PHOENIX –The Mets are confident their No. 1 pick, Brandon Nimmo, will be locked up by tonight’s midnight deadline for signing draft choices, but the 18-year-old outfielder’s father isn’t so sure.
Ron Nimmo told The Post yesterday that significant progress in contract talks still has to be made between the Mets and his son. He called the $2.5 million figure that has been floated “a good number for discussion purposes,” but indicated the asking price is a different figure. If the Mets and Nimmo don’t strike a deal, the player will enroll in classes at Arkansas next Monday, according to the elder Nimmo.
“[The Mets] have some work to do,” Ron Nimmo said. “There’s some disparity.
“It’s not all about the money. You get one shot at this deal and you’re going to have to live off this for six years.”
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Johan Santana is expected to resume long tossing within a few days in Port St. Lucie, according to pitching coach Dan Warthen. No “drop dead” date has been set for Santana’s return to facing batters, despite the fact the minor league season concludes in 2½ weeks.
Warthen said if minor league rehab starts are not an option, Santana could be used in simulated game action.
Yesterday marked the 11-month anniversary of Santana’s surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. He took a step backward in his rehab earlier this month when he incurred soreness.
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Charlie Sheen, according to several Internet reports, ruptured the ulnar nerve in his elbow while took batting practice prior to the game. The 45-year-old actor is in training for “Major League 3.”
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Mike Pelfrey‘s elbow contusion won’t keep him from making his scheduled start on Friday against the Brewers at Citi Field.
Pelfrey said he wasn’t sore yesterday, in the wake of taking a Gerardo Parra line drive off the elbow and being forced to leave in the fifth inning of the Mets’ 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks Saturday night.
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Jose Reyes may start workouts as soon as today, according to manager Terry Collins, but won’t be ready for removal from the disabled list next Monday when he is eligible. Reyes remains sidelined with a strained left hamstring.