1,000+ games and a decade later, longtime New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has been traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien, as first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The trade makes one thing crystal clear: David Stearns and Steve Cohen are serious about bringing change to Queens. Nimmo, 32, signed an eight-year, $168 million contract following the 2022 season, when he stated the Mets jersey would “never” be coming off.
Over the last two seasons, however, Nimmo has displayed a steady decline in both his offense and defense, hinting at becoming a full-time DH in the future. Semien, 35, is in a similar boat, signing a seven-year, $175 million contract four years ago and showing offensive decline, but still holding elite defensive capabilities that Stearns has emphasized as a main area of improvement this offseason.
With this move comes reasoning: Why exactly would the Mets trade away their longest-tenured player? A fan favorite? It’s simple. Stearns and Cohen know serious change is necessary if they’d like to be hoisting a World Series trophy over Citi Field in the future. What is next for the Mets after the blockbuster move?
What Marcus Semien Brings to the Mets
Marcus Semien was once considered the best second baseman in baseball as recently as two years ago. In 2023, he helped lead the Rangers to their first World Series title, batting .276 with an .822 OPS, while leading the American League in WAR and hits. Semien won a Silver Slugger Award, made the All-Star team, and finished as the runner-up for the AL MVP award. Since then, a decline has been on the horizon.
The former Ranger played in just 127 games due to a left foot fracture, which caused severe underperformance. The 35-year-old batted .230 with a .669 OPS but was still elite defensively after winning his second Gold Glove Award. This was the exact reasoning for the move: elite and consistent defense.
Welcome to New York, Marcus Semien
pic.twitter.com/4S56yHzXsB
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) November 23, 2025
The Mets have seen flashes of solid defense from their infield over the past season, partly thanks to the emergence of Brett Baty, but production at second base remained a proven problem that Semien now solves. The addition also balances the lineup, making Semien a legitimate 6–8 hitter for a Mets order that was logjammed at the top, with Nimmo bouncing from the leadoff spot to the cleanup hole and creating confusion when he hit a slump.
The other part of this trade is the clear financial aspect. Though Marcus Semien will cost the Mets more right now, his contract carries just three years and $72 million remaining, compared to five more guaranteed years on Brandon Nimmo’s deal, worth over $101 million.
What’s Next for the Mets
With the Nimmo move, Stearns now has the flexibility to retool the roster the way he pleases. Looking at the current state of the free-agent market, Kyle Tucker remains the top option, while former New York Yankee Cody Bellinger closely lingers. Tucker, soon to be 29, and Bellinger, 30, will both generate interest from many teams due to their track records of elite all-around performance.
Tucker will likely command a 10-year, $400 million deal, while Bellinger will be fielding offers in the five-year range, making both interesting but expensive choices for Stearns. The trade market is another asset given the Mets’ deep farm system. Fernando Tatis Jr. could be a name to watch — he has nine years left on his contract, is younger than Tucker, and is arguably just as valuable.
With the trade, Carson Benge could now be a potential Opening Day starter. The current No. 2 prospect has quickly shot up rankings due to his excellent bat-to-ball skills and strong arm in center field. The Mets will have many options this offseason to retool a roster that failed miserably in 2025. The next several months will be pivotal for Stearns to work his magic.
Main Photo Credit: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
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