Looking to recalibrate their rosters for 2026 and beyond, the Mets and Rangers pulled off a one-for-one blockbuster on Sunday night, flipping a pair of players signed to long-term deals. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo is headed to Arlington. Second baseman Marcus Semien is on his way to Queens.
The 32-year-old Nimmo agreed to waive his no-trade clause, which was part of the eight-year, $162 million contract he signed with New York in December 2022. Semien, 35, inked a seven-year, $175 million deal with Texas one year prior.
TRADE DETAILS
Mets receive: 2B Marcus Semien
Rangers receive: OF Brandon Nimmo
Here is a breakdown of this intriguing deal from all angles, via MLB.com experts.
Why it makes sense for the Mets
Via Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo
The deal abruptly ends Nimmoâ€s tenure after 10 largely productive seasons in Queens, amid an eight-year, $162 million contract that was meant to make Nimmo a Met for life. Instead, he will join longtime teammate Jacob deGrom in Texas, while the Mets increase their roster flexibility with the acquisition of Semien.
One of the gameâ€s better defensive second basemen, Semien was also one of baseballâ€s most prolific offensive infielders as recently as 2023, when he finished third in American League MVP voting with a season that saw him hit 29 homers, drive in 100 runs, steal 14 bases, produce an .826 OPS and compile 7.7 Wins Above Replacement. Now 35 years old, Semien has not been nearly that kind of player over the past two seasons. But he remains a solid contributor who won a Gold Glove in 2025.
More than anything, Semienâ€s presence gives the Mets significantly increased flexibility while helping president of baseball operations David Stearns fulfill his stated goal of improving New Yorkâ€s run prevention. Nimmo, who will be 33 on Opening Day, is coming off one of the worst defensive seasons of his career. The Mets now have options to replace him, including using Jeff McNeil or top prospect Carson Benge in left field, or pursuing a big-money free-agent outfielder such as Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. They are considering all of those options, according to a source. MORE >
Why it makes sense for the Rangers
Via Rangers beat writer Kennedi Landry
Semien and shortstop Corey Seager joined the Rangers going into the 2022 season and together led the club to the first World Series title in franchise history. But not much has gone right since then. The 35-year-old Semien is coming off a disappointing year at the plate as he batted .230 with a .669 OPS through 127 games. His 15 home runs were his fewest in a non-shortened season since 2018.
Meanwhile, Nimmo set personal bests with 25 home runs, 92 RBIs and a 50.2% hard-hit rate in 2025, his age-32 season. He should help a Rangers team ranked 25th in wRC+ (92), 26th in slugging (.381) and 22nd in runs (684) this past season.
At the moment, the Rangers still have utilitymen Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran and Sam Haggerty on the roster to fill the void at second base. Smith won a Silver Slugger Award at the utility position in 2024. In the outfield, Texas has a pair of young potential stars Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, but the depth thins out after that. MORE >
What this means for Hot Stove season
Via senior national reporter Mark Feinsand
1. Which free agent is most affected by this? For example, does this make the Mets a player for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger now that an outfield spot is opened up?
Trading Nimmo certainly creates a vacancy in the Mets†outfield, and given that the widespread belief was that they were already planning on making a push for Tucker and/or Bellinger, this deal makes it all but certain that they will try to sign one of those two outfielders. For Tucker and Bellinger, having the big-budget Mets involved in any potential bidding war has to be viewed as a positive.
2. What might this mean for the Rangers the rest of the winter?
Texas is trying to contend while getting younger at the same time, all while doing so on a budget that has some restraints. The trade will save the Rangers some money over the next two years; Nimmo will earn $20.5 million annually through 2030, while Semien will earn $26 million in each of the next two years before his salary drops to $20 million in 2028, which is the final year of his contract. Texas also received $5 million in the deal, cutting down their commitment to Nimmo a bit further.
In the two seasons since winning the World Series in 2023, the Rangers have finished with 78 and 81 wins, so the Semien trade — which came only two days after the club non-tendered four players, including Adolis GarcÃa and Jonah Heim — could have been made with the idea of further shaking things up. Itâ€s possible that Texas could have more moves up its sleeve this winter, though it remains to be seen whether those come via free agency or more trades.
3. What might this mean for the Mets the rest of the winter? Does it have any impact on the likelihood of Alonso returning?
Stearns wanted to shake up the Mets†core a little following their disappointing 2025, and this trade certainly accomplishes that. The Mets have maintained their interest in re-signing Alonso, so this trade shouldnâ€t have much impact on that pursuit.
By acquiring Semien, the Mets have more flexibility regarding their roster plan this winter. Semien takes over at second base, allowing McNeil or Benge to play left field — if they donâ€t sign Tucker or Bellinger. Either McNeil or Benge could also wind up in center field depending on how the winter shakes out.
Semien joins shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Mark Vientos in the infield, though Vientos could move to first base if Alonso signs elsewhere, opening the door for Brett Baty — or a third baseman from outside the organization (Alex Bregman?) to take over the hot corner.
One thing this trade did not change: the Mets†need for pitching, which should still be high on New Yorkâ€s list of priorities.
4. Weâ€ve now seen a couple of 1-for-1 trades of big leaguers in the last week (Taylor Ward for Grayson Rodriguez) … Is there anything to make of this trend?
Iâ€m not sure thereâ€s much to make of the trend; these were simply two trades between teams that matched up well. Neither of them were trades to help a team rebuild, which is when we tend to see the 3-for-1 or 4-for-1 type of deals loaded with Minor Leaguers.
The Mets have made it clear they want to improve their infield defense, which the addition of Semien will surely do. The Rangers were seeking a hitter with strong on-base skills, and though Nimmo has fallen off a bit the past two years, he has a lengthy track record of doing just that. The trade just made sense, and while weâ€re not accustomed to seeing many old fashioned “baseball trades,†they can and do still happen from time to time.
A dozen years ago, the Tigers traded Prince Fielder to the Rangers for Ian Kinsler. In 2019, the Marlins traded Zac Gallen to the Diamondbacks for Jazz Chisholm Jr. These 1-for-1 trades happen, but itâ€s rare to see two teams make a deal of this magnitude when both sides are trying to contend. The offseason is a time for teams to consider where they have depth and to utilize that depth to help fill other holes. Trades like these can accomplish those goals.
Diving deep
Via analyst Mike Petriello
In terms of name value, Sunday nightâ€s deal was a blockbuster, sending a three-time Top-3 MVP finalist in Semien to New York for Nimmo, who had been in the organization for 14 years and – as we proved out last summer – was one of the most underappreciated players in decades for any team.
In terms of near-term on-field value, though? It might not be as seismic as the names would indicate. Semien, 35, just posted a .305 on-base percentage that was his lowest full-season mark since 2016 to go with a career-low .364 slugging that was one of the 10 lightest by any qualified hitter. Nimmo, 33 in March, put up fine-looking surface stats (25 HR and 92 RBI), but with some moderately concerning decline trends under the hood — a huge collapse in walk rate to go with speed and defense numbers that now rank slightly below-average, after years of being good to strong.
What itâ€s about, really, is shaking things up for two lineups coming off of disappointing seasons. The Mets have said they want to improve their defense; well, Semien isnâ€t the superstar glove he once was, but he was +7 outs above average last year, still one of the better second basemen around. The Rangers want to improve their offense; well, Nimmo was more productive than Semien last year, and heâ€s younger, too. Maybe thereâ€s a side benefit for New York of opening up an outfield spot for a Tucker or a Bellinger; maybe, with second base locked down, a move of McNeil and/or Baty and/or Ronny Mauricio is coming next.
Maybe, too, they look at the more advanced metrics that show these two were closer hitters than youâ€d think last year. Nimmo had dozens more RBIs, yes, but he also had 44 more plate appearances with runners on, which explains some of the added RBIs — Semien actually hit better than Nimmo with runners on. The Rangers get their desire too: Only three teams, all among baseballâ€s worst, hit for less left-handed power than they did. Nimmo ought to help with that, for now, particularly with outfield now a big need after GarcÃa was non-tendered after two down seasons.
It comes down, really, to fit. Neither side could simply bring back the same roster, yet neither player is really at the same star level they once were, meaning a trade, if one was coming, kind of had to be like this one — a somewhat similar swap of somewhat similar big names on somewhat similar big contracts. Nimmo is two years younger, but his contract is two years longer, too, and so thatâ€s a big part of it for New York: Three years of Semien or five years of Nimmo? Nimmo might be a DH by the end of that term, and on a roster that already has Juan Soto and may yet return Alonso, that simply wasnâ€t a tenable future. Texas might get the better player right now — and they may also be looking wistfully at the Mets in 2029 and ‘30.
Stat to know
Via MLB.com research staff
Even though Semien didn’t produce the offensive numbers we’ve come to expect from him in 2025, his defense remained stellar. He captured his second Gold Glove and recorded +7 outs above average and a +6 fielding run value.
The Mets’ infield, by comparison, had the 10th-worst FRV this past season, at minus-7.
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