Brandon Nimmo learned his lesson in 2016 about getting too caught up in trade rumblings.
That year, Nimmo originally was included in a trade to the Reds for Jay Bruce, but the deal was modified, allowing the then-rookie outfielder to remain with the Mets. The experience was helpful to Nimmo as he heard his name mentioned in recent weeks as a potential chip in a deal with the Marlins for J.T. Realmuto.
Wilson Ramos’ addition on a two-year contract worth $19 million, which became official Tuesday, ensured Nimmo wouldn’t be dealt for Realmuto.
“It was great to be talked about, but I am even happier to not be talked about for Realmuto right now,” Nimmo said at Citi Field. “We’re real happy as an organization with Ramos. I know I played against him the past couple of years and he seems to destroy us every single time, so I am glad he is not going to be on the other side of things now.”
Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario were among the names that surfaced in Realmuto trade talks. The Mets were also involved in three-way trade talks involving Noah Syndergaard.
But the Mets trading any member of that group would have created a hole general manager Brodie Van Wagenen might have been hard-pressed to fill: Nimmo and Conforto are expected to start in the outfield with Yoenis Cespedes sidelined for at least half the season, and Rosario’s potential replacement at shortstop, top prospect Andres Gimenez, probably won’t be ready for a promotion to the major leagues until 2020. And Syndergaard is a significant block in the Mets’ talented rotation.
“I am really excited for spring because we are looking at a real solid team right now,” said Nimmo, who dropped in on the Ramos press conference on his way to another appointment. “I am just really excited for the signings that Brodie has brought to us.”
The Mets signed pitcher Zach Lee to a minor league contract, an industry source confirmed. The 27-year-old Lee, a former first-round pick by the Dodgers, split time between Double-A and Triple-A for the Rays last season and posted a 3.65 ERA in 26 starts. The right-hander’s major league debut came against the Mets in 2015.