Nov. 24: The two teams have formally announced the swap.
Nov. 23: In an intriguing one-for-one swap of prominent veterans, the Mets and Rangers have agreed to a trade that will send second baseman Marcus Semien to Queens in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. New York is also sending $5MM to help Texas offset some of the difference between the two players’ remaining salaries.
Reports emerged earlier this week that the Mets were open to moving Nimmo, though as of Thursday, trade talks reportedly hadn’t developed to the point that the Mets had approached Nimmo about waiving his contract’s no-trade clause. Mike Puma of the New York Post wrote today that the team raised the subject of the Texas trade with Nimmo on Friday. After a day’s consideration and a chat with Rangers ace (and his former Mets teammate) Jacob deGrom, Nimmo agreed to approve the deal.
Given the trade buzz this week, it isn’t entirely shocking to see the veteran outfielder’s time in New York come to an end. That said, a straight-up swap for Semien is eye-opening, given how Semien is coming off a dismal year at the plate and comes with a significant future price tag in his own right.
Semien has $72MM and three seasons remaining on the seven-year, $175MM free agent deal he signed with Texas during the 2021-22 offseason. Nimmo is owed $101.25MM through the 2030 season, as he has completed three years of the eight-year, $162MM free agent he signed to remain with the Mets in December 2022. Since luxury tax figures are re-calculated to account for just remaining money owed in the wake of trades, Semien’s tax number is $24MM, and Nimmo has a $19.25MM figure (when factoring in the $5MM Texas is getting from New York).
The Mets are therefore taking on a slightly bigger tax hit while reducing the amount of overall dollars owed, while the Rangers are reducing their tax number but adding more overall money to their books. That adds an interesting wrinkle for a Texas club that was expected to reduce payroll this winter, though it is worth noting that the Rangers cleared a good chunk of money off the books (a projected $21.1MM) on Friday with four non-tenders.
While the financial elements can’t be overlooked, the trade is also something of an old-school, need-for-need “baseball deal” that allows both the Mets and Rangers to address needs. Beginning with Texas, the team was prioritizing a different offensive approach based around contact hitting and getting on base.
Nimmo’s strikeout rates have been overall middling throughout his career, though his chase and whiff rates have been consistently above average. His walk rates had also been strong before suddenly dropping to 7.7% in 2025, in a career-low for the outfielder over a full season. Still, Nimmo hit .262/.324/.436 with 25 homers over 652 plate appearances, translating to a 114 wRC+ over 652 plate appearances as New York’s everyday left fielder. Public defensive metrics have also looked a lot more fondly on Nimmo’s glovework since he moved to left field from center field.
Since Adolis Garcia has now been non-tendered, Nimmo can slide into the left field position in Arlington, with Evan Carter or (probably more likely) Wyatt Langford moving into Garcia’s old spot in right field. Second base is now opened up for Josh Smith or Ezequiel Duran in the short term, and top prospect Sebastian Walcott could also potentially find a home at the keystone depending on how long Corey Seager remains at shortstop. The Rangers could also now explore the market for trade or free agent options at second base, with Semien no longer in the picture.
Selected 13th overall by the Mets in the 2011 draft, Nimmo has spent his entire career with the Amazins, becoming a fan favorite due to his consistent offense. Injuries were a major hindrance for Nimmo earlier in his career and he is entering his age-32 season, but he has played in at least 151 games in each of his last four seasons.
In short, it seems like the Rangers feel more comfortable about paying Nimmo a bit of extra money over a longer term than they were paying Semien over his age 35-37 seasons. A picture of durability throughout his career, Semien suffered a rare serious injury in 2025, as he was limited to 127 games by a Lisfranc sprain and a small fracture in his left foot. Beyond just the health issue, Texas was perhaps more concerned about Semien’s dropoff at the plate over the last three seasons.
2023 was Semien’s last year as a premium hitter, as he hit .276/.348/.478 with 29 homers over 753 PA for the Rangers’ World Series team. Semien delivered a 128 wRC+ that year, and his key role in Texas’ first championship will forever make him a beloved figure in Arlington. After that dream season, however, Semien dropped to a 101 wRC+ in 2024, and then a subpar 89 wRC+ in 2025. A .251 BABIP over the last two seasons is a partial explanation, yet the bigger culprit is a sizeable decline in power.
A change of scenery could perhaps get Semien’s bat going, even if Citi Field is known as a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Semien does bring a right-handed hitting element to a Mets lineup that leaned left, and has now subtracted an everyday lefty swinger in Nimmo. Beyond just Semien’s offense and his reputation as a clubhouse leader, he remains an outstanding defensive second baseman who just won his second career Gold Glove.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns stated that run prevention was a chief area of improvement for his team, so installing Semien at second base is a big defensive upgrade. Removing a solid defender like Nimmo from left field is a hit unto itself, yet Jeff McNeil could make up some of the difference since left field now looks to be McNeil’s primary position with Semien locked into second base. McNeil could also get part-time work in center field, or it is possible he might also end up on another roster, as rival teams have been discussing McNeil in trade talks.
It is a little surprising to see New York make such a prominent move to address second base, given how first and third base were the far more unsettled infield positions heading into the winter. Pete Alonso’s free agency leaves first base open, and Brett Baty now looks to be staying at third base with Semien on board. Top prospect Jett Williams is expected to make his MLB debut in 2026, and the outfield could now be Williams’ future position since Semien and Francisco Lindor have accounted for the middle infield. Semien’s addition also brings fresh questions about how the Mets will incorporate Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio into the infield mix, or if any of these players (or Baty) could now be trade chips.
Nimmo’s departure also means that the Mets could make a larger move to address their outfield. The club was already expected to be looking for center field help, and Juan Soto could possibly be shifted over to left field if the Mets wanted to acquire a new right fielder. This will probably spark some inevitable Kyle Tucker speculation, but Cody Bellinger is already known to be a player on the Amazins’ radar.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to report that the two teams were in the final stages of a deal involving Semien and Nimmo, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman had the additional detail about the $5MM heading to Arlington. The Athletic’s Will Sammon reported that Nimmo has agreed to waive his no-trade clause.
Inset pictures courtesy of Jerome Miron (Semien) and Vincent Carchicetta (Nimmo) — Imagn Images
Ladies and jelly beans the stove has begun preheating
Tater for sauce?
Nimmo has five years $100 million left, Semien has three years $72 million left. How much cash is changing hands?
If the NTC is even waived…
There’s a difference of 29.25 million dollars owed Seimen is owed 72 mil and Nimmo is oweed 102.5 mil to be exact.
Now reported that NTC is waived
Makes zero sense.
I don’t believe that.
It was a poor attempt at humor.
It will now be an article by many hacks on the internet who do nothing but repeat other peoples statements
Maybe clear some salary with just a little subtraction in offense to fill over needs
Texas is getting $5 million from NYM
Why does this feel
Like Roberto Alomar all over again.?
Acquiring a mid-thirties second baseman whose best years are in the rearview mirror.
Two years of mediocrity.
Thise who don’t learn from history will be damned by repeating history’s mistakes.
I think this means Alonso is definitely returning to the Mets.
You’re not serious, right?
Semien is so OLD! He is clearly in decline. But he can be a hot hitter. Still getting him at age 35 for 3 yrs? And Stearns is some sort of wizard? What?
What
Defense and $. Stearns was frustrated by the defense. $100m owed to a depreciatinging asset for 5 years was probably a tough swallow too. Am curious who the Mets see as a fit in LF to bolsyer the offense.
I think you are overlooking every reason why the deal was made. I dont love it or even like it at the moment, the the reasoning is obvious enough.
This one is worse, Alomar was coming off a career year and nobody expected his performance to fall off that drastically.. Semien has already been in steep decline for two seasons before this trade.
Tucker to Mets
My contest prediction hopes you are right.
Nah they will get Belli
Pickle-that would be a bad move for the Mets. His offense won’t translate to Citi Field.
Nah doubt it. Belli wants to stay with the Yankees.
didnt yall say that soto wanted to stay with the yankees too?
They wont get Tucker it’ll be belli or Shwarbs. They need SP more
Its good to want things
I’m not familiar with this yall person, but isn’t possible they might sometimes be wrong?
Nimmo is more productive at the plate, Semien is more valuable defensively. Higher AAV for an older player. Mets have another hole to address. They clearly will be making a lot more moves.
Remembering Semien from his year with the jays he’s durable, a defensive stalwart and a pros pro. If Bo doesn’t come back I was hoping the jays traded for Marcus. Be interesting to see what else comes from this trade
Nimmo more productive now. See how long it last. His contract certainly last longer.
With Semien and Lindor at 2B and SS that is a fantastic double play combo.
Like Lindor and Baez in 2021.
The Mets are a better team now.
@Fungo, a better defensive 1B would help that. I don’t think Alonso’s as terrible as people make him out to be but if Stearns is prioritizing defense, he won’t resign Alonso except to DH
72 million at age 35. This wont work out.
$100m over 5 years for Nimmo til age 37 is sketchy too
They are not expecting greatness from Semien’s bat and his defense was still exceptional last season. Even if he continues to decline on offense, his glove will carry the deal. He only needs to have a 2.4 WAR to make it worthwhile.
Definitely didnt have this on my bingo card
Jelly beans?
As a Mets fan I love it. Means more to come.
Watch Uncle Steve overpay for Schwarber and a big time pitcher. Maybe one newly posted from NPB. The problem is it’s only a matter of time before Soto is the DH
Why? Soto was fine in the OF this year and stole 38 bases, so his mobility is not an issue.
I imagine the lack of a comma means you are saying there is no way Soto is a butcher?
Soto was worth -1.3 WAR defensively. Saying he was fine in the outfield is kind of generous. Also, despite the stolen bases, he has one of the worst Sprint speeds in the league (somewhere in the twenties for percentile). It’s actually very impressive He managed to steal those bases. He must have been really good at reading pitchers and getting a good jumo.
Just like Naylor
You are correct,sir
Strait is a water passageway. Do you mean straight-up butcher? You might have a job waiting for you in the Athletic.
Saying that he needs to be DHing right away is an exaggeration is my point. I wasn’t claiming that he’s a gg RFer. But ppl have a tendency to overstate things here.
@jay – that’s all that matters. Sprint speed doesn’t matter if he’s stealing bases successfully.
Josh Naylor was his base running coach.
“strait” ???
Soto was made to look better than he was in rf Yankees short porch
Or he rounds faster when trying to steal 2b vs chasing down a line drive or running out a grounder.
@ShaqFoo
That is the truest, bestest comment ever written.
The point is that bad sprint speed affects his OF defense. I don’t know how true that is for Soto specifically, but that was the point.
Reading pitchers is not the same as reading fly balls and line drives. He doesn’t get the same jump.
@padam It does matter what his sprint speed is if you’re referring to his defense, which the poster I was replying to seemed to be doing (he was asking why Soto was a better fit at DH than the outfield).
Seeing how Nick Castellanos was probably the only rightfielder that played there regularly that was worse than Soto defensively, I think saying that he should be a DH sooner rather than later is a pretty fair point to make.
Amen, brother. Take Jacob Young, for example. World class speed but a terrible base runner. Routinely picked off or thrown out.
Is The Athletic looking to hire a sports writer or someone to slice meat on a water passageway?
Yeah – I don’t care. He catches fly balls and has a near 420 OBP with power.
@Shaqfoo I don’t know if it is an exaggeration. I just took a look at his statcast numbers and his fielding run value was in the 1st percentile, his range was also in the 1st percentile. His arm run value was only in the 18th percentile and his sprint speed was actually worse than I thought and in the 13th percentile. If those aren’t DH numbers I don’t know what are.
One other concerning thing to note is that his Sprint speed was in the 36th percentile in 2024, so it dropped off considerably in 2025. If that trend continues, he’s going to be downright unplayable in the outfield before long. If he suffers any knee injuries or something along those lines, it could get real brutal.
The only Strait I know of that spelling is George Strait the country singer
@log – Schwarber wouldn’t be on their list. Don’t need a lefty DH. They sign Tucker or Bellinger before they’d go after an older and limited Schwarber.
Not a Mets fan but when I read “overpay” as a criticism of an owner trying to improve the team, I have to ask, why do you care? It’s his money. For Mets, it isn’t like it will matter (meaning it won’t affect another position like other teams). An extra 5 mil AAV here or there to get what is needed.
I’m sure Uncle Steve won’t change prices so he at least breaks even.
I care because bad overpays add up and that’s how the Angels got to where they are.
Teams that win championships generally don’t have clunky rosters full of short sighted albatross acquisitions.
Reflect: I tried to ensure my response covered the Angels. I said teams like the Mets – so much money that it doesn’t matter.
Of course teams they win championships have bad contracts. Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott as a couple of examples.
By definition when you add “win championships” whip suggests that the team had more success than failures in the FA / Trade areas – not that they didn’t have any failures.
LAD and Mets are examples of teams they it just doesn’t matter about the money. So why cry about it.
Like I said – “not like other teams” – your Angles fit her as do the other 25+ teams.
much more
As a White Sox fan I’m jealous of any team that actually acquires major league players.
Deck chairs meet Titanic.
My thoughts exactly
May I ask why? No sarcasm. Genuine curiousity.
Mets are acquiring a 35 year old 2B with a 2025 OPS+ of 97.
MI is tough when you’re over 35. Mets theoretically get better defensively, but lose some offense. This is sort of a meh deal for me.
Yeah, adding a RHed bat on IF is a plus and they get out of the last 2 years of the Nimmo deal. But not certain this is a win for the Mets. Nimmo was definitely a team leader.
Nimmo was getting closer to becoming a strict DH. His nagging injuries, limited D and longer contract was beginning to weigh heavily.
35 and MI is tough but he just came off a GG last year. I’ll take it since Lindor was the only INF who could play his position.
For a higher AAV. Very puzzling move.
“Mets are acquiring a 35 year old 2B with a 2025 OPS+ of 97”
You left out the $30M in savings and 2 fewer years on aging player, an additional RHB, improved 2B defense and a much needed culture change.
If there was a need for a culture change, it wasn’t coming from Nimmo. Kid out of Wyoming always ran hard and never said anything even questionable. He never reached the tier I’d hoped he would as a first round pick, but still a durable starter for years.
“If there was a need for a culture change, it wasn’t coming from Nimmo”
Even if he’s not part of the problem they still wanted to try a different formula that doesn’t include him
Nimmo has played at least 150 games the last 4 seasons. Where are the nagging injuries that you speak of?
Plantar Fascitis, which doesn’t usually go away AFAIK.
Also the eye test: between 2021 and 2024 he just started looking less athletic and much more stiff, especially running balls down
definitely
Did the Mets just become buyers for both Bellinger and Tucker?!
I doubt they’re in on Tucker considering Soto. But Bellinger perhaps since he’s more diverse defensively.
Bellinger makes more sense. He would give the Mets a centerfielder, or if Jett Williams is ready, a firstbaseman.
Benge not far behind.
You love the idea of trading a home grown player for a washed up 2B.
Washed up 2B win a GG this month
One of these teams definitely fleeced the other. I’m just not sure which one yet.
That’s funny bcuz I think I feel same let’s see how this shakes out…..Mets have lots of fires going it will be interesting to see what else happens but hollllly schnikeeees
Mets are actually in a really good place with the ability to do lots of things this winter and with some very significant young players on the verge of breaking through.
One team got a player who is only on books for 3 years and is 30m cheaper and is a elite defender who plays on the dirt. Not too hard to figure out.
First trade in history where both teams fleeced each other!
Well said!
Oh man, @MetsSchmets! liked my comment. He must be getting ready for Pete Alonso.
I think the Mets hosed the Rangers. There’s more money and years on Nimmo’s deal and despite the downturn with the bat, Marcus is still providing a higher WAR per year at this point due to his defense.
Don’t think the ballpark swap will help nimmo’s numbers since he’s gone from more of an on base guy to a power guy?
Actually when you factor in the luxury tax penalties for the Mets, the money is about even The Mets are paying fewer years, but 6 million more PER year for the first three. The luxury tax penalty on that will basically cancel out the extra two years on Nimmo’s deal
@hiflew if you’re going to factor in luxury tax payments then you also have to account for the last 2 years of the deal for Nimmo where they were going to have to pay taxes on his salary. If they’re still in that Cohen bracket that would be around $40 million. With that in mind, luxury taxes don’t actually even it out. It makes it worse.
You only have to do that if you think Cohen is not going to spend any more money in those two years. I really don’t think he is going to stop spending, do you?
Rangers only care about the luxury tax impacts for 2026. They improved in the outfield and lowered their 2026 payroll. Good trade for them and they’ll also open up space for a young infielder.
Kid – great point! The Rangers are down about $25m for 2026, wonder if theres a big signing in their future?
It’s the Mets so most likely Semien will be completely washed up at the plate. He was hot garbage last season.
Just to give Mets fans a little bit of hope that Semien isn’t as bad as he looked at the plate last year, I think that injury at the end of the year that cost him the last 5 or 6 weeks of his season may have hurt his numbers more than most people realize. He has always gotten hotter as the season goes on and his career numbers is in September or October are much higher than any other month.
March/April .700 OPS
May: .744
June: .751
July: .755
August:.763
September/October: .815
Last season he had a .504 OPS in April and a .574 OPS in May. He was much better after that.
Semien 2025:
March/April: .504
May: .574
June: .932
July: .699
August: .629
September: Didn’t play
He had one good month and if wasn’t for the one month his numbers would had been abysmal. His offensive numbers have decreased steadily the last two seasons and he just turned 35.
That’s one year’s worth of data versus a career’s worth. Regardless, he still hit better in the later months than he did in the two horrible first months. He’s obviously still capable of putting a hot streak together based on June. September is his best month career wise, so it’s still entirely possible he could have raised his numbers.
He’s 35 years old. How many players (without steroids) reverse negative offensive trends after 35?
I would guess rangers got the better of the deal if they can cut down on captain nimmo’s strikeouts.. Semien would serve more as a vertaran presence. Still cant believe white sox traded semien long ago.
They fleeced each other
I wonder what it’ll take to get him to waive it.
The 20% raise of moving to Texas probably
Less taxes in Texas.
So this means Scott Boras will try to get Semien a 20% raise for the New York tax increase on his salary.
@em650r: Texas has no state income tax, yet property taxes are as high as Florida or New Jersey.
You think New York was better? Haha
I lived in Bergen county for over 30 years and I can say that property taxes in the Tampa area are much cheaper. Like 60% cheaper but as values increase property taxes do go up.
Property tax rates in Bergen county vary by the municipality. Where my sister and her husband live in Englewood Cliffs is a 3rd of the 2.9% my folks pay in Ridgewood. Have no idea about Tampa, but there was a recent show that said that they used something called millage rates, not a set percentage of the value of the home.
Englewood Cliffs and Ridgewood are both in higher end of taxes where places like Little Ferry and Moonachie still pay high taxes. When I left Moonachie in 2015 my property taxes where over 10k. The only thing tax wise I’ve ever heard of with mileage rates is for a deduction. Cheers man.
Millage, not mileage. It basically means taxes paid on properties are set by the municipality, county or even school board to cover the expenses the county projects for the following year. They are not a set rate.
In Englewood Cliffs property tax was 0849% for last year and in Ridgewood it was 2.9%. The average in Hillsborough County Florida where Tampa is located was 1.824% in 2024.
That is pretty comparable. I would bet that some areas of that county were higher like Ridgewood and some were lower like Englewood cliffs.
Players pay state taxes in every city where their team plays, so the 10% income tax in New York state only applies to home games.
There is this huge tax of playing in Texas. Namely, you have to be in Texas. That is like being sent to purgatory.
wowza!
Aww nuts I was hoping it was gonna be just smoke, I hate to see nimmo go =[
One of the biggest hearts and soul of the team. Never thought I’d see him in another uniform
Really stings, I’ve followed him since the draft way back when, and he’s my age. It’s silly but I’m actually choked up.
Not silly wood head it’s called having a heart and being invested….
Same, been following him since the day he was drafted. Sure that contract would get ugly but great guy to root for. Does this now free up young infielders to trade? This is an odd deal
This would be like if they traded David wright right when his injuries started, it would’ve been cool to see nimmo become the queens version of Brett Gardner
My wife is crushed right now. Nimmo is her favorite player.
When Marcus is off the books and you still see Nimmo playing for years to come you will feel a lot better. I will guess Texas will be willing to give him away for absolute nothing if you are crazy enough to want him back.
I felt the same when the Astros traded one of my favs Joey Loperfido.
To me its cool when fans are invested emotionally in the players on the team they cheer on. I like seeing fans that still cheer for someone that is no longer on their team for that reason.
Let’s not overdramatize. Nimmo hasn’t meant anywhere near as much as Wright did. Not in his performance, not in the locker room, and not as a face of the franchise.
Wifey is smashed?
Ah yes a potential black hole in the everyday lineup, just what the Mets needed!
It’s not about a qualitative analysis, not that you even could quantify clubhouse impact as a fan anyway. The point is, he’s a player around my age that I followed for a long time, who was fun to root for and seemed to bleed for the organization and fans. I’ll miss him. And that’s special, irrespective of David wright or anybody. LGM.
When Joey Loperfido was traded, I was very sad. It’s not silly to get choked up about your favorite players getting traded unless it affects your life routine.
@Fungo, I sat front row to watch DeGrom pitch this year for that very reason
Sure hes choked up too Woodhead, you’re getting older, hes getting older too. Sitting in his cabin all bundled up drinking his barrow team listening to some Stevie Nicks. Veritable landslide
@say that’s always something special. I’ve been to tons of his starts at Citi Field, it was so electric and got better every time
Semien has been roughly league average with the bat the last 2 seasons. Is that really a black hole? Its not like he is Andres Gimenez or Matt McClain.
My thoughts as well. 2B isn’t a bat first position and Semien still had 3.3bWAR with those offensive numbers
Need new voices on the Mets
I’m with you Woodhead. That whole core of lifelong Mets are gone now. McNeil will get traded and it’s not looking good on an Alonso return. I imagine some of that next generation is good as gone too (Acuna, Mauricio, Baty). Not all but some. Call me old, but getting to watch those players grow is what keeps me interested
Wow, that’s a big one. Mets definitely need a RHed IF bat and I hope that Semien has something left in the tank. Very surprised the Mets would deal Nimmo, who I thought would be a Met for life.
They didn’t get him for his bat. They just offloaded a terrible contract for a bad contract. If he keeps playing defense and not striking out they will be thrilled.
They didn’t get a bat. He looks washed at the plate. What they got is an elite defender.
Will be really fun if doesn’t approve it
Never Remember: They wouldn’t be finalizing it without Nimmo’s consent.
Please read the arty. It is not finalized
Never Remember: You read it, Einstein. It says that Nimmo agreed to waive the NTC.
It’s advisable to read before commenting.
Alfred-never remember is a little slow. He can’t help it.
They update these articles often and it makes early readers look bad.
‘Tang It: But I believe that was in the first version.
That’s what they get for reading article. Just jump right to the comments.
He already approved it.
Wow
So does this mean McNeil is on his way out, too?
Maybe he’s part of the deal?
1B and DH is open.
Acuna now the new CF ?
em650r: Nimmo wasn’t the old CF. He played LF the last two years.
Or Benge or Jett ? Hopefully Bellinger is our new LF lol
Benge and the Jett
Candy I was thinking same brother….he would look great in the Bronx ?….cubs ? Reds? He is a solid player.
I’d still love the Rockies to be in a McNeil deal. I think he could win another batting title playing in Coors. Antonio Senzatela and one of the young outfielders ought to get it done.
Coors is not the hitting paradise it once was. That changed with the humidor. Altitude still messes with breaking pitches so there are still big home and away splits. Home numbers are no longer inflated like they once were.
It’s not the HOMER paradise it once was. But the outfield is still huge and opposing outfielders usually play deep. Hitters like McNeil or Luis Arraez are EXACTLY what the Rockies need. Guys that make mid-range “slappy-type” contact that do not strike out a lot. Tyler Freeman was kind of a lite version of them in 2025, but he is just too much of a bad defender to really help.
That was my first thought.
Interesting. Curious to see who else is involved. So this likely means Seager is not getting dealt, although that always seemed unlikely anyway. Too bad, would have loved for the Tigers to take a run at him.
Interesting trade. Not much info yet, what is the difference in money going back and forth? Where do their contracts stand? Didnt both have a no-trade clause?
Mets fans are so cute this time of year…
What about the rest of the year? Are we chopped liver?
Usually facing the reality of your baseball season but July 1st.
Mets were two games back of the Phils and had the fourth best record in the NL on July 1st.
Usually…
How’d that playoff run go this year? 🤣😂
Mets trade Nimmo who has been in the org for a while for a 35 year old declining 2nd baseman on a huge contract
Granted nimmo’s contract is also bad but I don’t understand the thinking for the Mets this is like the g-rod for ward trade
There must be more players involved?
Motor City Beach Bum: Why? The teams probably consider this even since one is gaining on age and the other on the contracts.
Contracts are both pretty comparable, except Semien’s ends after 2028, Nimmo after 2030.
Nimmo – 5/102.5
Semien – 3/72
JRobezzz: Which means they’re not actually comparable.
Luxury tax might even things out over the coming years.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan: The Mets gain on the contracts. Nimmo is signed through 2030 and Semien is signed through 2028.
It’s nothing like the G-Rod trade. That’s a young pitcher with 4 years of control and ace upside w/injury history for 1 year of a limited over-30 corner outfielder.
This is the Mets reducing their financial obligations by $30 million by trading one guy in his 30s for another who, while even in offensive decline, is a plus player because of his glove. I’d call it a roughly even swap barring prospect involvement.
I personally would rather have a decent outfielder instead of a player on the wrong side of 30 who could also lose his glove too
But at least the Mets don’t have to keep paying this contract until 2030
If you want a decent outfielder just sign Pham for nothing. Multiple bounce back guys. Or step up for the bigger boys. I’ll bet on the 2b being able to play 2b for 3 years vs the outfielder playing outfield for 5 years. The 2b is so good he can afford to decline a lot and still be able to play 2b.
You keep saying “wrong side of 30” as if Nimmo and Ward aren’t also.
wrong side of… 34?
The thinking is that they’re getting off of the back end of Nimmo’s deal. You call Semien a ’35 year old declining 2nd baseman on a huge contract’. Well, Nimmo is a 33 year old declining left fielder on a huge and longer contract. Nimmo’s once-elite on base skills have virtually evaporated as he’s chased power. You used to be able to pencil him in for a 130 OPS+. Now he’s down in the 105-110 range. Plus his defense is subpar and his arm might be one of the worst in the league.
I’d bet money that Semien is worth more over the next three years than Nimmo. Neither will be worth their contracts but Semien at least has defense to fall back on.
Yeah that’s fair especially since semien has been durable it’s just that declining bat speed is a huge red flag
Nimmo will probably keep hovering around 100-110 ops+ in his mid 30s while semien could become DJ lemahieu in no time, if he already isnt a DJ lemahieu
@ sad tormented.. 1) We don’t know much about just how bad Nimmo’s foot and leg issues are and how soon or quickly his defense, already declining notably, might drop off much more significantly.
2) Semien has only three years left on the deal. If he fades (further), there are well-regarded replacements on the way.
@geofft: good point about Nimmo’s foot/leg troubles. That’s been bothering him for what, two years now?
Massive trade. Love seeing these go down
nimmo’s deal has 5 yrs/$102.5mil left
semien has 3 yrs/$72 mil left
do mets have to eat any of nimmo’s contract?
i wanted nimmo gone but 35 yr old semien? who hit .230? ugh
Do the Rangers eat Marcus deal?
To be fair Semien did put up 3.3 war this year due to his defense. He has less money and less years left than Nimmo and Nimmo produced less WAR them him.
Fangraphs has Nimmo at 3 war and Marcus at 2.1 war. Fwar bs bwar one values defense more while the other values more offense.
I’d take nimmo the next 3 years but I’d take Marcus in year 4 and 5 because Marcus will be gone.
Interesting trade so rangers win short term, Mets win long term.
Semien missed the last 5 to 6 weeks of the season though and Nimmo had a full year. If he got those games in that would increase the gap on bWAR and close it a bit on fWAR.
Older dude gets injured, season could have been better. Tell as old as time.
To be fair, it was kind of a freak injury. He fouled a ball off and it broke a bone in his foot.
It’s a weird trade, but I think the Mets getting out of the Nimmo contract is a W. I love him, but that deal was going to be rough after probably another season or two. Frees up money after 2028, versus Nimmo’s going through 2030.
Pretty sure Cohen isn’t too worried about money, at least he hasn’t been so far.
He was forced to sell a gold toilet, he’s hurting.
Just cause the Rangers GM saw that movie with his kids 300 times, it didn’t mean he had to find him for the baseball team.
Huh?
Sounds fishy to me.
LOL
Steve is going to make a play at Tucker or Belli.
Of the Mets want Bellinger or Tucker but why not have both and make Soto the DH. Nimmo and Bellinger in the OF very solid. Also if I’m the Mets why not try for Seager for 3B instead of getting Marcus.
I wanted Bichette to play 3B. But I assume they will focus on one of the OF bats now.
This is real baseball, not fantasy play. Bichette’s below-average arm is one of the reasons he is a below-average shortstop. So there is no real-world basis for wanting him to play 3rd.
@ShaqFoo
Bichette is no 3B
Regards,
A lifelong Blue Jays fan.
Bichette can’t make all of the throws necessary to play 3B.
Because Schwarber is going to DH.
@mlbnyyfan: I think the Mets like using the DH as a revolving door. They were going to platoon Marte and Winker last year, then both got hurt. Even when Marte returned, it was not a guarantee he’d be at DH. They’d use guys who need a day off from playing defense, riding a hot bat, etc.
They will still have Vientos (presumably). Soto can play some DH, so can whoever they get to play first. Plus guys nursing injury. Unless they made a huge splash and signed Schwarber, I don’t see them using a dedicated DH.
Also, imo, third base is Baty’s job to lose. He’s cheap and he took a solid step forward last year.
Can’t imagine you move Nimmo to get bellinger, has to be Tucker
Any hope for Seager to the Yankees? I’m thinking, no, but I can hope!!!!
He’s one of my favorite players. What would it cost?
I thought the rangers were trying to shed payroll
I think the Mets will eat some money and get an interesting prospect back.
…or not.
Maybe shed tax $
So we get another guy to play second? What do we do with the other 4 that play there? Is this Stearns answer to run prevention?Mets getting fleeced on this one. Nimmo better offensively.
The other 4 any good?
It is a new defensive strategy in New York: all infielders, with four guys stationed at 2B. soto will have to DH. If no one ever hits it to the OF, should go pretty well. If an opposing hitter does drop one on the OF grass, funny music will play as an army of 2B make a mad dash for the OF.
It’s out of the box thinking.
Do we have 4 other guys to play there? Which of those 4 guys has demonstrated any kind of major league readiness, let alone ready to start every day, and for a contending team, no less.
Nimmo never played HS baseball. The state of Wyoming doesn’t have it. Too few teams and too far apart. He played American Legion and travel ball. Highest ranked MLB player ever from Wyoming. Drafted as an 18 yr. old.
All of which is irrelevant now.
They mention his being from Wyoming on MLB the Show. I love the personal info in the game.
Good the show is doing something other than a $80 roster update each year.
As a Mets fan, I do not like this at all, and it doesn’t make sense. Semien has already started trending downward, and has not been nearly productive as Nimmo the last two years. I also don’t see how this gives Texas salary relief since Nimmo is owed more going forward. Then there are the intangible qualities that Nimmo brings to the table. Finally, the Mets already have plenty of second basemen who are much less expensive than Semien. This is a head scratcher…
Semien has those intangibles, and then some. Widely regarded as one of the hardest workers and best clubhouse guys in baseball. Skills-wise, both players are in fairly steep decline, but at least now the Mets have three years remaining instead of five. And it’ll likely be easier to play Semien in a part-time role, if need be, than it would be Nimmo. The Mets had been wanting to move Nimmo for a while, and this was probably their last chance to do so. His contract is so, SO bad.
Opens up an outfield spot for Tucker.
Nimmo years 4 and 5 Semien will be sitting by the pool. Semien might be better next 3 years. I’d rather have a elite 2b over a corner outfielder. I imagine the Mets or laughing and high fiving still and it will go on late through the night.
“Semien has already started trending downward, and has not been nearly productive as Nimmo the last two years.”
A) Nimmo has also started trending downward. B) Semien has been more productive than Nimmo the last two seasons. 7.4 WAR for Semien vs 5.1 for Nimmo. You have it backwards.
I prefer Semiens tangibles like GGs and WS rings to Nimmos intangibles
Ouch
@SteveAdamsEsq Of course, Semien has been significantly more productive than Nimmo for the last two seasons (7.4 to 5.1 bWAR), rightly just won the GG at 2B, plays a more important defensive position, 2B vs LF, and at SS would make an excellent backup if Lindor’s back troubles recur.
The downside is that Simmy isn’t particularly helpful outside the MI, though as an average stick for the last two seasons and .040 of OPS better for his career against LHP he can DH from time to time without embarrassing anyone, whereas Nimmo may be able to hang on as a full-time DH well into the remaining 5 years of his deal, while MIs are notorious for falling off cliffs in their mid-30s.
Makes me wonder if the idea is to use one of the prospects in LF, say Jett Williams in left, Benge in center as the backup plan if Kyle Tucker can’t be signed—but that’s dicey on a team that already just swapped offense for defense in the Nimmo-Semien trade to the point where short of making a concerted run at Tucker, it’s difficult to see even the outline of an overall plan.
Jack 100% agree.
I was saying recently that we won’t know what the Mets plan really is until we see the first move but here it is and there’s even more possibilities now so it’s less clear lol
Jack- last year Nimmo 3.0 fwar, Marcus 2.1fwar.
The issue with Marcus is the decline he is on. Last year most of his value came from defense.
His wrc+ has gone from 128, 101 to 89. War from over 6 to over 4 to 2.1.
He is 35 years old. Will be playing his age 35/36/37 seasons. Unless he finds the fountain of youth these numbers aren’t likely to get any better. Perhaps his glove stays close to the same but they could have gotten that from acuna for league min. I don’t think Cohen is going…but in 4 and 5 years from now will save some money.
Think the Mets decided that second base was going to be a weak spot offensively. So might as well move Nimmo so they can add more offense to the outfield. Outside of Bo there isn’t any offense to be found at second. Plus most of the upgrades in the outfield are left handers. Prob didn’t want 3 lefty hitting outfielders. Though I could seem them still having 3 lefties if they sign Bellinger and Tucker or even Grisham.
My guess is one of Tucker or bellinger become a Met. Probably Bellinger given his position flexibility. Though they do need two outfielders. Bader seems like a decent target as well. I could see them doing Tucker and Bader. Then signing one of the Japanese players to play first.
Gut says Cohen is going to spend a ton of money this offseason.
Simm, the problem with your comment is fWAR. As someone said above, fWAR uses imaginary numbers, not what the players actually produced on the field. Use bWAR. It is at least an honest measure of what the players actually did.
Mets keep letting go of their heart and hustle guys! No spark pugs left. Stearns doesn’t understand get the value of grit!
Ok boomer
Mets need more strong handshake, look you in the eye, red blooded, salt-of-the-earth, roll up your sleeves, rub some dirt on it and keep going type of players am I right??
Banal hyperbole aside, let’s get more gold glovers with WS rings
Semien is this sort of player as well, you will see.
How many rings that heart and hustle produce?
Next move Corey Seager to the Yanks please
Interesting trade. Bad contract for bad contract.
Nimmo is more likely to be productive a couple years from now, but Semien plays a more valuable position and has been known to hit 40 HR from time to time.
Hit 15 last season. His time to time has passed.
Nimmo likely to fall off a cliff while Semien is providing great defense at 2b and great contact working pitchers at the plate.
Semien will never hit close to 40 homers again. Also Citifield? He’ll probably hit under 12.
What the Mets want is his glove. And that was elite in 2025.
From time to… Well that’s it. It was just the one time.
Interesting that a player like Semian, three times a 3rd in MVP voting, not that far from a HOF career, would be looking at his fifth team. You really know what’s going on behind the scenes
And sometimes we just invent things from whole cloth because vague smears are more fun than hewing to reality?
Semien—who had been a power hitting MI in the minors with a great OBP, but didn’t excel in two seasons with the MLB White Sox—was dealt with Chris Bassitt by a halfwitted White Sox FO to Oakland, where he played six full seasons.
Then, coming off a lousy 6th season, he took a one-year pillow contract from Toronto, putting up a 7-win season with the Jays and parlaying that into a 7/175m deal from Texas, where he’s put up 20.8 bWAR in just four years as one of the best players in baseball during that stretch.
Guessing the Many infielders that we have will be included in a Skubal deal
Tigers don’t need any infielders. Most of their top prospects are infield.
Hmm.. I’m guessing some of the many infielders we have will be included in the group trip from Port St Lucie to Syracuse.
This is why I believe that there is no level playing field in MLB. Even though the Rangers won a WS title, they have had to break up the team two years later. Do you think the Dodgers are going to have to break up the team? Do you think the Yankees will ever HAVE to trade Aaron Judge? The Rangers winning the title was a fluke and a product of the unpredictable nature of the short series aspect of the postseason.
The Rangers were always going to be a one-and-done with that roster. Their young players didn’t really live up to the hype and their veterans were all teetering towards the cliff. The fact that they won it all in 2023 is a miracle too because their pitching staff was brutalized by injuries.
Of course they were. That is my whole point. ANY club that is not the Dodgers, Yankees, or Mets is probably going to be a one and done because World Series titles inflates salaries to the point where dynasties are out of reach for all but the wealthiest.
What helped them most in 2023 was Arizona surprising the rest of the NL. Texas would likely have lost to any of the other five clubs in the NL postseason that year.
Just watch the Mariners , they are set up for sustained success thru 2030 at least.
I don’t think World Series titles have any influence on players salaries
Probably one and done because repeating is hard. Obviously the teams with the most $ will have better chance. Even then it took a Mary Sue fantasy fiction tale for the Dodgers to do it.
Sure they do, especially in arbitration.
hiflew: Oh boo-frickin-hoo and whoopee-dam-doo. A salary cap is not the answer and won’t happen.
Besides if there was one the same teams who spend a zillion billion dollars will just figure out how to skip around it anyway.
If it is never tried, how exactly do you know it is not the answer?
It’s been tried in the NBA, NFL, and NHL. They have no greater parity than MLB.
Yes, that team was a total outlier, they give middle markets hope along with the Royals win.
Too be fair, the Rangers spent so much money to win that title. The Dodgers “break up” every year. Look at the amount of super stars they moved on from over the years. Yes. They got out and buy more, but they keep making moves to stay sustainable. Texas is trying to do the same.
Texas non tendered A. Garcia and Heim, maybe the Mets pick them up, Garcia to DH, Heim to backup Alvarez
They don’t need a backup catcher, Torrens does a great job in that role.
Unless Adolis finds his way to a hitter’s park he’s toast.
The New York Rangers. That has a nice ring to it.
This sniffs of more moves to come. Does this clear the way for the Mets to make a run at Tucker? That is the only way this makes sense to me. Taking a player 3 years older with a higher AAV contract makes little sense. Of course the Mets don’t really care about AAV or the CBT.
Better player less money less years.
@tigerdoc616 The AAV shouldn’t matter. It’s about $5m higher for 3 years but sums to $20m less over the life of the two contracts, and the Mets aren’t going to be so close to one of the LT thresholds during the next three seasons that this makes a difference to them.
It may actually make a constructive difference, though, in 2029 and 2030 when Semien’s gone and $20m of Nimmo’s deal is entirely off the books.
This signals lots of other moves for the Mets, I think. McNeil seems like a definite goner now.
Mets havea bunch of middle infielders but acquire another one and create a hole in LF?
Seems like they might think it’s easier to fill the outfield either internally(benge) or via free agency
Why does this make McNeil a goner? He can still get ABs at all 4 corners.
WillisVonGillis: McNeil doesn’t play 1B.
McNeil can play pretty much everywhere in a pinch. I don’t think it would be a stretch to get him to play a serviceable 1B. Especially considering the Mets have already said they plan to get him work there.
Enough wit this “bunch of middle infielders” philosophy. How many of those middle IFs are actually ready for the major leagues? Acuna? No. Mauricio? No. Jett W? Not likely. We don’t know when they might be ready, or if they will ever be starting caliber. And even if they are sometime soon, they can all play other positions, and/or another trade can happen down the road. There are also bench players and injuries that create the need for depth.
On the surface, I ask “…why?” Nimmo and Semien are no longer good, so this reads like both teams made a trade just to make a trade and each side got worse. Then I remember McNeil is broken due to thoracic outlet syndrome so the Mets need a 2B, and the Rangers just cut Garcia so they need a corner outfielder. *shrug*
And the Mets want to make room for a corner outfielder.
They had Nimmo already and he’s been a solid producer. They’re probably gonna have to spend twice as much money (as Nimmo’s contract) to land Tucker, and that’s if he even signs with them. Mets just got older and more expensive without really getting any better. It’s a confusing move even with McNeil suddenly breaking on them creating a hole. I don’t like it for Texas either because they just added more money/years to basically not get better too. We’ll have to see what both teams do through the rest of the offseason but even if they all do get it to work out in the end I doubt this will make much of a difference.
Jack- for the rangers they did upgrade left field and lowered the amount of money for next year. They were trying to lower the amount of money on the books for next season and still compete. So this deal helped them in that aspect. They are looking at this for the next 3 years rather than the next 5 years. So this deal made some sense. They weren’t going to be able to move Marcus and his money without taking some back. So they spread that money out longer term.
It’s not a great outcome for them but will give them a little more payroll flexibility next season. The true winner on paper in this trade is nobody. Perhaps one of the players has a great next season and that changes the current outlook.
Web- war from defense feels less reliable than offense to me.
Nimmo is an okay outfielder. Marcus is the better defender in sure but unless the fielder is a butcher I personally will take the better offense. Avg def with plus offense, over plus defense and below avg offense.
-7.5 positional adjustment and 0 FRV
+2.5 positional adjustment and 6 FRV
= 16 run differential on defense
114 wRC+
89 wRC+
Nimmo’s offense did not contribute more to his team winning than Semien’s defense.
UZR was unreliable and its not being used in WAR calculations anymore. DRS is not. It is by far those most complete measure of defense and uses 8 different factors and 27 points of data. OAA is a nearly perfect measure of range. FRV is incomplete compared to DRS but for what it measures even more accurate.
Marcus is a one of the best 4 or 5 defensive players at a position that touches the ball far more and is more valuable than LF. Nimmo is an ok defensive player at a position that touches the ball the least of any position on the field. Do you know the reason why teams for more than 100 years have “hid” their worst fielding player in LF? Think about it.
They were good in 2025
For like 95% of it. That last month was the thing of nightmares. The Reds didn’t even win their last game of the season. All the Mets had to do was win one game and they 2007 & 2008’ed it
Of course both players are still “good” (2.9 and 3.3 bWAR, or 3.0 and 2.1 fWAR), but even if they were, “each side got worse”?
Thinking clearly isn’t your strong suit, son.
Wonder who the Mets will attain for replacement in outfield. Will they go crazy after Tucker AND Bellinger now? Centerfield could use an upgrade to push Taylor as fourth outfielder, and left field too now.
Also there has to be more pieces coming to Mets. Nimmo might have longer commitment and overall dollars, but he is definitely more valuable
Nope. Mets included cash to get semien
I think Tucker is the move here, he is in his prime and gives the Mets what they need to win in the series. Pitching will be a top priority too!
slider32: Bellinger is more likely, especially if Alonso leaves.
That is a W for the Mets. They will (eventually) be upgrading at 2 positions. The Mets have title aspirations and nostalgia should never be an obstacle in that pursuit (I’m looking at you Nimmo, McNeil and maybe even polar bear)
Nimmo was really good this year. 3 fWAR, 114 wRC+, 25 HRs, and 13 SBs. Defense wasn’t horrifying either. Mets infield mix has a lot of inexperienced players in it so I guess Semien could help with that plus his defense is kinda solid but Mets fans/Cohen will be frustrated with his rapidly declining bat. As an outsider who isn’t super in tune with the Mets roster and who they have vs. who they need but personally I’d prefer they roll with the young players Acuna, Vientos, etc. and see if they get better with more experience instead of hoping that a soon-to-be 36yo Marcus Semien doesn’t fall off the cliff.
He already fell of the cliff they are just hoping thinking he stays the same. Nimmo is the falling off the cliff worry.
Semien did wonders for a young Bo Bichette when he was at the Jays back in 2021. I imagine he will do the same for the Mets infielders.
Crybbe666: What specifically did he do for Bichette?
Hate to see Marcus go. Nobody in baseball has a better work ethic. World series ring. He just refuses to come out of the lineup. Suffered a broken bone in his foot late in the 2025 season that sidelined him. But to his credit, he was back and wanting to play down the stretch had the Rangers been in the race. Mets are getting a gamer who will show young up and comers how to approach the game. No one will out work him.
Hated to see him leave the Jays.
I’d hate to see him going too especially if it meant getting a even worse player on a worse contract. Brutal.
Roper: Every player in MLB has an incredibly strong work ethic or they wouldn’t be there in the first place.
@Roper You said it. Very glad to have Semien on the Mets, though particularly in a player’s 30s, ‘refusing to come out of the lineup’ isn’t a positive, particularly on a Mets team that seems unable to occasionally rest their regulars to the point of playing Alonso and Lindor with broken bones and Nimmo with significant injuries only to watch their productivity fall through the floor.
In fact Nimmo said he only learned how to stay in the lineup after cutting back on his pregame workout by a full hour late in 2022 ST. It’ll be interesting to see how Semien and the Mets adjust to his age and limitations in 2026.
….so who’s on second for the Rangers?
Why not try and get DeGrom back from Texas. The Mets have Jett Williams or Acuna for 2B. Mets need pitching. Mets better end up with Skenes by Spring Training
Skenes would look better as a BlueJay…..just sayin’….
What you mean to say is the Mets have a minor leaguer who is completely unproven with only 34 AAA games under his belt, and an out-of-options major leaguer who has proven he is not ready yet.
bestone: Josh Smith or Ezequiel Duran in the short term. Did you read the article?
Nimmo’s game has changed a lot. Now he’s a 25 HR 90 RBI guy but he can’t throw from left field, his OBP fell off a cliff and he has a lot of uncompetitive at bats where he’s blown away by straight fastballs. He doesn’t steal bases despite having decent speed. Hes not what he was and is becoming a more one dimensional player.
@carlos15,
Nimmo’s throwing has improved a bunch but he sometimes reverts to bad habits – poor throwing mechanics.
His speed has declined to MLB average. And no bolts in 2025.
He should return to high OBP while maintaining power. Maybe change of scenery will help him do both
Didn’t think Mets would be able to move Nimmo’s contract. Certainly didn’t think they’d swap him for a player with another big money deal.
Yankees will trade you Grisham for McNeil
No they won’t
No they can’t. FA cannot be traded for half of a season.
Player can approve trade? Dunno but seems like something union would have fought to have.
Grishman was 25 in xwOBA which makes him a steal on a one year deal. I think he will earn his money with a 3 WAR next year!
Interesting… but why would they do that, given they’re covered at 2B and 3B, and don’t rate to improve in the OF with this swap?
McMahon is trash.
I dont really understand the motivation for this deal from either side. The Rangers did need an outfielder but now they need a 2b instead. I guess they save some money in the short term. The Mets have a lot of young guys that can play but they are a win now team so are they actually going to let them develop?
I wont say this is a bad trade its just an odd trade.
Don’t the Rangers need a catcher as well?
Yes…from the outside…very strange.
Mets got the better player with contract expiring sooner. That’s their motivation.
Tucker to Mets
Tucker goes to the highest bidder. Like Soto he would play anywhere. In his press conference he will say he likes the local schools or some other nonsense. He will want bonuses for all star games as well.
I guess this gives the Mets some flexibility assuming they keep McNeil. Sad to see Nimmo go, but I’m not sure he’ll go back to the .400 OBP hitter he had been and the Mets need to get better defensively.
Teams started to finally pound the strikezone against Nimmo like I’ve been saying for years that teams needed to do against him because he’s not much to fear when he’s forced to swing.
So, personally, I say you’re very likely to be right. If the AL teams do the same thing with continuing to have pitchers pound the strikezone against him, Mr. Bat-Glued-To-His-Shoulders is going to have to do what exposes his flaws the most – swing the bat. If that’s the case, those final years of the contract are going to get very ugly real fast.
@MarlinsFanBase: “Teams started to finally pound the strikezone against Nimmo like I’ve been saying for years that teams needed to do against him because he’s not much to fear when he’s forced to swing.”
This isn’t what happened at all. It’s that Nimmo changed his approach and went more for power than OBP. He’s said as much. It has nothing to do with pitchers from completely different teams collectively deciding together to “pound the strikezone” on Nimmo. It’s because Nimmo has prioritized power. To his detriment, in my opinion. Ks up, BB down, HR up.
I dont watch Nimmo much. But They are getting a 35 yr old , owed 72 million? He is not a .230 hitter but has some pop. But is he still going to be playing for 3 yrs in NY?
Well if he does it won’t be for long unless he is like Benjamin Button.
Hmmm…he may need to see if Sandy Alderson can get some influence in the Rangers organization so they can get to Rangers PR team to pull off the same Jedi Mind Tricks they used on Mets fans about Nimmo.
Best wishes to Brandon. Great Met and first class guy.
Rare that two players I like get traded for each other.
Love this trade, I think it can help out both teams in different ways. One for one trades are so much fun and a very interesting thing to think through. Up the middle in New York is going to be a very solid defensive with Semien and Lindor. Nimmo in Texas, I think, is a good fit in that ball park. I would not be surprised if his offense goes up next season.
High profile names for sure, but basically a break even “change of scenery” style swap.
Nothing even about 3 and 5 years 70 and 100 million
Wrong. Nimmo’s birthday is in March, so he’s entering his age 33 season.
Good for the Mets and Rangers for doing an “old-fashioned baseball trade.” I suppose the stupid business-school nonsense about “valuation” et al figured in too, but the result is what counts. MLB needs more of this.
Yes, front offices who evaluate players scientifically are idiots. We must restore ‘seat of the pants’ GM’ing.
It’s gut check time!
The Rangers are trying to win the divison for the first time in about 10 years. The Rangers want to offload salary. I’m glad because Marcus destroys us at home. And we play a lot of games with the Rangers at home.
Fun Fact: He has the longest active hitting streak at the Astros stadium.
Well they only off loaded a lil bit and in long term $ they took on 20 25 30m whatever more.
Honestly, i was kinda shocked when they gave Nimmo that 8 year/$162m contract originally. Too many years and dollars for a guy who was coming off the only decent season in his career. Looks like Stearns is trying to move on from some of former GM’s Billy Epplers blunders. Unsurprisingly, this move comes right after the character assassination pieces posted in the media recently on Nimmo. I’m going to miss Nimmo but this finally puts an end to the 2B roulette wheel after Iglesias left.
Semien is a bargain at age 35 for 3 yrs/72 million?
Mets are loaded with nearly ready prospects and first on that list is Carson Benge, who is a CF-LF. They’re making room for him and filling a hole at 2B at the same time. Good deal. Still need a real CF.
Benge has only 24 games in AAA with a .583 OPS there. And he has only 56 games total in AA and AAA combined. How close he may be is a question, not a statement. And, while he plays all 3 OF positions well, the Mets’ need is in center right now. If he does ever move to a corner, his great arm means he will go to RF, not LF.
Semien is a premium defender who is due for a bounce back season. Good to get Nimmo’s albatross contract off the books. Obviously they were going to have to take on another contract.
Great movie by the Mets in my book.
The last two yrs he is hitting .230. About 1000 at bats. He can win some games. But He can also start the injuries now and they are on the hok for 72mm. Cohen can afford to pay. He wants to give Skubal 500-600 million if he can get him, Skenes would get the same offer.
NO ONE is due a bounce-back after 35. That’s just silly. It might be nice to see, but that’s just not how bodies work.
Look up Adrian Beltre.
Due? No.
Certainly guys have excellent seasons in the later years, but DUE for a bounce back at 36?
35 year olds are never ‘due for a bounce back season.’
If it wasn’t for the price tag involved for both players, this is really a meh trade of an aging veteran well past his prime being traded for a medicore player who has been overrated for years due to playing in NY, and under a team that was run and later advised by a GM who didn’t want to admit he made a bad draft pick in the first round many years ago.
Too bad this trade did not happen before the deadline to enter the Free Agent contest. I think it’s pretty safe to say that this trade impacts the reality that the Mets will very likely be offering truckloads of money for either Tucker or Schwarber – most likely Tucker to get Soto out of RF and over to LF.
For Nimmo, I guess this means his overrated years are over now that he’s out of NY. Texas is going to regret those final years of his contract probably more than Semien’s final contract years – especially since the league finally started pounding the strikezone against Nimmo to take away his beloved BBs stat. If that continues, Sir Hopes-For-Walks is going to have an ungly end to this contract.
Nimmo has averaged 3 bWAR a season since he signed his deal. While he hasn’t provided surplus value, it’s the going rate for a competitive team for a player with a limited floor. Both Semien (on defensive value) and Nimmo remain good players but don’t have much expected upside either due to age.
I feel like the Mets are ignoring that Lisfranc injuries at 35+ which often lead to a performance cliff and potential for reinjuring. Let’s hope he can stay on the field but it seems like a lot of risk there.
Semien isn’t the guy in this trade whom you worry injuries have ruined.
It hurts seeing Nimmo leave the Mets, but it’s probably for the best. As for Semien, I think he’ll fit in with his new team.
A for NY. I wouldn’t want either of these contracts. Best days are behind. So much prefer the shortest lowest amount. Rather have a elite 2b than a average corner outfielder. Might even prefer this bat. At very least it is only for 3 more years. Nimmo could be ugly those final years.
D for Texas. Don’t like taking on more bad contract. Corner outfielders are cheap easy to get. Keep the shorter cheaper contract and sign a random guy or 2.
And the Mets fan take now taking shots at the parting Nimmo begins!
Maybe. I skimmed through many of the comments and they seem to miss the guy and his heart hustle. Pretty tame. I’d be thrilled if I was a Mets fan. Worst case they freed up 2 years.
But they’re not ignoring his flaws now, even as their being nice. Some of the posts are a little passive aggressive when you consider how many times Mets fans said all of us that said Nimmo is overrated were wrong, but now they want to low-key say they’re happy with this trade. And with the mention of OBP, now want to sneak in a criticism that they all said was wrong every time critics of Nimmo, including Mets fans, pointed those flaws out.
It’s a typical Mets fan move. Bash anyone that criticizes an overrated player on their team, then say the same stuff that they said was wrong when the player is on his way out.
You make good points. I don’t pay enough attention to them but I seem to remember some saying some of that.
Stop. Try expanding your vocabulary, it will be good for you.
I’ll be honest I’d reather have Nimmo even with his contract. Semien looked bad last season.
Still a very interesting trade, let’s see who it works out for, Cotton.
It’s crazy when you see a trade like this where you really have to wait to see which team took less damage with what they acquired.
For me, this trade is one step away from one of those “I’ll give you my bad contract for yours” type of trades.
I think both the Mets and Rangers did not want to risk another year with either guy and the remaining contract.
Fair take. A change of scenery trade more for the teams than the players lol.
Well said! lol!
I can see a good sitcom scene with a split-screen of what was said in both front offices. Good stuff!
The Hot Stove has started!
‘Tis the (off)season of one-for-one trades!
All pre-Winter Meetings too! Fun
So, if Semien plays 2B, does that push Baty to 3B and Vientos to 1B? Alonso is gone now?
Not that it means anything, but that was my thought process as well.
Vientos was bad last year. He should be on the bench and have to earn playing time.
They could trade Baty or Vientos yet.
I doesn’t push Baty to 3B, it leaves him there. That was always his primary position, and he played his way into that starting role as much as Vientos played his way out.
But I’m not sure why you discuss such young and unestablished players as if they are fixtures and deserve to be.
Baty has always been a third baseman. He’s played some second base out of necessity.
@Birdie man There is no chance, none, that the Mets go into 2026 with Mark Vientos as their lead choice at 1B.
His defense is abysmal to the point where he’s unplayable in the field, 1B is a more complex position than 3B, and Mark is notorious for having a 10-cent head. In addition, whatever trivial improvements he made after the ASB vanished in September when he put up a .565 OPS.
Can’t field, can’t hit, out of options…. he’s a little better vs LHPing and it’s barely possible to imagine the Mets once again going with a platoon DH in 2026, but it didn’t serve them particularly well in 2025 and hoping that (1) Vientos can even hit LHP’ing meaningfully when they’ve already gotten worse at bat with the Nimmo-Semien trade, and (2) the chance he returns somewhat to his 2024 form, making the upside of this torture worth tolerating, is not a great way to run your baseball team.
Put another way, if the Mets preferred paying Alonso $31m in 2025 even though Vientos was coming off a huge year where he outhit Alonso, the chance that they’ll now give Vientos the 1B job after his defense declined even more and his hitting cratered, has to be nonexistent.
All good points, thank you.
Jon Heyman is a hack.
Semient can be a .275/.325 avg/obp guy with 25 hr if he hits in front of Soto . Defense will be excellent. But this is only chess move number 1, more to come….
You realize he hit in front of seager a lot of the time. He isn’t an asset on offense at all anymore.
When Seager actually played that is.
Interesting trade for both sides
Great trade for Rangers. Nimmo is a much better player than Semien – he sucks offensively.
Nimmo is a walking injury machine. And those guys don’t age well.
@seamaholic2 151 games played or more each of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Where do they find you guys?
@rememberthecoop Nimmo’s more expensive, and 2023-2025:
Semien 13 fWAR
Nimmo 10 fWAR
It’s spelled i-d-i-o-t. Cheers,
Mets must think Semien’s bat will come back to life. Otherwise, they’re overpaying for a glove-first middle infielder. Oh well, Cohen got plenty money to burn….
Stearns improved the defense only so long as Semien stays healthy, no sure thing at age 35. Otherwise, he hurt the offense and got older while getting played by a former Met turned GM. He already made one blunder in keeping Mendoza and looks to have made another with this trade.
Mets gets another old all star 2B.
last one was my favorate player Robin Cano…
Hey, do I have to change my screen name to SemienSucks! 🙂
Cause he will without any doubt if he isn’t injured besides
Highly sophisticated post.
Mock trade Cardinals Rangers
Donovan
Arenado
Gorman
Liberatore
Pages
Romero
Cardinals pay 10 million of Arenados 2027 salary
Walcott
Pederson
Jung
Russell
Burger
Rangers fill a lot of holes and it doesnt cost them much additional money roughly 12 million. Cardinals get a top prospect and a space filler until hes ready plus a pitcher with upside who went to school with last years picks Doyle and Franklin.
Is Seager next or this trade made instead of trading Seager?
Who knows. If they are willing to take on a even worse contract like they did here they can easily trade anyone.
Why you think one contract is better than the other i dont know.
Well one is larger in years and $ so there’s that.
One player is 2.5 years older and he makes mor annually. And the Mets are chipping in 5 million it sounds like.
Annually is nothing. I’ll gladly pay more annually to save in total. A whole 5 million now I gotta rethink things.
I think this move means that the Mets make a serious run at Tucker, and I wonder if the Rangers trade Seager next. Definitely more moves coming from both teams.
Dr. Mr. Nimmo,
You’re NY overratedness is now over. Unless you can convince the Rangers to hire or get advice from Sandy Alderson, you won’t get the PR team to use those Jedi Mind Tricks on Rangers fans the same way Alderson got the Mets PR team to use them on Mets fans. I admit, “The Maverick” did a lot for the hype machine supporting you because he wanted to prove that he didn’t foul up the draft he picked you in by picking you so high, thinking you were a franchise player. You don’t have that anymore.
From now on, you will no longer be said to be a “good hitter because you don’t swing at pitches”. Now, to be called a “good hitter”, you have to swing the bat and hit the ball like a good hitter.
So, now, Sir Hopes-For-Walks, Mr. Bat-Glued-To-His-Shoulder, as we’ve seen your demise as pitchers started to finally pound the strikezone against you and managers stopped sending in their wild middle relievers in against you, let’s see if you can get your “Nimmo Forcefield” back. I’m guessing not.
Good luck in Texas!
PS: I definitely will check in on SNY when the Rangers and Mets face each other. I look forward to the reversal of the SNY broadcast team now dissecting all of your flaws that they refused to mention all the years you were their player. I especially can’t wait for Keith Hernandez to do his thing. I figure that if Keith was once able to make Matt den Dekker sound like he was better than Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, and Christian Yelich, he will have some good dissection material about you.
Rolls Eye’s
It’s “rolls eyes”. Eyes do not possess rolling. They do it, so it’s not possessive.
It’s funny to see you correcting someone after you typed this……………You’re NY overratedness
You are very fond of repeating yourself.
Hard not to love this trade for the Mets unless Semien is toast. Nimmo is solid but Semien is the better player by a lot if he’s got anything left, which I suspect he does. Nimmo isn’t a spring chicken himself, not even 3 years younger than Semien. Wow, kind of surprising.
Not surprising to me about age. If I remember correctly, Semien and Nimmo are from the same draft class. If I remember correctly, Semien is one of several players that were picked lower than Nimmo, which had Alderson bashed over several years, starting on that draft night that he selected Nimmo as high as he did.
The Mets are going to have spectacular defense up the middle. Wow!
Does this mean they will be making a huge push for Tucker?
Okay, I agree with you on this part. I wish this happened before MLBTR’s contest deadline. I would’ve taken Tucker to the Mets if this trade happened sooner.
Soto is their other corner OF. Who is it that you’re referring to that they are shopping?
If they land Tucker, it’ll be the best up the middle defensive team in MLB. Alvarez has his lumps but he’s only 24 and can improve.
What does Tucker have to do with their up-the-middle defense? He does not play CF.
You’re correct. (I’ve had a few beverages tonight.)
Taylor does and he is one of the better defensive CF. If they have Tucker in one corner and Soto in the other they don’t need their CF to carry them on offense, just play great defense.
@Skip’s Fungo Implies it, though what’s the backup plan if they miss on Tucker, who’s likely to be hugely overpaid as it is for a 4-win corner guy who can’t stay on the field?
The Mets may struggle to fill CF internally in 2026, let alone LF and CF—and McNeil at 34 doesn’t rate to be even an average MLB regular in LF in 2026.
Jack, are you saying that Tucker will get more than $46 million AAV? That is what it would take for him to be overpaid. I don’t think that will happen. Tucker has played 521 games with 481 being in RF the past 4 seasons. Only Castellanos has played more games in RF and only 10 OF have played more games than Tucker. The Mets have a CF that plays great defense, he just hasn’t hit much. They re-signed him so that position is filled. The Mets have been shopping McNeil heavily, so he probably won’t be a Met come opening day. He was exactly league average in 2025. TOS is scary though and I would not be at all surprised if he was not able to repeat that level in 2026.
Nimmo got his get out of HELL card
Have you been to Dallas?
Will NIMMO start using his REAL name = Joe Fuhrman ??
Hopefully this lights a fire under some GMs seats. Time to make some trades.
What a puzzling trade?
Really hope this deal doesn’t have shades of Kent or Baerga…
Mets FO prayin’ to the Gods of Baseball that this is the reverse-Kent to restore balance to the Force…
Yep, this suggests to me that Alonso won’t be coming back.
I like the trade. It’s fun interesting and hopefully both players will play well in their new environs.
Carnac: A Hot Dog for a Tater.
McMahon: A Hot Dog for a Tater.
Carnac: May you echo get lost in space.
Carnac: A Hot Dog for a Tater.
Carnac tears and blows open envelope
Carnac: Describe the Nimmo for Semien trade. Anybody that runs to 1st base is a Hot Dog and any tater is better than a hot dog. Now you can give out the Boos!
That didn’t make any sense. RIP Carnac the Magnificent
Initially very surprised by this because Nimmo is a very likable player. Does everything you want to see in a player in terms of mentality and leadership. Nimmo is a very streaky hitter. Between him, Soto and McNeil playing the OF. The OF defense was terrible. Nimmo has no arm, McNeil was serviceable in CF but lacked the range needed with Soto in RF. With the Siri/McNeil injuries throughout 2025 they had too many people playing in the wrong position. I don’t love the trading for an 35 yr old player who had a down year but Semien has won a championship and will sure up the defense. Still surprised but we’ll see how it plays out.
At least for now, which I assume will change it appears our Defensive lineup is:
C-Alvarez
1B-Vientos (still think Alonso comes back)
2B-Semien
SS-Lindor
3B-Baty
RF-Soto
CF-Taylor/Acuna/Jett Williams
LF-McNeil/Benge
I’m big Nimmo fan. Hard to swallow he’s no longer Met. Gonna be huge adjustment for me. Thought he’s be NY Met for life.
I guess the author of this article doesn’t follow the Mets much since he doesn’t seem to know that Baty is the Mets starting third baseman. Good fielder, young and cheap who came around with the bat in the second half. And why does the author bring up going after Tucker or Bellinger as an afterthought? That’s probably the biggest rationale for this trade. The author must be the only person in baseball who thinks the Mets might run McNeil out as their everyday left-fielder. Mr. Dierkes: if you’re going to run a Mets article assign it to somebody who really knows the team.
Lol
Rangers hitters sure fell off after’23
They need pitching so getting a fading middle infielder makes perfect sense…
Be patient, they will.
I’m going to laugh when Semien puts up a 5+ WAR season next year.
And Nimmo with 4+ WAR. It’s funny seeing these comments scoffing at the trade as if they’re both bad players.
I personally think it was just about as even as it gets. I think Nimmo will be great, always liked his play style. But I like Semien, I see him bouncing back and his defense still shores up the infield. I think both teams got what they wanted and that is super rare in baseball.
I don’t want another 300 OBP player in the line up.
He is not doing that. Maybe you forgot to notice that over the last 2 seasons Seiman has hit for a flat 100 OPS+ with an OBP of 307. Sterns like these guys who have zero strikezone control and can’t get on base,
Semien’s offensive profile is what it is and he hasn’t wow’ed anyone with his Statcast since 2019. His value is defense and that can also help win ballgames. If the season started today, it wouldn’t be a good trade for the Mets but it isn’t starting and Steve Cohen just started shopping.
I’m going to laugh when Semien puts up a .218 AVG and I am a long time Mets fan.
Change only comes when fools are continually allowed to fail at an even greater and undeniable rate.
Stearns must GO!
Will you laugh when he puts up another 3.3 WAR season?
I’m not judging this trade yet, but Semien just won GG, for what it’s worth and Nimmo has a noodle arm and barely any speed, so it’s not like he was covering a ton of ground in the outfield.
Nimmo is currently the better hitter, Semien the much better fielder.
We’ll see what both teams do to fill the holes they just created
Having great defense up the middle is a good selling point to attract pitchers, don’t you think?
I wonder how Bichette would work out in the Texas lineup. They have an opening at second now. Probably a very, very long shot but would be intriguing.
Rangers save money in AAV
Mets save money over the course of the contract
BTV says the trade favors the Mets (-18 million for Semien to -30 million for Nimmo).
Nimmo will be 33 next year and is projected for 2.3 fWAR
Semien will be 35 and is projected for 2.9 fWAR
There is always Jose Siri. Streans wants to blame the pitching problems on Nimmo? The run prevention problem they have is lack of pitching.
This goes down as one in the win column for Texas. I don’t think Semien can even see the good days in the rear view mirror.
Ouch! What does that say about Nimmo when Semien was better last season?
Ah yes. May that dWAR continue to carry Semien into his twilight years.
Sometimes “change” is necessary.
This one has got my head spinning.
My emotions are in ADHD Shock!
The idea of moving Nimmo at this stage in his career makes sense, but the swap itself raises a lot of questions.
The outsider in me thinks this absolutely means that McNeil is out too. If McNeil and Nimmo are both gone, then I personally think this changes the way Pete views The Mets at this point in his career. His best buddies are gone, He has already taken the Mets all time HR trophy and packed it in his attic. He has nothing left to prove in Queens. This team is not close to another chance at a championship as it stands after 2025 and the open 2026 questions. There is nothing to hold him here now!
I’m not saying he wont come back, but I am saying that 2 of his reasons for coming back will be out of the picture.
In The Mets defense, I agree that it might be the right time for a complete overhaul and new direction. This current Roster since The Pandemic has been Great and Horrible. It might be the time to reconstruct from Stearns eyes!
I’m both interested and scared. But we weren’t seeing a Championship the way it was, so Here we go!
kevinughh
Sometimes “change” is necessary.
The outsider in me thinks this absolutely means that McNeil is out too. I
=========================
‘change for the sake of change; reminds me of RS fans criticizing Tito for ‘not making things happen’.
Past that, I don’t understand the move. McNeil supplies a lot of Semien supplies. Not as good, but only one year left, and a lot cheaper. Now the Mets have opened a hole in LF by covering a non-existent hole at 2B.
I’m guessing this means Tucker is a target, but that effectively trade Nimmo + McNeil for Semien + Tucker, for an additional $50M.
Do you really believe that McNeil will be anywhere close to his MLB average play after having TOS surgery? I don’t.
It’s not nitpicking to point out that he didn’t have surgery, he had a “procedure”, likely meaning he had angioplasty or another non-surgical procedure such that the recovery is dramatically easier. But I agree they should part ways with him, assuming they get decent value in a trade.
I believe that is exactly why the Mets are shopping him. While he will come back, he won’t be the 2025 version of himself. closer to the 2021 version.
That headline is just a rehash of Joel Sherman’s piece which has no specific information. The people who write headlines for sports articles typically have no medical background and just choose the phrases that float their boat. We don’t know what McNeil had done.
Stearns: Is Montas still available? How about Siri?
Which the Braves would make a move for Seager. Trade Ozzie and Aaron bummer, along with a solid prospect or two so that Texas will eat just a little bit of his salary, and call it a day. That said I’m not sure they are looking to remove that much off the books but still … I would love to have him
Nimmo is truly a class act and the epitome of a team player. He hustles constantly, has a very positive attitude and plays through pain.
A couple years ago he could barely walk due to severe plantar fasciitis, but there he was wincing while running to the outfield between innings and diving for line drives in the gap.
There are so many reasons why he was a fan favorite, and when he initially returns to Citi Field as a Ranger he will undoubtedly receive a well-deserved, thunderous standing ovation!
Yikes. Why does USA Today say it’s so bad? Well…
Texas: C
Mets: C+
usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2025/11/24/mets-rang…
The fact its a usatoday story completely makes it a legit place to go to.
😛
Stove is hot. Wow.
We’ll have to wait and see how to evaluate this trade from the Mets perspective because it doesn’t seem they’re remotely done moving players.
Semien, for better or worse, will be the starting 2b, which means acuna Mauricio Jett Williams and McNeil have one less position to compete for.
Stearns emphasis has been on strengthening the defense this offseason, which he has done in getting Semien and moving on from Nimmo.
He also hasn’t seemed overly interested in bringing Alonso back, at least on a long term deal
Maybe, though, clearing up those years 4 and 5 of Nimmo’s allows for the Mets to go long term on alonso?
I just think McNeil’s days are numbered in ny, regardless of how little they get in return for him.
I also think there might be a greater push to target Bellinger for his defense and positional flexibility.
I’m assuming Mauricio/baty/acuna/jett Williams get packaged in some deal for other positional needs
I’m curious if they target for his defense and make 3b a strength while sacrificing 1b I’m not bringing back alonso
Crazy
Surprising trade to me, but the two GMs involved usually know what they’re doing.
@refugee If you can say that with a straight face after Stearns’ ridiculous 2025…
Don’t be surprised if Semien is flipped again. Easier moving $72m instead of $102m. Mets have way too many infielders so someone else is definitely being traded.
Ownership may be carefree with their spending but I’d be shocked if they just went ahead and moved Semien elsewhere. Sure a lot of infielders but they aren’t at his defensive level. He adds value to them
The Mets have no solid starting 2Bmen with Baty playing primarily 3B.
Relying on McNeil there (1.3 fWAR in 2024, 2.1 fWAR in 2025) when they now have no LFer and he’s already missing 30-40 games a year, and with Mauricio having shown nothing special, not even the ability to play average ball at second can’t make the Mets feel good about moving Semien.
Wyatt Langford had a 5.6 WAR last season?!?
In no small part a tribute to how surprisingly bad MLB LFers were in 2025.
Good trade. Change of scenery will be good for both of them.
Some think Semien has no bat left but other than last season with injuries, he has been above replacement for years. Hitting in the middle of a deep Mets lineup will change his stats for the better.
Semien was that bad and still outperformed Nimmo. Brilliant.
Benge! Bingo!
@ken well IMO that’s nonsense, other than Degrom and 1 or 2 others the Rangers cost themselves of any chance at a playoff spot. The team was way below expectations (Semien included).