Mets trade for three-time MVP finalist, send 10-year veteran to AL West: Reports

The Mets and Rangers reportedly made the biggest splash of the young MLB offseason on Sunday: Three-time MVP finalist Marcus Semien is headed to New York in exchange for a player Phillies fans have grown quite accustomed to watching over the last decade: Brandon Nimmo.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the trade, which hasn’t yet been made official.

The deal carries plenty of long-term ramifications: Semien still has three years left on a seven-year, $175 contract; Nimmo has five left on his eight-year, $162 million deal. Neither team appears to be picking up much (or perhaps any) of the outgoing contract, according to reports.

Semien turned 35 in September and his production has declined each of the last couple seasons. After playing all 162 games and finishing third in MVP voting two years ago, he OPS’d .699 and .669 the last two seasons, though he’s maintained well above-average defense at second base, winning his second Gold Glove this year. 

About two-and-a-half years younger, Nimmo’s production has dropped since he posted an .835 OPS from 2018 to 2023. Still, he had a 114 OPS+ this year, to Semien’s 97. 

As such, the move is a defensive-oriented one by the Mets, who ranked 21st in Outs Above Average last year. Jeff McNeil (4), Luisangel Acuña (1) and Brett Baty (-1) at second base were hardly the reasons why, but the trade gives the Mets flexibility to add a corner outfielder and balances out a lefty-heavy lineup that may lose Pete Alonso in free agency.

Nimmo’s contract included a no-trade clause, and The Athletic’s Will Sammon reported he has indeed approved the swap.

Nimmo slashed .254/.367/.426 against the Phillies in his 10-year Mets career. He’s not getting away from Citizens Bank Park quite yet, though: He and the Rangers will be in town on Opening Day.

Semien has slashed .256/.289/.449 against the Phillies in just 19 career games, a figure that’s about to balloon after Sunday’s one-for-one shakeup.