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New York Mets agree to 8-year, $162 million deal with Brandon Nimmo, per reports

The New York Mets were not going to let one more of their own suit up in another uniform.

Less than a week after the Mets received a big blow with the news that Jacob deGrom would be leaving for the Rangers, they spared no expense in bringing back Brandon Nimmo.

According to multiple reports, Nimmo will be back atop the Mets lineup for the rest of the decade as he agreed on an eight-year, $162 million contract to remain in New York.

The 29-year-old center fielder had one of his best seasons of his career in 2022, setting personal bests in runs (101) and RBI (64) while adding 64 RBI, 30 doubles and slashing .274/.367/.433. 

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

It was Nimmo's first crack at free agency after he was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft out of Wyoming. He will be entering his eighth season at the major league level.

Bringing back Nimmo was one of the Mets' biggest priorities after the season, and he had voiced that the strength of the organization would be a factor in where he would ultimately sign.

"I think (last season's) going to be looked back on as a stepping stone in the right direction for this organization," Nimmo said after the Mets were eliminated in the Wild Card Series. "I think they're in a great spot heading forward. They've got an owner that really wants to win and will do whatever it takes to win and that's more than half the the battle right there."

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There had been some concerns about Nimmo's durability but he answered those by playing in a career-best 151 games. One season earlier, Nimmo dealt with a hip impingement along with a hamstring injury that limited him to 92 games. In 2019, Nimmo was saddled with a bulging cervical disc in his neck that meant he only appeared in 69 games.

When he is on the field, Nimmo is one of the best table-setters in baseball, getting on base at a 38.5% clip over the course of his career. He has also made tremendous progress in his defensive abilities in center field, making numerous highlight-reel catches and going error-free on 308 chances last season.

Nimmo was regarded as the second-best outfielder in this free agent class behind Aaron Judge and, while represented by Scott Boras, received a deal north of what was expected coming into the offseason.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mets, Brandon Nimmo agree to 8-year, $162 million deal