New York Mets fans haven’t heard much from outfielder Brandon Nimmo since he was traded to the Texas Rangers, but Nimmo finally spoke out in an extended conversation reported on by Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Contrary to what you might think, Nimmo isn’t unhappy about that trade—he’s basically not that kind of guy. He’s focused on mentoring Rangers outfield prospects Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, and on his new role in the Rangers’ outfield.
Nimmo was deliberate in coming to terms with the trade, however. He spent five days “deliberating” on the trade, as Sammon described it, and he remembers the most important messages that were delivered during that period.
One came from Mets GM David Stearns: “I did not shop you around.”
Nimmo added that Stearns told him the Rangers wanted Nimmo and how “it got to a point where we felt like this is beneficial for both sides.”
That may or may not be GM diplomacy on Stearns part, but Nimmo’s reply was eminently logical: “Why am I not part of the solution?”
Stearns’ answer to that question was that the Mets wanted to open up playing time for the good, young outfielders in their system, with prospect Carson Benge being the most prominent among them. He also told Nimmo that he’d have to spend more time at DH and maybe less time in the lineup over all, and Nimmo said he would have been fine with that.
Nimmo’s account of that conversation sounds like it contains at least some recidivist history. It also ignores the elephant in the corner of the room, which is that Nimmo isn’t a plus defender and Stearns announced his focus on “run prevention” right after the season ended. In addition, it glosses over Stearns’ desire to avoid long-term deals, as the second baseman the Mets got back in the deal, Marcus Semien, has a shorter contract with a higher AAV.
Owner Steve Cohen got in on the conversations as well. He emphasized the fact that he’d developed a “really good relationship” with Nimmo, but the Mets are (mostly?) Stearns team now and he was trying to look at the deal from a business standpoint.
Nimmo also says he has no resentment or hostility toward Stearns or Cohen.
“He was extremely successful with Milwaukee, and I’m sure he will be extremely successful with the Mets,” he said, adding that he still has a great relationship with Cohen.
One criticism of Nimmo that’s emerged is that he tried too hard to lead last season, as he and shortstop Francisco Lindor were the Mets’ most prominent voices. The outfielder’s response to that is that he thinks his leadership did work “in some situations,” and he’s looking forward to making it work in Texas with Langford and Evans.