David Stearns signaled that Marcus Semien fit the Mets better than Brandon Nimmo in virtually every area: on the field and in the lineup; in the clubhouse; within his contractual situation.
So after the Mets spent around $340 million last season to watch the playoffs from home, Stearns was not going to let sentiment dissuade him from a move that he felt would position the team better for now and later.
“I think it’s a recognition that what we did last year wasn’t good enough,” the Mets president of baseball operations said after off-loading the club’s longest-tenured player, “and running back the exact same group wasn’t the right thing to do.”
On Monday he formally delivered a blow to the team’s longtime core, sending Nimmo and $5 million to the Rangers to acquire a defensively excellent second baseman in Semien in a stunning trade.
According to Stearns, talks between the teams began to gain steam toward the end of the GM meetings that took place about two weeks ago. On Thursday, Stearns called Nimmo and briefed him on the potential trade, which required consent from a lifelong Met, drafted in 2011, with a no-trade clause.
Nimmo talked with family, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young and Jacob deGrom, among others, and believed he would have a chance at winning a World Series in Texas, and so he signed off on a rare one-for-one, expensive-veteran-for-expensive-veteran swap.
For a Mets team that is determined to improve in “run prevention,” in Stearns parlance, Semien will be a strong double-play partner with Francisco Lindor and an upgrade from Jeff McNeil.
The two-time Gold Glover is “one of the best defensive infielders in baseball and has been for a number of years,” Stearns said. Nimmo, whose sprint speed has diminished, had been part of a defensively suspect outfield group with Juan Soto, who will remain in right field. Thus trading Nimmo improved the infield defense and was the clearest avenue toward improving the outfield defense.
Nimmo, 32, has been a far better hitter than Semien, 35, over the past few seasons. But Stearns craved a righty like Semien. And he believes there is more in Semien’s bat and that Semien is more than his bat.
“This is a player that can contribute to winning baseball in a variety of different ways,” Stearns said over Zoom about Semien, who three times has finished third in MVP voting but posted a .669 OPS last season. “And the bat may not actually lead the way at this point in his career. We think there’s likely some bounce back in his offensive profile, in his offensive game.
“What we’re counting on at the top of his skill set is the contributions he can make for us defensively, how he can perform on the bases.”
He also will contribute in the clubhouse, Stearns believes. Entering his 14th big league season, Semien is a well-respected and hardworking pro who plays every day and won a World Series with the Rangers.
Nimmo was beloved and a leader in Queens, but the trade will at the least shake up a Mets mix that did not save them from a prolonged collapse in 2025.
“He’s a winner,” Stearns said of Semien. “He brings a winning drive and determination that we think is going to fit well in our clubhouse.”
Semien was available because of his own offensive downturn and because he is owed $72 million over the next three seasons. Nimmo was partly available because of the $101.25 million he is due for the next five seasons.
Add in the $5 million Steve Cohen is attaching, and the Mets are getting out of about $24.25 million and two back-end seasons of a lengthy contract.
Perhaps the savings in money and term enable the Mets to more willingly offer a massive contract to another free agent. Kyle Tucker, whose bat is the best available, and Cody Bellinger, a defensively savvy player who does everything well, are the top outfielders on the market.
Or perhaps the absence of a handsomely paid left fielder creates opportunities for some of the Mets outfield prospects, notably Carson Benge, Jett Williams and A.J. Ewing, next season and beyond.
“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,” Stearns said. “And this transaction also provides room for that to happen as we move forward.
“These are always tough decisions. This was not easy. … But in order to create the type of sustainable championship-caliber play that we seek to have here, at times these types of decisions are necessary.”
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