Brandon Nimmo Talks Rangers Trade, Says Mets 'Weren't Actively Shopping Me'

To hear Brandon Nimmo tell it, he was traded more because the Texas Rangers wanted him and less because the New York Mets preferred to get rid of him.

"The Mets would not have brought this trade if they didn't feel like it put the Mets in the best position to win going forward," he said, per SNY. "They made it very apparent that they weren't actively shopping me but that the Rangers really, really, really wanted me."

New York traded the outfielder to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien.

Nimmo had to approve the deal given his no-trade clause, and he opened up about that decision process as well.

"From my perspective … I tried to familiarize myself with the Rangers and where they were at because this was going to be a huge decision for me," he said. "Spring training is in Arizona, we live in Port St. Lucie, Florida. We just finished our house that we've been working on."

Nimmo is coming off an impressive season in which he slashed .262/.324/.436 with 25 home runs, 92 RBI and 13 stolen bases. He has never played for an MLB team outside of the Mets and seemed like someone who was prepared to play his entire career for the National League East team given his comments.

But this gives him an opportunity to play a significant role for a Rangers club looking to return to the sport's biggest stage after missing the playoffs the last two years following the 2023 World Series title.

New York is also looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season as arguably the most disappointing team in the league. 

Perhaps the front office thought it needed to make a change as a result, and it did just that with this trade.