There’s just 1 problem with what Joel Sherman calls the key to the NY Mets offseason

Joel Sherman isn’t always first with breaking news, but he tends to have some of the juicier details after the fact. He’s one of those people we look forward to hearing from because his reports go beyond what happened. While discussing the New York Mets on the Foul Territory podcast, he went into some of the details about the key to the offseason.

Trading Brandon Nimmo, off of a strong offensive season, was what the Mets needed to do most. It also sounds like this wasn’t something they stumbled into. Instead, it was careful planning and a desire David Stearns might’ve had all along.

No doubt clearing $20.5 million a year off the books for five more years helps even if he was replaced on the roster with Marcus Semien who’ll make a little more over the next three years. The Mets needed to move on from Nimmo in order to make other moves, namely to open up the spot in left field and even at DH. It’s a nice plan, but they didn’t really execute just yet.

Trading Brandon Nimmo was the Mets offseason key, they just didn’t find a door

Sherman goes into detail about how the Mets were incredibly serious about a four-year deal with Kyle Schwarber to become their DH. Pete Alonso was also an option, playing 5 of 7 days at the DH spot while the rest of the time someone else (this would have been fascinating) plays first base for him. Trading Nimmo opened up left field for a Kyle Tucker pursuit as well. All the while, defense at second base has improved. It’s such a fascinating trade that allows for many paths. But what have they actually been able to do instead?

Left field is the biggest unanswered question in the lineup at the moment. Brett Baty is trending toward playing time there with Carson Benge competing for an opportunity as well. He’ll eventually have a large number of starts there. In that regard, opening up left field for Benge this year and going with a more experienced and gifted defender in Luis Robert Jr. as the center fielder does work out well from a long-term scheme.

In the immediacy, the Mets missed out on all of the players and planning Sherman mentioned. They didn’t sign Schwarber. Alonso won’t shift to more regular DH duties with them. The Los Angeles Dodgers gave the Mets a noogie in their pursuit of Tucker.

Sherman added how the Mets wanted to move on from Nimmo as much because of his health concerns. A regular factor early in his career, Nimmo has been playing through injuries more in recent years. We can credit him for the toughness. But at times, we can see his performance decline.

Just a guess but one can surmise the Mets thought of him as more of a DH moving forward. Trading him early in the offseason allowed them to at least consider Alonso while pursuing Schwarber heavily. Nimmo may still have some time left as a regular in the corner outfield, but with intentions of going after Schwarber, the Mets had to move on.

Indirectly, the Mets trading Nimmo opened up some road for a variety of options. Unanswered solutions in left field and DH, it doesn't seem like they found the key the door belonged to.