Political Divide Attributed to Trump Support Led to Mets' Player Split and Offseason Trades
Mike Francesa claimed in his podcast that support for Donald Trump created a political divide within the New York Mets clubhouse, specifically causing a rift between teammates Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo. Francesa did not disclose which player supported Trump but described the split as politically motivated and centered around Trump.
Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers on November 23, 2025, after waiving his no-trade clause in his eight-year, $162 million contract. In exchange, the Rangers sent second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets. Nimmo, age 32, had hit a career-high 25 home runs in the 2025 season, while Semien, age 35, hit 15 home runs that year.
The Mets offseason also saw the departures of key players Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz. Lindor and Nimmo had been core Mets players since 2020 and were instrumental in the team's playoff runs in 2022 and 2024.
The article notes that many top free agents have already signed during the offseason, with remaining notable free agent targets including Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette, and Framber Valdez.
