The New York Mets and Texas Rangers are finalizing a trade that would send second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets and outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
For the deal to be consummated, Nimmo would have to agree to waive his no-trade clause, sources said, sources said. His tenure with the Mets started when they chose him with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 draft.
Semien, a three-time All-Star, joined the Rangers in 2022 and won a World Series with them the next season.
Texas entered the offseason looking for areas to save money, with its payroll being cut and four players -- shortstop Corey Seager, right-handers Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, and Semien -- set to make in excess of $25 million next year. While the Rangers will actually take on more long-term money in Nimmo, who is owed $101.25 million over the next five seasons, the per-year sum is lower, with Semien set to make $72 million for the next three seasons.
The trade is the first move in what's expected to be a busy winter for both teams -- particularly the Mets. Their slow collapse over the season's final 3 1/2 months led to New York missing a postseason berth and eventual significant turnover in its coaching staff. The acquisition of Semien -- who won a Gold Glove this year -- aligns with president of baseball operations David Stearns' primary goal this winter of improving run prevention.
