NEW YORK (AP) — Dressed in a green elf suit and cap, Brandon Nimmo gushed about remaining with the New York Mets and starring at their kids holiday party. Owner Steve Cohen’s aggressive spending persuaded him to stay put.
“He’s made very clear that he wants to win and he wants to win now, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get to that point,” Nimmo said Thursday after a Citi Field news conference to discuss his $162 million, eight-year contract. “I think actions speak louder than words and his actions have definitely backed that up. So, yeah, I think it’s safe to say that it’s been different atmosphere around here.”
Seeking its first World Series title since 1986, New York is headed to a record a $350 million luxury tax payroll next year in its third season since Cohen bought the team. The Mets went on a $461.7 million spending spree, adding starters Justin Verlander and José Quintana, retaining closer Edwin Díaz, acquiring lefty reliever Brooks Raley in a trade, signing reliever David Robertson and reaching an agreement with Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga that is pending a physical.
New York’s moves offset the losses of Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker and Chris Bassitt in free agency.
“Our game needs Goliaths. We have to have Goliaths,” said Nimmo’s agent, Scott Boras. “You can envision Steve Cohen hanging on to the Empire State Building. It’s maybe not Steve Cohen, it’s maybe Steve Kong.”
Cohen’s wife, Alex, sat in the front row as Nimmo, general manager Billy Eppler and manager Buck Showalter spoke. Alex Cohen assisted in handing out gifts at the party along with designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach; Nimmo’s wife, Chelsea; and the manager’s wife, Angela.
A hedge fund billionaire, Cohen bought the Mets from the Wilpon and the Katz families ahead of the 2021 season and…