Brandon Nimmo-Marcus Semien Trade: 3 pros and cons following Mets' bombshell deal

The New York Mets have traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien. It was a blockbuster deal that saw two great players exchanging teams in a one-on-one swap.

It is bound to stir plenty of discussion among fans and analysts alike. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of this bombshell deal.

Pros for Mets after receiving Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo

1) Infield upgraded

With Marcus Semien's arrival, the Mets have added to their infield depth. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns cited that run prevention will be a big central idea for them to evaluate pieces this offseason. The latest bold move is in line with that.

Semien is an excellent defender in the middle infield and could bring an upgrade to the position where the club has been relatively weak over the last few years.

2) Right-handed bat

The Mets had too much left-handed power in their lineup with the likes of Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor (vs RHP), and Brett Baty. With Semien, they have a right-handed bat in the lineup who will give production around the year.

3) Outfield dilemma gone

With the exit of Brandon Nimmo, the Mets are free to make a splash for premium right fielders on the free agent market. They can move Soto to center field, and could go after right field free agent options like Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker.

Cons for Mets after receiving Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo

1) Age, declining bat concerns for Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien is already 35 and doesn't appear to have a promising future ahead of him. Moreover, he had a subpar season the last two years. In 2025, he slashed .230/.305/.364 over 127 games, with a wRC+ of 89. The year before it was 101wRC+ and in 2023, it was 128 wRC+.

2) Marcus Semien's tax number is higher than Brandon Nimmo

Both players were on large contracts before being traded. With the deal, the Rangers are also sending $5 million to the Mets to cover Semien's salary. Despite that, Semien's tax number ($24 million) is higher than Nimmo's ($19.25 million).

Semien has three years, $72 million remaining on the seven-year, $175 million deal he signed with Texas during the 2021-22 free agency.

3) Losing Brandon Nimmo's upside, popularity and consistency

Brandon Nimmo has been a fan-favorite in New York since he became a core part of the team in 2016, when he made his MLB debut. Trading him will cost Mets intangibly, like losing the chemistry within clubhouse, connection with fans and also his potential in the future.