Do the Mets really have an outfield logjam? The late blooming Brandon Nimmo has looked fantastic this season and really seems to be rounding into a strong player and a very effective leadoff hitter. Problem is, the Mets have three clear starting outfielders in Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto, not to mention a gold glove reserve in Juan Lagares. Teams have been inquiring about Nimmo’s availability since spring training. Should we trade him for a catcher or should we trade one of the three starters to clear a spot for him in the outfield?
This blogger posits that would should hold steady. A contending team needs four starting caliber outfielders. Each of the three starters will each need rest days and we have to account for inevitable injuries. Cespedes has averaged 131 games per season in his career, while Bruce has averaged 142. In his young career Conforto’s season best is 109 games played. And remember it is counted as a game played when a player sits and only appears as pinch hitter, as was the case with both Cespedes and Bruce on Monday. Conforto, Nimmo and especially Lagares have all been bitten by the injury bug during their careers as well. Factor in pinch hitting and 10 games where a DH will be needed in road inter-league games, and there are enough at bats to go around for at least four of these guys. Lagares may get short-changed at bats, but he’ll certainly see time as a defensive replacement.
Another reason to hold steady with our outfield is that there’s nobody waiting to step in over in Las Vegas. Our AAA roster includes journeymen Matt Den Dekker, Ty Kelly and Bryce Brentz, and career minor leaguer Zach Borenstein. The latter had a strong season for the Arizona Diamondbacks AAA affiliate last year, but is yet to sniff the majors despite being nearly 28 years old.
Rotating Nimmo with Conforto, Cespedes and Bruce will help keep them all fresh and allows Mickey Callaway, his coaching staff and the nerds in the front office to put their sabermetric heads to good use, playing these guys to their strengths depending on the opposing pitcher, ballpark, weather conditions, game situation, etc. There’s no need for Cespedes to play with the flu or Bruce with an aching foot. And there’s certainly no reason to trade away a valuable asset in a year when the Mets are going for it.
Do not trade Nimmo. Trade Lagares if trading an outfielder becomes an urge you can’t control. Nimmo has great future written all over him. He can work a pitcher, run the bases smartly, perhaps steal a few bases as well. He drives the ball into the alley’s and pops a few more home runs every year in baseball. 20 shouldn’t be beyond expectation in the near future. And he is excellent in the lead off spot! Cespedes’ contract should be up in about a year if I am not mistaken and I can’t see signing him for big money again. So in another year or two Nimmo becomes an everyday player alongside Conforto and who knows who else. Don’t trade Nimmo! I don’t think I could take all the callers to the radio stations who would be complaining in hind site as they have over Murphy.
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Nimmo is the future if not now. If one of the big three goes down and Nimmo is gone the Mets will be at a loss. He is a fine ball player with an excellent personality. great in the clubhouse and will be there when Cespedes is gone. He as all the tools and will only improve with more experience. We already gave away Daniel Murphy and that was a stupid move by the team. Keep this guy please!
There hopefully will be a public statement from the FO that Nimmo will b a Met for a long time.
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I agree wholeheartedly with not trading Nimmo.
On another note based upon what you wrote Matt, I believe Lagares has yet to be used as a defensive replacement through the first 16 games. What gives?? In any close game, I would like to see pulling Bruce and inserting Lagares in center and sliding Conforto to right. Nothing against Bruce, but I think this would be our best defensive alignment.
Pete, I agree. Bruce has been struggling a little with an aching foot too. Lagares did enter one game in a double switch I believe.
I think the foot is bothering him more than we’re aware. He’s down to about .215 and if you take away his grand slam in DC, he’s got 0 HR’s and 3 RBI. That’s alarming. But, with the quick start and all the attention on Cespedes’ struggles, this has flown under the radar.
nimmo should bat in ist or second spot,cepethes is a very talented allaround player but he is all for me,and not a team player.will try not to take a walk at all costs.he is not mike trout who will take a walk for the team.I hope mets manager and cepethes reads this email and maybe the mets broadcast booth. go mets