MLB Free Agency: 5 potential landing spots for Brandon Nimmo

A major reason that the Mets won 101 games in 2022 was that their lineup featured so many pesky hitters that worked the count and put the ball in play. Nimmo was at the forefront of that, as he once again saw over four pitches per plate appearance in 2022. What's more, Nimmo is a clubhouse leader and has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain with the Mets, who selected him in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. But the Mets have already signed Edwin Díaz to a lucrative contract, and in addition to Nimmo, Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker and Adam Ottavino are all free agents as well. If there's a team willing to go to six years for Nimmo, will the Mets match the deal or pivot in another direction?

Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported earlier this month that the Blue Jays have interested in Nimmo. The trade of Teoscar Hernández to the Seattle Mariners opened the door for George Springer to be moved to right field, and Nimmo to slide into center. In a lineup with the aforementioned Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Nimmo would also give the Blue Jays an impact offensive player that hits left-handed.

As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted, center field is arguably the biggest need for the Rockies. Enter Nimmo, who grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming -- about 100 miles from Coors Field. The Rockies have a long way to go in terms of being able to compete in the National League West, and signing Nimmo would be a good place to start.

Franchise stalwart Kevin Kiermaier is a free agent, so the Rays have a vacancy in center field for the first time in quite a while. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Erik Neander and the Rays are interested in Nimmo, as they look to keep pace in a division with four other potential contenders. Signing Cody Bellinger to a one-year, prove-it deal seems to be more of a Rays-esque move than going to five or six years at a high average annual value for Nimmo. But there's no doubt Nimmo would be an excellent fit from a baseball sense.

The most overused nugget so far this offseason is that the Giants finished dead last with -52 defensive runs saved in 2022. There's only so much that Farhan Zaidi and the Giants can do to fix their defense in one offseason, but Nimmo could slide into center field and push Mike Yastrzemski to a corner outfield spot, potentially allowing them to upgrade at two positions. In a spacious Oracle Park, perhaps the Giants would even consider signing Nimmo to play right field. But it's fair to wonder if they would be willing to bid as much as teams who view him as a center field would, in that scenario.