In a significant Major League Baseball transaction, the Texas Rangers have reached an agreement to send veteran second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. The deal, confirmed by sources close to the negotiations, marks a substantial roster shakeup for both franchises.
Trade Details and Contract Implications
The trade agreement was confirmed on Sunday by a person with direct knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The source also verified that Nimmo has agreed to waive a no-trade provision in his current contract, facilitating the move to Texas.
Nimmo, who has spent all ten of his major league seasons with the Mets, recently completed the third year of his $162 million, eight-year contract signed after the 2022 season. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter is due to earn $20.25 million annually through 2030, providing the Rangers with a consistent offensive presence.
Semien brings his own substantial contract to the Mets, with three seasons and $72 million remaining on the $175 million, seven-year deal he signed with Texas in December 2021. That signing occurred simultaneously with the Rangers' acquisition of MVP shortstop Corey Seager on a $325 million, ten-year contract.
Player Performance and Career Highlights
The 35-year-old Semien earned his second Gold Glove this season despite missing the final five and a half weeks after fouling a pitch off his foot on August 20. This marked only the second time in his 13-year career that Semien has landed on the injured list, demonstrating remarkable durability throughout his professional journey.
Before the injury, Semien had missed just six of the Rangers' 615 games since joining the team before the 2022 season. His 2025 campaign saw him hit .230 with 15 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 62 runs scored across 127 games. During his four seasons in Texas, Semien posted a .249 batting average with 93 homers and 319 RBIs.
Nimmo brings an impressive .364 career on-base percentage to the Rangers, including 583 starts as a leadoff hitter. He has scored at least 81 runs in each of the past three seasons, peaking with a career-best 102 runs in 2022. This season saw most of his at-bats come from the middle of the batting order, where he hit .262 with career highs of 25 home runs and 92 RBIs in 155 games.
Franchise Context and Recent History
The Semien-Seager middle infield combination proved instrumental in the Rangers' 2023 World Series championship, the first in franchise history. However, that championship season represents the team's only winning record in the past nine years. The Rangers finished the 2025 campaign with an 81-81 record, marking the first .500 season in franchise history.
The trade comes amid significant roster changes for Texas, who recently saw slugging outfielder Adolis García, switch-hitting catcher Jonah Heim, and right-handed reliever Josh Sborz become free agents after the Rangers declined to tender them contracts for the 2026 season. All three players played crucial roles in the team's 2023 World Series run.
Throughout his career spanning 1,629 games with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers, Semien has maintained a .253 batting average with 253 home runs and 801 RBIs. His standout 2021 season with Toronto saw him set career highs with 45 home runs and 102 RBIs before entering free agency.
Nimmo has compiled 135 home runs and 463 RBIs across his 1,066 career games, all with the Mets organization. His consistent performance and patient approach at the plate have made him one of the more reliable outfielders in the National League throughout his decade-long career.
