The New York Mets continue to make a splash by singing the names that they feel will help to lead them to a World Series in 2023 and beyond.
On Saturday the club has re-signed outfielder Brandon Nimmo to an eight-year contract. The deal runs through the 2030 season.
“Brandon has been part of the Mets family since he was drafted over 10 years ago and we are so excited that he and his wife Chelsea decided to remain part of the team,” Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen said. “Throughout his career, Brandon has contributed so much to the Club both on and off the field. His hustle and personality are a part of what makes this team so special.”
Nimmo, 29, set career-high marks in several offensive categories in 2022, including games played (151) runs (102), hits (159), RBI (64) and doubles (30). He tied for the National League lead with seven triples and ranked among NL in runs scored (fourth), on base percentage (.367, fifth) and walks (12th, 72).
“We are thrilled to be able to keep Brandon in the organization,” said Mets General Manager Billy Eppler. “He has grown into a leader in our clubhouse and embodies what we look for in a player on and off the field. We’re excited to have the impact he brings on both sides of the ball back on our roster.”
Nimmo ranks third in Mets history with a lifetime .385 on-base percentage. Over the last five seasons, he has the sixth-highest OBP (.388) in the majors, behind Mike Trout (.424), Juan Soto (.424), Freddie Freeman (.400), Bryce Harper (.393) and Aaron Judge (.392). In the same time period, Nimmo owns the National League’s sixth-highest walk rate (13.7 percent).
Nimmo totaled 5.1 bWAR in 2022, good for the fourth-most by a center fielder last season behind Trout (6.3) and 2022 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award winners Julio Rodríguez (6.2) and Michael Harris II (5.3). He and Rodríguez were the only two center fielders in the majors to rank in the 90th percentile in outs above average and record a wRC+ of 130 or better.
The Cheyenne, Wyoming native has spent seven years with the Mets, posting a .269/.385/.441 slashline with 335 runs, 106 doubles, 23 triples, 63 home runs, 213 RBI, 23 steals, 323 walks with an .827 OPS and a 130 OPS+. He was selected by the Mets in the first round (13th overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of East High School in Cheyenne.
Prior to that the franchise made a splash by signing All-Star right-handed pitcher David Robertson to a one-year contract.
“We’re very excited to add a pitcher of David’s caliber to our bullpen,” Eppler said. “He has been pitching in high-leverage situations for teams with Postseason expectations since his career started.”
Robertson, 37, spent the 2022 season between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies where he totaled a 4-3 record with 20 saves and a 2.40 ERA (17 ER/63.2 IP) with 35 walks and 81 strikeouts. Robertson ranked tied for seventh among National League relievers in opponents’ batting average (.173), tied for eighth in saves and tied for ninth in strikeouts. He placed 10th among relievers in the majors in expected batting average allowed with a .176 mark (min. 200 batters faced). He recorded 20 or more saves in a season for the fourth time in career, also doing so in each year from 2014-16.
The Birmingham, AL native made eight appearances in the 2022 Postseason for the NL Champion Phillies, going 1-0 with a save and a 1.17 ERA (1 ER/7.2 IP) with five walks and 11 strikeouts. He threw 4.0 scoreless innings and recorded a save in this year’s World Series. He ranks tied for eighth all-time with 41 career appearances in the Postseason, pitching to a 6-0 record in the playoffs with a save and a 2.78 ERA (14 ER/45.1 IP) with 16 walks and 53 punchouts.
The 14-year major league veteran owns a career record of 57-36 with 157 saves, a 2.89 ERA (237 ER/739.1 IP) with 305 walks and 977 strikeouts with the New York-AL (2008-14, 2017-18), White Sox (2015-17), Phillies (2019, 2022), Rays (2021) and Cubs (2022). His 731 career appearances are the eighth-most among all active pitchers, while his 157 career saves are tied for eighth-most. He ranks 13th all-time in strikeout rate by a relief pitcher, whiffing hitters at a 32.1 percent clip.
The right-handed pitcher earned All-Star honors in 2011 as a member of the Yankees, posting a 4-0 record with a save and a 1.08 ERA (8 ER/66.2 IP) with 35 walks and 100 punchouts. He finished 11th in Cy Young Award voting that season and 22nd in the AL MVP race.
Robertson was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 First-Year Draft out of the University of Alabama.
The pitching rotation also had another addition when the team signed All-Star left-handed pitcher José Quintana (keen-TAH-nuh) to a two-year contract.
Quintana, 33, posted a career-best 2.93 ERA (54 ER/165.2 IP) across 32 starts last season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals. His 0.43 HR/9 IP rate was the lowest mark among qualified major league starters last season. He did not allow a home run in his final 61.2 innings, the longest active streak in the majors. Over his last 14 starts in 2022, the southpaw went 4-2 with a 1.67 ERA (14 ER/75.1 IP) and allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of those outings. He allowed more than four earned runs in only one of his 32 starts last season.
“Over the last decade, José has been one of the most dependable starting pitchers in the majors,” Mets General Manager Billy Eppler said. “Adding another left-handed option to our rotation, especially one with his durability, experience, and moxie, will give our starting staff quality depth.”
Quintana is the only pitcher in the major leagues who has made at least 30 starts in eight different seasons since 2013. Since breaking into the majors in 2012, Quintana ranks in the top 10 among left-handed pitchers in starts (third, 289), innings pitched (fourth, 1,723.2), strikeouts (sixth, 1,532) and wins (t-10th, 89).
Quintana, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander each started Game 1 of their respective team’s playoff run last season. According to Elias, the 2023 Mets will be the first team to have three pitchers who each started his team’s first game of a Postseason run the previous season.
The 11-year major league veteran was named an American League All-Star and finished 10th in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2016 after going 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA (74 ER/208.0 IP) with 181 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP.
The Arjona, Colombia native owns a career record of 89-87 with a 3.75 ERA (718 ER/1,723.2 IP) in 315 career games (289 starts) with the White Sox (2012–2017), Cubs (2017-2020), Angels (2021), Giants (2021), Pirates (2022) and Cardinals (2022). He became the first Colombian-born pitcher to reach 1,000.0 career innings in the majors. Quintana would be the second Columbian-born player to appear for the Mets in the majors, joining Dilson Herrera.
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