26 Comments
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MachoMan's avatar

Really appreciated the Snell article. Any chance you can do something similar for Montgomery? Guy averaged 180’ish innings and 3.30’ish ERA last 2 years. Isn’t that exactly what this team needs? Right now, as constructed, there are so many “ifs” and even if they mostly work out, I can’t imagine more than 85 wins. Adding a 180 inning, 3.30 starter pushes them to next level. Reduces the amount of “ifs” and dramatically changes the rotation. They won’t be the Braves, but wild card contention a lot more realistic and then, who knows?

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Jeffrey Bellone's avatar

Can definitely do something on Montgomery, but my feeling is he wants to go back to Texas, which is why we haven’t seen much link with the Mets.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

How dare you question the narrative!!!! The emperor is fully dressed. Can’t you see that??!!!!!

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MachoMan's avatar

I guess it could still happen, but I’d like to at least have a puncher’s chance of being in wild card contention at the deadline. I don’t see it without another legit starter (and more bullpen help). And if the plan is 2025, he’d be valuable in 2025 too.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

If you can’t go wrong with a one year contract, and the adage attributed to Steve Cohen himself that once you have exceeded to highest CBT threshold, you might as well keep going way past it, then I propose a 1 year $60M contact for Jordan Montgomery.

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Dan B's avatar

Bader pushing Nimmo to LF now gives Brandon time in Spring Training to adjust. It also removes Nimmo blocking CF when Gilbert is ready to be called up, something Stearns has also prioritized. It’s a good, forward-thinking move.

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Matthew Guadagno's avatar

Defensively, its makes the Mets better today. However, moving Nimmo off of CF in year 2 of his contract make an already questionable contract even more so.

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Rushik P's avatar

💯 this was my concern when they resigned nimmo last offseason.

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Matthew Guadagno's avatar

8 years for Nimmo was always insane. Great player now, but the backend of that contract is going to be rough.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

You are exceedingly squeamish about spending money on ball players, Matthew. Nimmo gets paid $20M per season entering his age 31 season, as one of the best center fielders on both sides of the ball in baseball, and as one of the best team leaders and representatives in Mets history. A homegrown star. Based on everything we are seeing contract wise, that’s an amazing deal for the Mets. 7 years from now, what will a typical 37 year old outfielder be paid? Will he be typical?

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Wendy's avatar

Since $10M appears to be the new minimum wage, $20M in five years will look like peanuts.

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Matthew Guadagno's avatar

In this case, its not the money, but the years. Remember, Nimmo was given 8 years because of his ability to play centerfield well. One year into the contract, hes already being moved off the position due to the fact that his defensive metrics took a nosedive last year. I think its not much of a reach to say the Mets wouldnt have made that deal if they knew this to be the outcome.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

I disagree. I’ll believe he’s being moved off the position when I see it happen. He was great in CF last year. Great. Not sure what games the folks at baseball savant were watching. But this guy made the plays and then some.

And even if he weren’t good in CF, and was only good enough for LF, how is he not worth $20M? Name the left fielders in the game being paid less who are better than him.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

Brandon Nimmo is no longer an injury guy. He has made over 300 starts the past 2 years. Is it a coincidence that his durability coincides with his move to centerfield, long discounted as being too physically taxing a position for a player to be expected to stay healthy?

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

I don’t see how signing a guy with Bader’s health issues is a wise move. Unless the plan is to keep him wrapped in bubbles on the bench until Marte goes down, at which point you hope he stays healthy until Marte is ready to return.

We have one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball in Brandon Nimmo. And we plan to waste him in left field? So that a guy who can’t hit gets playing time? Silly idea.

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Jimmy P's avatar

Nimmo is below-average defensively and slipped a lot last season. He has no arm at all, etc.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

Disagree. He is great out there. I watch him everyday.

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Jimmy P's avatar

Unless you are watching every other CF every day as well, then your perspective is going to be biased and extremely limited. This is why there are statistics and analysis. You said he is "great" but there's really no objective measurement that supports that statement. And there's a lot of subjective analysis disagrees with you as well.

I believe that one idea was that Nimmo would get more rest, and stay fresher, in a less demanding corner position, maximizing his offensive contribution. The move was always inevitable, though I think most folks thought he'd be in CF for another year.

My hope is that Jett Williams plays center everyday this year and takes that position at the start of 2025 with the Mets.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

Jimmy, do you know who is watching every single outfielder’s every single play? What is being measured exactly? Is there any subjectivity at all? If there is subjectivity, how is that controlled? Do the video analysts at baseball savant hold a meeting and discuss the plays, why they are rated as they are, etc?

I think it’s getting a bit much.

Of course I am biased. Of course I watch him more than any others. But I’ve been watching a long time. My experience counts too. He used to be meh. He has practiced and practiced and steadily improved year after year. He makes all the plays. He’s an excellent defender in CF.

At some point his degradation as far as sprint speed and quickness, leaping ability and arm strength will exceed the improvement he will continue to have in reading trajectory, knowing where to position himself based on batter and pitcher and what he knows his pitcher will do with his pitch - you know, his physical degradation will exceed his experience fueled moxie. But that day is not today. Physically, he is at his peak. Best shape of his life. Healthier, faster, stronger than he’s ever been.

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Kevan Scott's avatar

If Stearns doesn't deal with the pitching (starting, relieving, and depth) then none of this is going to matter in the long run. Right now, this is a 76 win club waiting to happen.

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Jonathan Warmflash's avatar

How does a guy actually earn Outs above average? A guy who played 98 games in 2023 had the 7th most in baseball? How exactly does that work? Brandon played over 150 games. How many OAA did he get?

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Steve B's avatar

Bader was at the NY Ranger game last night and goyt a HUGE applause while the Mets theme song was blasting "Meet the Mets....". The march to 70 wins contines.... lol

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