The Mets lineup might look different next season.
Per Tim Healey of Newsday.com, the Mets are considering moving Brandon Nimmo down in the lineup, and the outfielder is open to the possibility.
“I’m not supposed to that being changed at all. I’m not stuck on that I have to be a leadoff hitter,” Nimmo told Newsday. “We didn’t really reach the expectations that we wanted last year. And I’m OK with shaking things up to reach a different result.”
Brandon Nimmo. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The change would certainly be a new look for the Mets lineup. Nimmo has primarily batted first for the Mets since 2019, logging 522 games and 71 of 87 homers from the leadoff spot. Still, as Healey notes, a surge in power last season (24 homers) could be one of the reasons for a change in the lineup.
Healey also mentions that Nimmo and the Mets front office have discussed a shift down in the lineup before spring training. Earlier in the offseason, David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza started the dialogue with Nimmo, which has also been continued by Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez in spring training.
Barnes spoke with Healey in his article, highlighting the Mets’ flexibility and depth as reasons why the Mets could move Nimmo off the leadoff spot, as well as his uniqueness as an offensive player.
“It’s nice that we have that flexibility,” Barnes told Newsday. ” His skill set is so unique. He gets on base, he walks above major-league average, he doesn’t swing and miss a whole lot, he hits the ball really hard. And last year he started putting the ball in the air and getting the power more.”
Barnes also spoke about protection in the lineup. As mentioned by Healey earlier, Nimmo slugged a career-high 24 homers in 2023, leading to discussions on where the lefty could bat. Which included protection for Pete Alonso in the order.
“If he does those things, whether he ends up hitting leadoff, whether he ends up hitting second, third, fourth behind Pete or whatever, good things are going to happen.”
While getting more production from Nimmo’s power is tantalizing, moving him down in the lineup could open up a hole from the leadoff position.
Nimmo finished last season with a .363 on-base percentage, and has a .380 OBP in his career. The mark from last season led the Mets in 2023, and is the only OBP higher than .336 (Francisco Lindor) returning for the 2024 season.
Healey names Lindor as a possibility to take over the leadoff spot, along with Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil. However, as Healey notes, all three come with problems.
Lindor and McNeil are the more obvious. Lindor, while having leadoff experience from his days in Cleveland, is a massive threat in the middle of the lineup for the Mets. Replacing his production would be impossible as the roster is constructed. Meanwhile, McNeil is a (batting) average hitter. Not an OBP guy. His production fluctuates too much to put in the leadoff spot, which was seen in 2021 and 2023.
Marte is the best fit to replace Nimmo in the leadoff spot. He has had recent success, slashing .292/.347/.468 with 18 stolen bases and 16 homers in 2022. He could provide the thump that Nimmo did from the leadoff spot while also swiping some bases.
The only thing that hinges on the move is health. Marte only played 86 games in 2023, struggling with groin discomfort for the majority of the season.
Regardless of what the Mets decide, Barnes and Nimmo are excited about the possibilities that could come with a lineup shift for the 2024 season. However, more importantly, both have bought into the idea.
“If it’s better for the team, if it puts us in a better position to mix things up with Pete and Lindor and putting someone else in a batter position maybe at leadoff or whatever it may be, then I’m all for it,” Nimmo said.
Barnes also added this: “I don’t have a great answer right now. It’s interesting. It’s something that’s been talked about a little bit and it’s like, what jigsaw puzzle ends up making the most sense.”
