When Brandon Nimmo signed a free agent contract to return to the Mets for eight years and $162 million in 2022, the veteran outfielder was excited concerning the concept of enjoying the remainder of his profession with the crew that took an opportunity on a child from Wyoming.
It’s not clear if any cash is being exchanged or retained. Semien, a second baseman, is owed $72 million over the following three years whereas Nimmo has 5 years and $102.5 million left on his contract. Nimmo, 32, had no-trade safety he needed to approve in an effort to facilitate the commerce.
It’s a swap that doesn’t make a variety of sense on its face, particularly given the Mets’ glut of infielders. Nonetheless, it’s clear that it’ll precede different offseason strikes. Left discipline is now vacant, giving the Mets the flexibility to maneuver Jeff McNeil in the event that they selected, or to pursue another choice in left discipline.
Kyle Schwarber headlines the free-agent class in left discipline, however he wouldn’t be a defensive improve over Nimmo. The 2 are additionally about the identical age, and the Mets aren’t followers of giving long-term contracts to gamers over the age of 30. Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker are additionally free brokers, although signing one in all them would require the Mets to reconfigure the outfield since Bellinger primarily performs in heart discipline, and Tucker performs in proper.
The Mets haven’t any plans to maneuver Juan Soto out of proper discipline.
This represents a serious shakeup within the crew’s core. Nimmo has been with the membership since he was drafted within the first spherical in 2011, and has been a key a part of the clubhouse management group even earlier than he signed his eight-year extension. Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, two different long-tenured Mets, may go away in free company this winter.
Nimmo’s protection regressed final season, however he hit .262 with a .760 OPS and 25 dwelling runs. He compiled 2.9 bWAR and posted a 114 OPS+.
After being labeled as injury-prone earlier in his profession, Nimmo has performed no less than 151 video games in every of his final 4 seasons. He performed by means of plantar fasciitis in the course of the 2024 postseason that lingered into his 2025 season, and missed video games with neck soreness, one thing he nonetheless offers with after crashing into the wall for a catch earlier in his profession.
Semien, 35, hit .230 with a .669 OPS and 15 dwelling runs final season, however gained a Gold Glove for his robust infield protection. The Cal alum had 7 outs above common at second base, and a fielding run worth of 6.
