As he prepares for his potential walk year, Brandon Nimmo will have a new agent to guide him.
The Mets outfielder has left CAA and hired Scott Boras as his new agent, a source told The Post on Monday. Nimmo joins Max Scherzer among Mets players represented by Boras.
Nimmo’s change in agents could cloud the issue of whether a contract extension is a realistic possibility before Nimmo reaches free agency after the season — Boras usually nudges his clients to the open market. A recent example involving the Mets was Boras client Michael Conforto, whose negotiations with the team stalled in spring training. Conforto is now a free agent.
The 28-year-old Nimmo slashed .292/.401/.437 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 92 games last season. Nimmo’s biggest challenge throughout his career has been staying on the field (only once in his career he has appeared in at least 100 games). Last year’s ailments included a torn hand ligament that cost him two months on the injured list.
The Mets will have to decide how best to utilize Nimmo in the outfield after signing two-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder Starling Marte to a four-year contract worth $78 million.
Nimmo’s value likely increased last season after a strong defensive showing that will allow him to be marketed as a leadoff hitter/center field combo. Nimmo went from minus-four outs above average as a center fielder in 2020 to plus-four last season, according to Baseball Savant. Last season’s metric placed him in the 86th percentile defensively among MLB center fielders. Nimmo’s sprint speed of 28.9 feet per second registered in the 92nd percentile.
Nimmo’s .390 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot last season was the best in the major leagues. Nimmo joined Mike Trout and Freddie Freeman as players who have posted an on-base percentage of at least .375 in each of the last five seasons.
The Mets have been stalled in their search for a bench coach, with the Giants denying the team permission to speak with pitching coach Andrew Bailey for the opening, a source confirmed, as first reported by The Athletic. The Mets have added Joey Cora (third base), Wayne Kirby (first base) and Eric Chavez (hitting) to manager Buck Showalter’s staff in the last week, joining incumbent pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.