David Stearns & Brandon Nimmo (Photos by Imagn Images)

'I Did Not Shop You Around – David Stearns Drops Realistic Message On Trading Brandon Nimmo

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated Feb 23, 2026 3:21 AM ET

There was major upheaval in the New York Mets clubhouse in the winter after the disastrous end to their 2025 campaign. President of baseball operations, David Stearns, let go several longtime members of the Mets team this offseason. Brandon Nimmo was the first superstar to depart the team in a trade deal with the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien in November.

Nimmo discussed the situation leading up to his move away from the New York Mets in an exclusive interview with Will Sammon of The Athletic. He stated that their front office wished to keep him on the roster, but David Stearns felt the offer from the Texas Rangers would help both teams. Nimmo believes Stearns would have retained him if he really wanted to.

“I did not shop you around,” Brandon Nimmo relayed the message he received from Stearns at the time. “It got to a point where we felt like this is beneficial for both sides,” to which Nimmo replied, “Why am I not part of the solution?”

Will Sammon in his latest article about Brandon Nimmo:

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told him, “I did not shop you around.” Nimmo said that Stearns told him the Rangers wanted Nimmo and how “it got to a point where we felt like this is beneficial for both… pic.twitter.com/RGE1dHx3XB
— SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) February 22, 2026

“It definitely was surprising,” he added. “If you were untouchable, David would have presented it and said, ‘But we don’t want you to go.’”

Until the trade deal sending him to Texas, Brandon Nimmo spent his entire 10-year MLB career in New York. He was the first-round pick for the Mets in 2011 and made his debut for the team five years later. Nimmo signed an eight-year, $162 million extension at the end of the 2022 season.

Brandon Nimmo Still Shares Strong Bond With Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Although he was not entirely keen to leave, Brandon Nimmo understood that his time with the New York Mets came to an abrupt end once the front office showed interest in the trade offer. Nevertheless, he bears no ill-feeling towards David Stearns and still shares a strong bond with Mets owner Steve Cohen.

“Still have a great relationship,” Nimmo said regarding Cohen.

Rangers fans, get ready for Brandon Nimmo's sprints to first base.

"I try to play the game with respect, and I try to play it hard." pic.twitter.com/qgs7ruevUZ
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 22, 2026

“He was extremely successful with Milwaukee, and I’m sure he will be extremely successful with the Mets,” he said about Stearns.

After signing the long-term contract extension, Brandon Nimmo posted an excellent 2023 season for the Mets. The 32-year-old outfielder played more than 150 games in each of the last four seasons. However, his offensive production has dipped in the past couple of years, even though he is still a solid contributor at the plate.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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