Mets trade Brandon Nimmo to Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien

When Brandon Nimmo signed a free agent contract to return to the Mets for eight years, $162 million in 2022, the veteran outfielder was excited about playing the rest of his career with the team that took a chance on a kid from Wyoming.

But the core of the Mets is no more. The Mets and Texas Rangers have agreed to a trade that would send Nimmo to Arlington in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien, a source confirmed to the Daily News. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the trade.

It is unclear whether any money is exchanged or retained. Semien, a second baseman, is owed $72 million over the next three years, while Nimmo has five years and $102.5 million remaining on his contract. Nimmo, 32, did not have any trade protections that he had to approve in order to facilitate trade.

It’s a trade that doesn’t make a lot of sense on its face, especially considering the Mets’ glut of infielders. However, it is clear that this will precede other off-season moves. Left field is now vacant, giving the Mets the option to move Jeff McNeil if they want, or pursue another option in left field.

Kyle Schwarber leads the free agent class in left field, but he wouldn’t be a defensive upgrade over Nimmo. The two are also about the same age, and the Mets are not fans of giving long-term contracts to players over 30 years old. Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker are also free agents, although signing either of them would require the Mets to reconfigure the outfield since Bellinger primarily plays center field and Tucker plays right.

The Mets have no plans to move Juan Soto out of right field.

This represents a major reshuffle within the team. Nimmo has been with the club since he was drafted in the first round in 2011 and was a key part of the club’s management group even before signing his eight-year extension. Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, two other longtime Mets, could leave in free agency this winter.

Nimmo’s defense regressed last season, but he hit .262 with a .760 OPS and 25 homers. He compiled 2.9 bWAR and posted a 114 OPS+.

After being labeled injury-prone earlier in his career, Nimmo has played in at least 151 games in each of his last four seasons. He played through plantar fasciitis during the 2024 playoffs that persisted into his 2025 season, and missed games due to neck pain, an issue he still deals with after crashing into the wall for a catch earlier in his career.

Semien, 35, hit .230 with a .669 OPS and 15 homers last season, but won a Gold Glove for his strong infield defense. The Cal alum had 7 outs above average at second base and a run value on the field of 6.