The Mets continue to stay quiet during the Winter Meetings in San Diego while the teams around them get better.
The Nationals retained their World Series MVP in Stephen Strasburg, the Phillies have picked up both Zack Wheeler and Didi Gregorius, while the defending divisional-champion Braves picked up Will Smith to bolster the bullpen, Cole Hamels to help the rotation, and Travis d’Arnaud to continue his resurgence behind the plate.
And of course, across town, the Yankees are welcoming Gerrit Cole to their ranks.
Meanwhile, the Mets have made a depth move by picking up Jake Marisnick from the Houston Astros. That’s not exactly a league-altering move seeing as the center fielder is Juan Lagares with a little more pop in his bat.
While the Mets will always be the budget spenders as long as the Wilpons are in power, there still are some rumblings from Queens.
SNY’s Andy Martino reports that the Mets are open to dealing outfielder Brandon Nimmo to ease the log jam at the corner-outfield spots.
Alongside Nimmo, the Mets currently have Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes, JD Davis, Jeff McNeil, and Dominic Smith as players available to play either left or right field.
Granted, Davis, McNeil, and Smith are natural infielders but Pete Alonso has phased Smith out at first base while Robinson Cano and Jed Lowrie are keeping the promising bats of McNeil and Davis away from their natural positions.
Nimmo appeared in just 69 games last season because of a neck injury. It hampered his return from a 2018 season in which he slashed .263/.404/.483 and became a legitimate candidate as the team’s lead-off man.
He is slated to split time in center with Marisnick, but trading him for a player like Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte would ensure the Mets have a full-time, natural center fielder.
The Mets have continuously been linked to Marte throughout the winter as the 31-year-old is coming off a .295/.342/.503 season with 23 home runs and 82 RBI.
While the search for a legitimate starting center fielder seemingly continues, Martino also reports that the Mets are looking to trade Lowrie to free up additional financial flexibility.
Lowrie appeared in just nine games for the Mets last season after signing a two-year, $20 million contract last winter.
Ditching his deal would allow McNeil or Davis to slot in as the every-day third baseman while freeing around $10 million for general manager Brodie Van Wagenen to use elsewhere.
The Mets are still in need of bullpen help and could go after former Yankee Dellin Betances — who will have plenty to prove after an injury-riddled 2019. Zack Wheeler’s departure also has the Mets needing a No. 5 starter. They’ve been linked with Rick Porcello for the past week.
