The New York Mets traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers on Sunday in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien and cash considerations. The deal provides the Mets with defensive upgrades at second base while giving the Rangers an offensive boost in the outfield.
The trade, finalized on Sunday night, marks a significant roster recalibration for both teams entering the 2026 season. Brandon Nimmo, a 32-year-old outfielder who spent his entire 10-year MLB career with the Mets, waived his no-trade clause after discussions with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and Rangers president Chris Young. Nimmo, who owns a home near the Mets' Spring Training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., expressed surprise at the move.
"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." He sought assurances that the Rangers were committed to contending, not rebuilding, and received positive feedback from former Mets teammate Jacob deGrom. "[deGrom] has nothing but amazing things to say about the Rangers," Nimmo added. "We're not in a rebuild mode. We're going for it."
Nimmo's 2025 performance included a .262/.324/.436 slash line, 25 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a 114 wRC+, setting career highs in several categories. He joins a Rangers lineup that ranked 25th in wRC+ (92), 26th in slugging (.381), and 22nd in runs (684) last season. The Rangers also non-tendered Adolis García, Jonah Heim, and Josh Sborz on Friday, creating needs in the outfield and elsewhere. Young emphasized the team's focus on winning: "The last two years have been very difficult as we feel like we have not lived up to our expectations. ... We're looking forward to Brandon helping us achieve great things moving forward."
For the Mets, acquiring 35-year-old Semien addresses defensive concerns. Semien won a Gold Glove in 2025 with +7 outs above average and led AL second basemen in fielding percentage (.996). Despite a down year at the plate—.230 average, 15 home runs, .669 OPS—he provides right-handed balance and versatility. The move frees Jeff McNeil for outfield duties and opens pursuits of free agents like Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, while the Mets remain interested in re-signing Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz. Stearns noted owner Steve Cohen's support for aggressive spending.
The deal, a rare one-for-one swap of established players on long-term contracts—Nimmo's eight-year, $162 million extension through 2030 and Semien's seven-year, $175 million deal through 2028—saves the Rangers money, including $5 million in cash received.
