The New York Mets are finalizing a significant roster shakeup, agreeing to a deal that will send outfielder Brandon Nimmo and cash considerations to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Mets are expected to include roughly $5 million to help balance out the salaries, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Both clubs have yet to formally announce the trade.
The financial component is central to the transaction. Nimmo, 32, is owed $102.5 million over the next five years, while Semien, 35, is under contract for $72 million across the next three seasons. Texas will save money in the short term, as Semien’s annual salaries for the next two years sit at $26 million compared with Nimmo’s $20.5 million. By 2028, their salaries align more closely before Semien’s contract expires.
On the field, Nimmo delivered the stronger offensive performance in 2024, hitting .262 with 25 home runs and a .760 OPS. Semien endured a down season, batting .230 with 15 homers and posting a .669 OPS, the lowest of his career.
Semien’s elite defensive metrics at second base, good enough to earn him the 2025 Gold Glove, fit neatly into New York president of baseball operations David Stearns’ stated offseason objective of tightening run prevention. Nimmo’s defensive value, meanwhile, has dipped in recent years, making him more of an offensive-leaning corner outfielder as he heads to Texas.
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Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].