Shift from CF no prob for Nimmo
PORT ST. LUCIE — Brandon Nimmo is proud of his work as a center fielder but understood there was an opportunity for the Mets over the winter to get even stronger at the position.
So when president of baseball operations David Stearns contacted him in November about potentially moving to left field, Nimmo said he didn’t protest.
“I told him, ‘Honestly, my goal at this point in my career is to win a World Series,’ ” Nimmo said Monday after the Mets’ initial full-squad workout of spring training. “If you think that creating the better outfield defense or adding these guys to our roster is going to help our chances of winning the World Series then I will do that.
“I’m a good center fielder, but if you bring someone else in, we’re going to have a really dang good outfield. That is what I was trying to convey to him is that I’m definitely willing and available to do whatever is best for us to win the World Series.”
The Mets ultimately signed Harrison Bader, a former Gold Glove center fielder, to a oneyear contract worth $10.5 million. Bader finished last season nine outs above average, according to Statcast, which placed him in MLB’s 95th percentile in the category. Nimmo finished at zero outs above average as a center fielder. He was one out above average as a left fielder and finished in the 69th percentile overall.
Nimmo will now mostly play left, but shift to center on days Bader isn’t in the lineup. Nimmo played the corner-outfield positions in his first three seasons with the Mets before moving to center in 2019.
“It’s something where my athleticism helps me to be adjustable in that way and versatile,” Nimmo said. “As long as we keep good communication and they kind of let me know in advance I will be able to prepare in the right way.”
Bader, 29, has struggled to stay on the field throughout his career because of injuries. Last season, he appeared in only 98 games for the Yankees and Reds before undergoing sports hernia surgery.
Bader has arrived at camp focused on his conditioning and ensuring he can play a full season with the Mets. But he is also thankful for Nimmo’s selflessness in accepting the shift to left field.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Bader said. “I’ve had my career pretty much alongside him as he’s done what he has, which has been awesome to watch from afar. I just have tremendous respect for his game and I am happy to be on his side and working with him.”