The New York Mets came to terms with first-round pick (13th overall) Brandon Nimmo as the deadline for signing players in the First-Year Player Draft struck 12 a.m. EST on Tuesday morning. Nimmo's deal is for $2.1 million, according to ESPN's Keith Law. The recommended slot bonus was $1.65 million.
While some may have worried or wanted the organization to sign the Wyoming outfielder sooner, the fact that it comes close to the last minute on the last day to sign players is no surprise. Most of the time, the higher picks -- especially the first-rounders -- tend to sign on the last day.
The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Nimmo is considered a very raw product, but a great athlete. Upon drafting him, Paul DePodesta said the Mets wanted to go after the guy with the highest possible upside, and even though his high school team didn't have a baseball team to play on, he impressed in American Legion ball and in the Under Armour AllAmerica Game, which was played at Wrigley field.
In the past, the Mets would not take fliers on projectable, yet high-ceiling picks who didn't come with a lot of assurances of panning out, but this regime sought to infuse the organization with what they thought was the best possible player. It's a risky selection because he has a long ways to go as he's only 18 years old, but he reportedly has all the tools to be an impact player in several years.
If the Mets did not sign him, he was headed to play at the University of Arkansas.