After 10 seasons and a massive eight-year, $162 million contract, the New York Mets moved on from longtime outfielder Brandon Nimmo, and more details are emerging about how those in the organization felt about him.
A recent report from Will Sammon of The Athletic delved into Nimmo’s relationship with the team now that he’s been traded to the Texas Rangers. The veteran shared information about the deal and what led up to his departure from New York, where he’d spent his entire career. It’s an excellent piece from Sammon, would recommend reading the whole article.
One note Sammon included pertained to how some in the organization viewed the $162 million man and his leadership style. “A criticism of Nimmo, according to some people within the Mets last year who were granted anonymity in exchange for candor, is that sometimes he tried to do too much from a leadership standpoint or tried too hard to lead,” Sammon wrote.
New York Mets Members Say Brandon Nimmo Was a Try-Hard
It turns out sprinting to first after drawing a walk isn’t for everyone. For his part, Nimmo denies any internal strife during his time with the team. This would go against suggestions that he and Jeff McNeil were shipped out due to chemistry concerns. The Mets dealt Nimmo to the Rangers straight up for second baseman Marcus Semien. McNeil was traded to the Athletics for a teenage pitching prospect. The Mets also tossed in $5.75 million to get rid of McNeil.
The Mets took Nimmo with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2011 draft. He reached the majors as a 23-year-old in 2016, but didn’t stick as a regular for a couple of seasons. The lefty-swinging outfielder broke out in 2018, delivering a 148 wRC+ across 140 games. He led the league with 22 hit by pitches that year. The all-out sprint after an HBP or free pass became a staple of Nimmo’s game.
After struggling to stay healthy in the first half of his career, Nimmo has become one of the most durable players in the game in recent seasons. The 32-year-old has played 150+ games in each of the past four campaigns. His fewest plate appearances in that stretch were the 652 he posted in 2025, which is still a hefty figure. Nimmo ranks 12th among all players in plate appearances since 2022.
How Will the Mets Replace Nimmo?
The replacement in the leadership department won’t come with any clear title, at least if owner Steve Cohen has anything to say about it. Even without naming a captain, the team has plenty of veterans in the fold to serve as figureheads in the clubhouse. Francisco Lindor is entering his age-32 season, his sixth with the organization. After 2026, he’ll have been a Met for as long as he was a Guardian. Semien brings the pedigree of a World Series winner. Sean Manaea has been outspoken for much of his career.
The substitution for Nimmo in the lineup is trending toward being exciting prospect Carson Benge. The 2024 first-round pick is already with the big-league squad at MLB Spring Training. In the field, it’ll be Juan Soto. The superstar will make the move from right field to the opposite corner.
Report: Mets Say Former $162 Million Outfielder Tried Too Hard