Baseball seasons, like elections, have consequences. And so the uber-makeover by the Mets began with a blockbuster — the surprise exchange of stars that sent the beloved Brandon Nimmo to Texas in a straight-up deal for Marcus Semien.
Sentiment is out the window following a disastrous 2025 Mets season in which they memorably and pathetically failed to beat out the tiny-market Cincinnati Reds for the final playoff spot. So Nimmo was sacrificed in the name of defense and right-handedness.
Nimmo will be recalled for his clutch hits, consistent hustle and infectious enthusiasm, and for quite some time. But on paper, this deal makes perfect sense for a team that’s desperate to get better glovework — upon the story breaking around dinnertime Sunday, the first thing one Mets higher-up mentioned was Semien’s Gold Glove at second base (which differentiated him from every Met in ’25) — and not be so lefty-swinging heavy.
As much as we all hate to see Nimmo go, and that includes teammates, fans and writers, though I’m not sure in what order — Nimmo texted “I will miss you, too” right after the trade hit X — the swap makes complete sense. Nimmo was still a solid defender in left field though he’s slipped some, while Semien remains among the best with the glove. Plus, Semien bats right-handed, which helps begin balancing the lopsided lineup.