Texas Rangers hurler Jacob deGrom played a role in a life-changing decision for Brandon Nimmo.
Neither the New York Mets nor Texas Rangers could stand pat this offseason after missing the playoffs, and they helped each other’s agendas on Sunday. The Mets agreed to trade left fielder Brandon Nimmo for Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, per MLB.com.
Nimmo gives Texas more outfield depth. The Rangers can start him in left, Evan Carter in center and Wyatt Langford in right. Nimmo notched a .760 OPS with 25 homers and 92 RBIs across 155 games in 2025, while Carter had a .728 OPS with five homers and 25 RBIs over just 63 games. Furthermore, Langford recorded a .775 OPS with 22 homers and 62 RBIs in 134 contests.
Both teams can thank one of MLB’s most talented pitchers for playing a role in the deal, via The New York Post’s Mike Puma.
“The Mets approached Nimmo on Friday asking him to waive his no-trade [clause],” Puma reported. “He spent the next day or so considering it — including a chat with Jacob deGrom — before giving his OK.”
deGrom spent his first nine seasons with the Mets before signing a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers in December 2022, per Spotrac. Nimmo was the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner’s teammate from 2016 to 2022, so there was no better person for him to talk to about going from New York to Texas.
Mets, Rangers Trade Benefits Both Parties
This move allows the Rangers to use 23-year-old Alejandro Osuna, who had just a .591 OPS with two homers and 15 RBIs over 63 games this past season, as a backup outfielder moving forward. Either he, Sam Haggerty (.698 OPS in 64 games) or Michael Helman (.744 OPS in 38 games) could’ve competed for a starting role next season had the Rangers not gotten another player of Nimmo’s caliber at the position. Texas had a hole to fill in the outfield after deciding not to tender a contract to last year’s right fielder Adolis Garcia, who became a free agent.
Meanwhile, Semien stabilizes second base for the Mets. The 35-year-old had an OPS of just .669 with 15 homers and 62 RBIs over 127 games this past season, but he had an .826 OPS in 2023 and 20-plus homers in each year from 2021 to 2024. Semien has made three All-Star appearances and won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers.
Now, second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil (.746 OPS in 122 games) can play more in the outfield next season instead of constantly switching positions. The veteran played 79 games at second, 10 in left, 34 in center, seven in right and 10 at designated hitter in 2025. Third baseman Brett Baty also played 57 games at second, which was the first time in his career he spent time there. This move allows the 2019 first-round pick to go back to his natural position.
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