Next for Nimmo

[Edgy MD]

Brandon Nimmo opened the 2024 season losing his defensive spot as the Mets centerfielder, and before the season was 1/3 over, he had lost his offensive role as the Mets leadoff hitter.

He had a period in there as the team's most dangerous hitter, but more than one period of utter lostness, and finished the season with a nagging injury that seemingly would have had him on the IL in a less crucial period. His explicit trading. of full deployment of his batting eye for more power seemed to have limited results, probably costing more than it gained, and making his role in the lineup going forward not particularly clear.

In summary, it was, in the end, a deceptively poor year for the longest-tenured Met. Despite a career high in RBI and a perfect stolen-base record, he had his lowest OPS since his 32-game rookie year, and his on-base percentage was grossly uncharacteristic, something like 53 points below his career average leading into the season.

So what's next? He's unlikely to return to center, and nobody's moving Francisco Lindor out of the leadoff spot. Is there still room for him at the top of the lineup, perhaps in the two-hole, setting up consecutive lefties with Juan Soto?

I guess it's had to project lineups of any sort until the Alonso Conundrum is wrapped up, but knowing what you know now, how and where does he profile for you going forward?

Such questions occupy my thoughts.

[MFS62]

As I mentioned in another post, I saw writers on two two Mets web sites (Metsonline and amazin' avenue) project the starting lineup that had Nimmo batting cleanup.
I don't see Nimmo batting cleanup for a team that intends to battle for a pennant. But I'm not sure where it should be.

Later

[whippoorwill]

I would politely ask them where this new guy is supposed to bat

[Gwreck]

Soto should (and will?) hit second.

Nimmo should ideally hit 5 or 6 — depending on who is going to play DH and 1B.

I don’t see him playing center regularly but Nimmo is going to be a key contributor for coming successes for the Mets. 2.2 WAR in 2024, despite a down offensive season, put him at 8th most valuable Met.

[kcmets]

I think Nimms could make a fine first baseman if need be and if
he can handle a groundball rocketing at him from time to time.

Alonso was no wiz at first but got much better mitt-wise over time.

(Not hoping it comes to this)

[cal sharpie]

I see him hitting 5th or 6th after Lindor-Soto-VIentos-Alonso (or whoever we get to DH or play 1B).

[Centerfield]

His plantar fasciitis crept up in May and got worse over the summer. His production reflects that. His OPS by month:

April: .708
May: .751
June: .1.004
July: .607
August: .684
September: .611

Postseason: .608

He'll be 32 next season. So you'd think he's got something left in the tank. I am hoping that the PF bothered him more than he let on, and that he'll bounce back to his typical .800+ OPS next year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I see him hitting 5th or 6th after Lindor-Soto-VIentos-Alonso (or whoever we get to DH or play 1B).

That's kind of what I was thinking too. I predict he'll be the 6 hitter much of the time.

[Edgy MD]

If there's a DH (be it Marte or somebody else) who can swap with him twice a week, playing outfield and letting him rest his dogs, that might make some difference.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I asked the question in the Luis Castillo thread, but I'll answer it here. I looked it up, and Nimmo does have a full no-trade clause in his contract.

He'll get his Five-and-Ten rights sometime during the 2026 season anyway, so the no-trade will only have a practical effect for another year and a half or so.