The season hasn’t started yet, but the rivalry continues to intensify between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees, with Brandon Nimmo now making bold statements aimed at their cross-town rivals ahead of 2025.
Brandon Nimmo is preparing for his 10th season with the New York Mets, a team that gave him his start as a professional player. Over the years, he has battled the New York Yankees for dominance as the top team in the city, and his latest comments have added fuel to the rivalry.
In a recent Q&A with Newsday, Nimmo issued a bold message to the Yankees regarding the Mets’ aspirations for 2025, declaring, “We’re not going to be the second team in New York anymore.” He emphasized that their goal is to represent the city, stating, “We want to be New York’s team.”
While Nimmo acknowledges the Yankees’ strength, he also believes the Mets are just as formidable. He expressed his determination to elevate the Mets’ reputation alongside his teammates, saying, “We want to command respect for the Mets name.”
During his conversation with Newsday, Nimmo made it clear that the Mets are done playing second fiddle to the Yankees and rejected the idea of being perceived as an inferior team. “We’re not going to try to be the stepbrother to the Yankees,” he said. It’s worth noting that while the Mets made the MLB postseason last year, they didn’t advance as far as the Yankees, who reached the World Series.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – MARCH 13: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a single against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during a spring training game at Clover Park on March 13, 2025 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Nimmo and the Mets have ambitious goals
With the addition of star players like Juan Soto, Nimmo believes the Mets’ leadership is making significant strides to improve the team. “We definitely are not afraid to bring the best players and the best staff and the best facilities here now. If it is a matter of what will help the team become better, Steve and Alex (Cohen) are going to be all in on it,” he said.
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A strong season for Nimmo in 2024
Nimmo continued to impress in the 2024 season, recording over 600 plate appearances—the third-highest of his career at 663, behind his totals of 682 in 2023 and 673 in 2022. It was a standout year in several categories for Nimmo, as he surpassed 100 hits once again with 128 and contributed 23 home runs, marking his second-highest total behind the 24 home runs he hit in 2023.
