Mets' Brandon Nimmo cares more about World Series than World Baseball Classic

Outfielder Brandon Nimmo explained why he's not playing in the upcoming World Baseball Classic after he agreed to a massive contract in December to remain with the New York Mets. 

"Once I signed, I did consider it, but my past experience was that I did get injured in the last game against Puerto Rico in 2017, and unfortunately with the travel being to Taiwan for Italy this year, I just felt like, you know what, that’s a risk I can’t take on signing this contract and being with this team and the way that (Mets owner Steve Cohen) has set it up," Nimmo said on Monday, as shared by Alex Smith of SNY. "I would really kick myself if something happened."

Nimmo played for Team Italy during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Anthony DiComo of the Mets website noted on Dec. 10 that the 29-year-old stayed with the club via an eight-year contract reportedly worth $162 million.

"It’s a lot of travel, it’s right in the middle of spring training, and again, we just felt like – I loved my experience at the WBC. It was awesome, it gave me so much joy," Nimmo added. "I still remember us coming back against Mexico the first night in Mexico and winning that game. It was awesome, it was a great experience, but for what we’re trying to accomplish in winning a World Series, we felt like it was counterproductive to the goal in mind."

Last summer when his future was in question, Nimmo revealed to Mike Puma of the New York Post that it was possible he could be named the next Mets captain if he put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with the club. Nimmo was later chosen as the Mets' recipient of the 2022 Heart and Hustle Award by the MLB Players Alumni Association. 

Per Puma, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, John Franco and David Wright are the only members of the Mets to have served as club captains. Nimmo could be next in line and, in the eyes of some, may already be acting like a true leader this winter. 

Meanwhile, Matthew Roberson of the New York Daily News mentioned ahead of the weekend that 10 players projected to be part of the Mets' Opening Day roster will participate in the World Baseball Classic. Among them are big names such as star shortstop Francisco Lindor, closer Edwin Diaz and slugger Pete Alonso.