"The first big domino of the New York Mets' offseason dropped on Sunday night when David Stearns traded the club's longest-tenured player, Brandon Nimmo, to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien. It's a one-for-one swap, which gets the Mets out of the final five years and $102 million of Nimmo's deal, though Semien is still due $72 million over the next three years."
"Semien, however, is a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman who is expected to still have a decent enough bat (think 20-plus home runs, 75-plus RBI) to bolster the position. Stearns has pounded on the drum of run prevention this offseason, and sending the defensive-declining Nimmo out of town jives with that. Jeff McNeil has become expendable, and paying a super-utility guy $15.7 million in 2026 is poor business."
"But he is not the only infielder on the block. Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and even Ronny Mauricio are reportedly available, as a complete re-tool around the core pieces of Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto is now in motion. That glut of infielders, along with a deep farm system, is going to be utilized this winter as Stearns is expected to be heavily involved in the trade market. High-end pitchers can be had, whether that be two-time-defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, or even former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins."
Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien in a one-for-one swap that removes five years and $102 million of Nimmo's contract while adding Semien, who is owed $72 million over three years. Semien offers Gold Glove defense and expected 20-plus homers with run-prevention alignment. Jeff McNeil becomes expendable given his $15.7 million 2026 salary. Multiple infielders including Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio are reportedly available. The Mets will leverage a deep farm and pursue high-end pitchers and a left fielder while rebuilding the rotation and bullpen.
Read at www.amny.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]