60-day IL to open up a roster spot for Brach. Nimmo has been out since May 20th with a neck injury and has not performed in any baseball activities since June 18th. He had a breakout 2018 season and had high expectations this year, but has become an after thought now.

The Mets hope Nimmo can resume baseball activities soon, but neck injuries are right below concussions in terms of how careful it has to be handled. The Mets miss from Nimmo’s defense as a true outfielder, compared to J.D. Davis and Dom Smith. They have replaced his hitting, but adding him back to the roster along with Smith deepens what is currently an anemic bench.

What I Liked About Last Night: Steven Matz and Brandon Nimmo

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New York Mets, New York Yankees, Steven Matz

The New York Mets received two things that have been missing over the last few weeks. They got a solid start from Steven Matz and their offense finally broke through to put a team away. The Mets offensive attack was spearheaded by the bat of Brandon Nimmo.

Majestic Matz

Steven Matz averaged 4.5 innings per start and had an ERA of 4.42 going into last night. Matz gave the Mets six shutout innings and escaped out of jams the same way Jacob deGrom did in his start. He kept the Milwaukee Brewers from getting an extra base hit and pitched into the sixth inning for the second time this season.

The Mets needed the back of the rotation to pitch better and the starts from Matz and Jason Vargas, give the Mets hope that things are changing. The back end of the rotation does not need to be a trio of aces like the Houston Astros have. Matz, Vargas and Zack Wheeler just have to go out, compete and give the Mets a chance to win. A positive sign for the Mets is their starters have thrown 17 consecutive scoreless innings (Wheeler, deGrom, Matz).

Nimmo Carries the Offense Again

Brandon Nimmo has been dynamite out of the leadoff spot and he showed it again last night. He got on base all five times he went to hit and came a home run shy of the cycle. Not only is Nimmo getting on base at a terrific rate, but he has a .991 on base plus slugging percentage. If Nimmo qualified for the league leaders, he would be seventh in the big leagues. This puts him in the same company as Jose Ramirez, Kris Bryant and Aaron Judge. He certainly does not match their power, but he is an example of a different way to be a dangerous hitter.

With Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares missing an extended period of time, Nimmo has been irreplaceable in the Mets lineup. The is no doubt he has had the best season of any Mets outfielder so far. If he keeps up the pace, there is no doubt that Nimmo deserves to continue to see everyday action when Cespedes returns. He has certainly shown a lot of promise as a future leadoff hitter for the Mets.

The Mets look to make it back to back wins as the send Noah Syndergaard to the mound tonight to take on the Brewers.

What Do The New York Mets Do When Michael Conforto Returns?

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Michael Conforto is set to return to the New York Mets before his original May 1 date. The Mets have to figure out how to make room for Conforto in their crowded outfield.

There will be no changes when it comes to Yoenis Cespedes or Jay Bruce in the outfield. The decision to demote either Brandon Nimmo, Juan Lagares is a difficult one for the organization to make. The Mets could also demote Phillip Evans, if they choose to have five outfielders.

Brandon Nimmo vs. Juan Lagares

Nimmo has shown his prowess for working deep counts and ability to be the Mets leadoff hitter. He can also play all three outfield positions and is a solid bat to have off the bench. Nimmo has shown he is a quality outfielder and has solidified his spot on the Mets roster. The Mets have been high on Nimmo since they drafted him and they likely will not want to remove the hustle and patience he brings to the Mets.

Lagares is a gold glove center fielder but has always struggled with being a consistent hitter. It is unlikely the Mets move Lagares because he is undoubtedly the best defensive outfielder they have. His glove has been a game changer in the years past which keeps him on the Mets roster year after year. If the Mets were to choose between Nimmo and Lagares, they would likely go with Nimmo. Nimmo is younger, a better hitter and can play all three outfield positions.

How the Mets Will Handle Conforto When He Returns

Conforto’s will likely be worked into everyday action slowly and with caution. Manager Mickey Callaway has said he does not want to overwork guys in the regular season and make sure his bench players do not spend too many consecutive games on the bench. The days of 150-plus games being played is most likely over.

Conforto will likely reclaim his spot as the Mets leadoff hitter and center fielder when he returns. In order to give Adrian Gonzalez some rest, Bruce could play first base which would move Conforto to right and Nimmo/Lagares to center. The Mets can do a lot many different things with their lineup and they do not have a player Callaway is afraid to play.

Getting Conforto back healthy makes the Mets lineup even more dangerous. It gives the Mets and outfield that is one of the very best in baseball and can all be All-Stars. Conforto was one the few bright spots of a dark 2017 and will be one of the key pieces the Mets need to make another World Series run in 2018.