Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world as we head into the week:
1. What’s next for the Rangers?
A surprising swap of big names on large contracts happened yesterday, as the Rangers sent second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets in exchange for Brandon Nimmo. From the Rangers’ perspective, the deal allows them to re-imagine their lineup and replace non-tendered corner outfielder Adolis Garcia while still staying in line with their goals to cut payroll this year. While Nimmo is on the books for five years as opposed to Semien’s three, he’ll actually cost about $4.75MM less per year for luxury tax purposes after factoring in the cash New York sent alongside Texas’ new left fielder. With a luxury tax payroll that RosterResource now projects to land around just $191MM and Josh Smith free to take over at second base, the Rangers come out of this trade with the flexibility to perhaps even make another addition to the lineup or sign some bullpen help while still cutting payroll substantially from last year. It’s unclear what exact level ownership is comfortable spending to this year.
2. Mets’ infield logjam grows bigger:
The Semien-Nimmo trade is a bit more complicated from the Mets’ end. With Nimmo headed to the Rangers, the Mets now have Juan Soto as their only locked in regular in the outfield for the 2026 season. By contrast, they’re flush with infield options after adding Semien to a group that already included Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio. Semien and Francisco Lindor figure to handle regular reps up the middle, which would leave just two spots on the infield for those four youngsters. A Pete Alonso reunion would further cut into those opportunities. Also displaced by the deal is Jeff McNeil, who could move into the outfield if necessary but was already the subject of trade rumors even before this deal.
The Mets could move any of those infielders as they look for help in the rotation or bullpen. It’s also worth noting that one of the game’s perennial top spenders now has a corner outfield vacancy and less money on the long-term books when the market’s top free agent is corner outfielder Kyle Tucker.
3. Maton signing not yet official:
The Cubs agreed to terms with right-hander Phil Maton on a two-year deal Friday night, though that signing has not yet been finalized. Maton’s deal is pending a physical, and financial specifics are not yet known. The Cubs have been reluctant to commit to relievers on multi-year deals in recent years, making the signing all the more notable. Chicago’s last multi-year free agent signing for a relief arm was the Craig Kimbrel contract all the way back in June of 2019. (They did make a strong offer to Tanner Scott last winter, though.) Is this a change in philosophy or merely a one-off? The Cubs have plenty of space on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will not be necessary when the Maton deal becomes official.
I feel like they’re going to trade for either Robert or Benintedi (with Sox kicking in some cash dealing either)
LRJ makes sense with Mets having been interested all along. The amount of $ absorbed will impact who comes back….which JR values real dollar savings over prospect quality.
Feels like Robert is the preferred option if Getz gets realistic. Robert in CF, Soto in LF, Benge in right?
That would be fantastic if the Mets took on either one, but I think Steve Cohen opens the pocketbook for Tucker. Let’s hope Mets do trade for either!
They can do that and maybe get the White Sox to pay half of Robert’s deal for CF
Certainly wouldn’t mind some of those Mets pitching prospects, that’s something White Sox need and Mets have a few that could be traded.
I’m not sure why people keep pushing LRJ to the Mets or why anyone thinks LRJ has any value. LRJ has an 85 OPS+ over the last two years with 2.8 total WAR. And he missed about 50 games in each season. And he’s making $20 million. If the Mets were somehow interested, nothing of value would be going back to the White Sox, especially not any of their pitching prospects.
The Mets were interested in Spring Training and last summer. Of course the Sox would have to eat money. I have even said that I think they should be willing to eat half.
Have to figure the White Sox want to maximize the prospect return for Robert. If they wanted to save money they’d have just declined his option.
Yeah I don’t think it would be a salary dump. Eat at least half of it with the infusion of the Ishbia money.
Any update on (Luisangel) Acuña after being hit on the forearm over the weekend and missing the next couple of games in winter ball? Video looked pretty bad.
The Mets can have Spencer Jones for Baty. What team says No?
I think Andujar and Deivi Garcia can land us Lindor. Maybe sprinkle in Greg Bird
Why would the Mets trade Lindor to the Yankees for that package?
It was a joke referencing some of the much lauded Yankee talent that were all going to be superstars before all becoming duds.
All three players are no longer with the Yankees
I say no. I’d much rather have Jones.
I think from his current set of abilities Baty could settle into being a 3-4 WAR player from 2026 forward
The Yanks have Ryan McMahon at 3b
mlbnyyfan: Jasson Dominguez is a better trade match for Baty.
Well, at least the Astros aren’t alone in their infield logjams.
Josh Smith starting now. Gallo trade continues to look like one of the worst for Cashman.
The thing is though, other than Josh Smith, the rest of the package the Rangers received haven’t really panned out. At one point, Ezequiel Durán looked like he might also be a keeper, but he’s completely fallen off the radar.
The Yanks got Joely Rodríguez as well in that trade who gave them a solid 19 innings of 2.84 ERA relief work across 21 games.
Obviously the main piece, Gallo, never worked out in NY, but at the time, it seemed like he would be a monster in Yankee Stadium. In hindsight, sure it was a bust, but it wasn’t a trade that looked bad when it was made.
As much as people like to rip GM’s for bad trades, it’s impossible to predict how players will perform after a move and it seems doubly unpredictable for Yankee acquisitions. Some guys just can’t cut it in New York, and there’s just no way to know until they get the chance.
I feel like Duran still hasn’t had a shot for a couple years. at times he has really looked great but there just hasn’t been the atbats to let him get consistent. He might honestly benefit the most from this, Smith was already going to play everyday
I think Nimmos bat will play up in Texas. And he can DH there as well. The Mets were probably better off getting out of the next 5 years of that contract. I don’t think they have an infield logjam either. Alonso is a FA, and Vientos doesn’t fit the improved infield defense narrative. Acuna and Mauricio haven’t shown much and could get an opportunity after McNeil leaves.
I think the Mets would be wise to keep McNeil tis year as insurance against a Baty regression and/or an Alonso departure and/or the Mets unable to land a Nimmo replacement.
With the Mets getting another infielder it seems like some of our infielders are in a trade deal probably for a pitcher (Skubal/Skenes) unless it’s for the rumor of Ryan and Buxton ?
If the Mets don’t get Skenes or Skubal this off-season shame on them. The time is now. They have the money and the prospects.
Skubal has to be at the right price you can’t give up the future for a 1 year rental. With Boras being his agent and free agency looming he is kind of hard to sign to an extension
If it got serious, Mets could probably back channel to see if he’d extend for 400mil prior to giving a lot up to Tigers for just rental.
Why would you give up a prospect haul for 1 year of Skubal?
And the same for Skenes who will cost more than Skubal, and would have even more suitors. Assume Pittsburgh is ready to move him.
All is is great but not for a team that missed the playoffs last year.
Would Texas trade Seager for Volpe and possibly Warren? The yankees need a change. I’m still waiting for Dominez and others for Kwan
Skenes isn’t being traded yet – he’s cheap and generates money and publicity for the pirates. In 2 years he will not be cheap and so will not he a Pirate.
I’m not sure why Nimmo agreed to go to Texas? I know a tax cut is appealing, but I would have thought he would want a ring, which is more likely to come from the Mets at this point than the Rangers. I never heard him complain about NYC. At some point he might reveal the reason. Hope the best for him in Texas
Texas really isn’t that far off. remember this is already one of the better pitching and defense teams in the league, just gotta find the offense. Nimmo kind of helps with that himself.
Can a player agree to an extension with the new team before a trade is finalized? Has that ever happened? It seems that would “sweeten” the deal… if allowed.
@Raging. I would have to agree with you. Why wave the NTC for Texas. He probably did it because he felt he’s not wanted and getting Bellinger or Tucker was inevitable. However why not trade him after getting Tucker or Bellinger was a guarantee. However both Nimmo and one of the others are great too. Definitely an add move. The Yankees bringing back Grisham was a huge mistake. The off-season is early still let’s hope the best is yet to come for both teams.
I don’t think anything in the CBA prevents this; however, Texas is cutting payroll, so I doubt that any such offering was made available to Nimmo
I was not specifically talking about Nimmo. T. Skubal is going to cost a team a boatload of prospects and MLB-ready talent. Knowing he is a Boras client and not likely to agree to an extension, why would any team do that for one year of control?
…without an extension already agreed upon. I hope the Red Sox would not do that.