The circumstances around Brandon Nimmo’s trade came to the fore on Monday, when a report from New York Mets beat writer Mark Gooden claimed that the outfielder made a trade request in the first place.

The Mets reportedly obliged his trade request and dealt him to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien. Gooden claimed that Nimmo waived his trade clause in the first place after Zohran Mamdani won the 2025 New York City mayoral election. He defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election and will take office on January 1, 2026.

Previously, it was thought that the Mets traded for Semien to address their infield needs and improve defense. Meanwhile, in the outfield, they were looking to sign free agents like Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker. However, now it appears, there was another reason for the New York side to ship fan favorite Nimmo.

Brandon Nimmo all “honor” in Mets farewell message

Brandon Nimmo made his MLB debut with the Mets on June 26, 2016. The outfielder has stayed with the team for the better part of the last decade and was NL triples leader as well in 2022.

On Monday, when the trade was finalized, Nimmo sent a farewell message following his Mets exit. He called it a “dream” and an “honor” to represent the Mets.

“To the fans I’ll always hold near and dear,” Nimmo wrote on Instagram. “There is truly no way I could adequately put into words how much my tenure with the Mets has meant to me. All I can say is thank you. Thank you Mets fans for embracing and welcoming a kid from Cheyenne, Wyoming to the Big Apple.

“I always aspired to become a big leaguer, I never knew I’d have the opportunity to accomplish that dream in a city so wildly passionate about the game of baseball. The last 14 years have felt like a dream, and it has been an absolute honor to share them with you. You made me feel like family, and I hope you felt the same. I will always be grateful for our time and memories together. With love, always.”

Meanwhile, Mets stakeholders have also reacted to Nimmo’s departure. GM David Stearns said that the decision to trade Nimmo was not easy. Owners Steve and Alex Cohen also said in a joint statement that they will recognize Nimmo’s “heart, grit, and passion” before wishing him well for the next chapter.