David Stearns has explained why the New York Mets opted to trade Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien, as the team aims to strengthen after missing out on the MLB Playoffs
Brandon Nimmo was shocked after hearing that the New York Mets wanted to trade him(Image: 2025 Megan Briggs)
New York Mets president David Stearns has opened up on the “tough decision” to trade longtime star Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien.
The Mets are looking to rebuild for a new future after a late-season collapse saw the team miss out on the 2025 MLB playoffs. One of the surprise moves saw Nimmo waive his no-trade clause and join the Rangers, as the outfielder has been with the Mets since making his MLB debut in 2016, first joining the organization as the 13th pick in the 2011 amateur draft.
Nimmo had plans to remain with the Mets for the remainder of his career, and the trade saga shocked him. However, he consulted former teammate and current Rangers ace Jacob deGrom before agreeing to the move, and Stearns has explained why the switch will benefit the Mets.
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Stearns admitted that it wasn’t easy to let Nimmo go, but insisted that it was the right move for the MLB team. “These were always tough decisions; this was not easy,” Stearns said during a conference.
“Everyone here thinks very highly of Brandon. But to create the type of sustainable championship-caliber play that we seek to have here, at times these types of decisions are necessary.”
During his time with the Mets, Nimmo had a .262 batting average, 974 hits, 135 home runs, and 463 runs batted in. Stearns believes that Semien will allow for greater defense and will balance the Mets’ roster.
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“Marcus brings an elite level of defense, he’s one of the best defensive infielders in baseball and has been for a number of years,” Stearns added. “He’s a winner, he brings a winning drive and determination that we think is going to fit well in our clubhouse.
“He balances our line-up from the right side, which is something we were seeking to do. So very happy to be able to bring Marcus in.”
Stearns later added: “Beyond the immediate player return part of this deal, we think this opens up possibilities and flexibility for us going forward. Both from a near-term perspective and also allowing space for a number of very young outfielders who are coming, who are talented and will deserve spots at the major-league level and to play at the major-league level.
The Mets acquired Marcus Semien in exchange for Nimmo(Image: 2025 Cole Burston)
“This transaction also provides room for that to happen as we move forward.” While the trade has now been completed, the entire situation caught Nimmo off guard.
Stearns informed Nimmo of the situation on Thursday, and after agreeing to waive the no-trade clause, he was gone by Sunday. “It definitely took me as a shock,” Nimmo said.
“We had kind of built this life centered around that we were going to be New York Mets until the very end. … I needed to know that the Rangers were committed to trying to win a World Series.
“That this wasn’t a rebuild that I was coming into. That this was somewhere that I was extremely wanted and was somewhere that I felt like we would be competing for World Series titles, year in and year out. [Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young] made that abundantly clear.”