New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo believes his team will be considered underdogs entering the 2024 campaign - and he's accepted the title after last season went awry.
"By no means am I saying hey, we're the favorites. I think we're definitely going to be the underdogs in this season, but there's nothing wrong with that," Nimmo said on "The Show Podcast."
The Mets have taken a different approach to the offseason this winter under new president of baseball operations David Stearns. They filled out the roster with more depth and defense instead of signing big-ticket deals as they did a season ago when they entered the campaign with the league's largest payroll and finished with 75 wins.
"I think, going into this year, they were trying to be much more competitive but in a different manner," Nimmo said.
"I know Steve (Cohen) is very much of the mindset of being adaptable, and if you don't adapt, you die. And so if you try it one way and it doesn't work, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to do it that way again. I think he's willing to try a few different ways, and David had a different idea going into this season of how we could compete."
Nimmo added that he believes the additional depth will help keep a team that was ravaged by injuries last season afloat this year while mentioning he plans to preach to his teammates they need to "be taking care of (their) bodies and looking toward the long-term."
The Mets are projected to win 84 games and make the playoffs this season by PECOTA, which has them finishing third in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
