AP source: Nimmo staying with the Mets on $162M, 8-year deal
NEW YORK — Center fielder Brandon Nimmo is staying with the free-spending New York Mets, agreeing to a $162 million, eightyear contract, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the agreement is subject to a successful physical and no announcement had been made.
“Glad to be back! Let's go!” Nimmo posted Thursday night on Twitter.
A quality leadoff hitter with an excellent eye and a .385 career on-base percentage, Nimmo became a free agent last month for the first time. He was a key performer as the Mets returned to the playoffs this year for the first time since 2016.
Known for his constant hustle and big smile, Nimmo batted .274 with 16 homers and a team-high 102 runs, a career best. Hampered by injuries in the past, the left-handed hitter also set career highs with 64 RBIs and 151 games played. His seven triples tied for most in the National League.
“He's a good player. He's established himself,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday at the winter meetings in San Diego. “He had a post-up, good physical year where he, for whatever reason he seemed to get through a lot of things that have been a challenge in the past, that didn't snowball into something where he had to sit out a lot of games. So that was good to see. So he answered some questions there. He's capable of it.”
Bringing back the affable Nimmo means New York is poised to return its entire everyday lineup intact from a team that tied for fifth in the majors in runs and won 101 regular-season games — second-most in franchise history.
But the Mets remain busy replenishing a pitching staff gutted by free agency, including Jacob deGrom's departure for Texas and Taijuan Walker's deal with Philadelphia that was pending a physical.
On the final day of baseball's winter meetings Wednesday, the Mets completed an $86.7 million, two-year contract with former Houston ace Justin Verlander that includes a conditional $35 million player option for 2025. New York also retained All-Star closer Edwin Díaz last month with a $102 million, five-year contract, and the team has a $26 million, two-year agreement in place with veteran starter José Quintana, pending a physical.