The Mets’ first splashy move of the offseason came on Sunday evening, a surprising trade that sent outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the early-offseason blockbuster.
To make this one-for-one trade possible, Nimmo waived his full no-trade clause, according to reports. It brings his 15-year tenure with the Mets organization — dating back to when he was drafted as a first-round pick in 2011 — to an abrupt close.
Semien, 35, has three years remaining on his seven-year, $175 million contract. The Mets are on the hook for $72 million before Semien hits free agency following the 2028 season. Nimmo, meanwhile, is under contract for five more years. The 32-year-old is owed $102.5 million.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear that he’s focused on improving his club’s defense heading into the 2026 season, and this move fits that narrative. Semien is considered an elite defender at second base, while Nimmo has taken steps back defensively as he’s aged.
While Nimmo was the better hitter of the two this past season, making this team better defensively is a clear top priority for the Mets’ front office as they strive to get back into the postseason picture.
Semien’s bat has declined over the past two seasons, and at 35, he’s unlikely to rediscover his peak form. In 2021 and 2023, he finished third in the AL MVP race. But in 2025, Semien slashed .230/.305/.364 with 15 home runs over 127 games, one of the worst full seasons of his career at the plate. What he does bring, however, is bat-to-ball skills, pop to the pull side and speed (he’s had double-digit steals in nine of his last 10 full seasons).
This move gives the Mets a reliable double-play partner for shortstop Francisco Lindor, and it opens up a corner outfield spot. That’s a vacancy Stearns and the Mets can fill with a superior defender later this offseason. That flexibility is valuable with a long winter ahead.
With second base occupied, the focus shifts to Jeff McNeil’s future. With $31.5 million owed over the next two seasons — including a club option for $15.75 million in 2027 — McNeil becomes more expendable unless the Mets are planning to shift him to another position like left field.