Brandon Nimmo is the only member of the Mets’ star-studded Opening Day roster in Miami on March 30 capable of comprehending how far this organization has come.
Now the Mets’ player with the longest tenure, Nimmo joined the club in the summer of 2011. The Mets spent $17.8 million on free agents Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Ronny Cedeno, and Scott Hairston, lost Jose Reyes to the Marlins, and reduced their budget by $50 million over the following summer.
After Nimmo’s major league debut and the Mets’ loss in the NL wild-card game, the offseason occurred five years later. Yoenis Cespedes was re-signed to a four-year, $110 million contract, the second-largest free-agent contract in organization history at the time, while Neil Walker, Jerry Blevins, and Fernando Salas were all brought back.
Now? The Mets inhabit an entirely separate universe.
Brandon Nimmo converses with Mets general manager Billy Eppler and agent Scott Boras (left) after signing a new $162 million contract with the 2011 draft team.
Nimmo’s eight-year, $162 million contract is part of Steve Cohen’s offseason spending spree, which has totaled $807.16 million on 10 free players, with Carlos Correa’s 12-year, $330 million contract on Wednesday representing the most recent nine-figure investment.
Nimmo said last week, when the Mets believed they had missed out on Correa to the Giants, “It’s been eye-opening.” It has been crazy and a bit odd to experience.”
Nimmo stated that the makeover guided by Cohen has included enhancements to the club’s sports science team, analytics staff, and an abundance of other services that players may utilize.
Buck Showalter has observed a shift in the Mets’ standing within the league.
“It’s been a significant difference,” he added.
Obviously, fixing these sometimes neglected sectors can also help attract players to Queens. In the end, though, Cohen’s money speaks. And top free agents and their representatives, like Scott Boras, who represents Nimmo and Correa, are now responding.
“It’s really simple to find someone to answer our calls,” manager Buck Showalter stated. It may not have been that way previously.
Consider Boras, one of the game’s most influential characters. Last week, the Mets made a last-ditch effort to sign Correa, but Boras had already reached an agreement with the Giants. Then, when the sale struck a halt on Tuesday due to a difference with his medical exam, Boras — who had lately referred to Cohen as “Steve Kong” — contacted Cohen, who was on vacation in Hawaii and enjoying dinner and a martini.
The Mets came up with $315 million on short notice to lure All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa to Queens, where he will play third base.
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“Do you have three olives for an outstanding third baseman?” Cohen was asked by Boras.
They had reached an accord hours later.
The Mets’ salary, the expectations surrounding them, and the target on their backs all increased simultaneously.
Certainly, preseason success does not ensure success during the regular season. Was anyone praising the Red Sox, Nationals, Dodgers, Braves, and Astros for their various victories during the prior five offseasons? All of them ultimately won the World Series.
In a perfect world, Cohen would not need to spend more than $800 million in a single summer. However, the Mets had 13 free agents from their 40-man roster from the previous season, which necessitated either re-signing or replacing them at a time when the organization lacked talent at the highest levels of its farm system while attempting to field a true title contender in 2023.
Jon Rauch was one of the Mets’ most significant free-agent signings after the 2011 season. How the times have changed
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So Cohen spent. The players in his organization, particularly those who have been with the team for a while, recognized his unwavering commitment to victory.
Nimmo stated, “I am extremely delighted to be a part of this group.” “Steve and Alex [Cohen] have made it abundantly apparent that they will do whatever it takes to make this club consistently successful and ultimately win the World Series.”
Lineup luxuries
Next season, Showalter will construct a juggernaut lineup for 162 games, making his job even more enjoyable.
When healthy in 2022, the Mets’ top four hitters were Nimmo, Starling Marte, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso. This lineup was relatively steady. In the second half, the bottom of the order was often filled by a mix of Daniel Vogelbach, Jeff McNeil, Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, and a catcher.
Where then does Correa fit?
In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Francisco Lindor (right) and Carlos Correa shared the left side of the infield and batted 1-2 for Puerto Rico.
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Lindor hit second and Correa hit third the last time they played on the same team, for Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. That might be the correct order for the Mets in 2023, although Showalter could exchange Correa and Alonso and place Lindor between them in the three-hole so that they are not batting right-handed. That would look like:
1. CF Nimmo (L)
2. third baseman Correa (R)
3. SS Lindor (S)
4. 1B Alonso (R)
5. 2B McNeil (L)
6. RF Marte (R)
7. DH Vogelbach (L)
8. LF Canha (R)
9. C Narvaez (L)
Against left-handed pitchers, Eduardo Escobar (or another right-handed hitter if Escobar is traded) and Tomas Nido will replace Vogelbach and Narvaez, respectively.
FanGraphs estimates that the Mets’ lineup will amass 34.4 WAR, second only to the Padres (35.9).
The Mets’ two excellent infield prospects, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio, are placed in jeopardy by the acquisition of Correa.
Baty, 23 years old, had a taste of third base last season and had his moments before breaking a ligament in his thumb, which necessitated surgery and ended his season early. Now, Correa will block his path to third base for the next twelve years.
During the previous two seasons in the minors, Baty had begun to play some left field, which could be an option for him in the future with the Mets (in addition to DH at-bats). However, it may be more likely to become trade bait.
Ronny Mauricio, a Mets prospect who was primarily a shortstop in the minors, played some third base during the winter league.
In 41 games for Tigres del Licey, the 21-year-old Mauricio hit.283 with a.803 OPS, five home runs, and 10 steals, and was named MVP of the Dominican Winter League. After spending the entirety of the 2022 regular season at shortstop for Double-A Binghamton — he had played only at shortstop or designated hitter since joining the Mets organization — it was remarkable that Mauricio played nine games at third base this winter.
It has been assumed that Mauricio would have to switch positions in order to play for the Mets, as Francisco Lindor is anchored at shortstop for the next nine seasons. However, it now appears that third base is also out of the question for Mauricio, putting him in the same scenario as Baty.
There is no urgency for general manager Billy Eppler to deal either prospect. It is a luxury to have Baty and/or Mauricio as depth alternatives, as injuries are unavoidable. Naturally, they could also become more desirable trade assets by the 2023 trade deadline, particularly if Shohei Ohtani becomes available.
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