The trade last week of Brandon Nimmo plus $5M for Marcus Semien surprised many of us throughout the Mets’ nation. It has taken a while to absorb what it all means as the Mets sent one of their long-standing fan favorites and a major contributor to the American league for a gold glove second baseman.
As soon as it happened, I put a piece together “Bran-done?!” to recognize Brandon Nimmo and his accomplishments as a Met. I think a lot of people felt that way – sentimental about a guy that did so much for the team over the years. But in the business of baseball, sentiment takes a back seat. Let’s look objectively at who Marcus Semien is and what it does for the New York Mets.
Marcus Semien has had a very successful career, coming up with the Chicago White Sox in 2013 just two years after being selected in the sixth round of the 2011 draft (what a steal!). He is a defense first player, having played all infield positions except 1B and winning two gold gloves (one in 2021 with Toronto and one last year with Texas). Both his Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved metrics for a typical year would place him among the top Mets. He has been on three all-star teams (2021, 2023, and 2024) and has also won two Silver Slugger awards (2021, 2023).
Besides the professional accolades, Marcus Semien has also excelled as a person – three times representing the Rangers for the MLB Heart and Hustle Award, with one of those years (2023) being the MLB Players Association winner. He was also MLB players choice man of the year in 2021 and 2023.
Semien adds a right-handed bat to a Mets lineup that has been dominated by lefties the last few years. This adds balance and his infield versatility gives Carlos Mendoza options on how to arrange the lineup against a particular pitching challenge. Statistically, he has a solid but not spectacular career OPS of .756 and a 49.2 career WAR. His career slash line is .253/.321/.435 but he was down from those numbers in the last two seasons with Texas. Last year he only played 127 games due to a left foot fracture. He has not had much of an injury history, so hopefully he will remain healthy for the Mets.
Semien will be a great add to the Mets clubhouse. Besides the humanitarian awards mentioned above, former teammates describe him as having an elite work ethic and someone who demonstrates field leadership through example. This fits very well with Francisco Lindor’s style so there is an opportunity for them to become a very dynamic combination in the middle infield.
The data shows that this trade should be a positive for the Mets. They gain defensive capability that is consistent with their run prevention goal, they get more lineup balance with a solid right-handed bat, and they get clubhouse/field leadership by example from a player who wants to win.
The risk in this acquisition is that Semien has already peaked for his career and is on the downslope. Last year he batted only .230, and while that may be dismissed due to the foot injury, his 2024 season was not much better with a .237/.308/.478 line. He will be 35 years old this season, so his physical durability is something to watch.
I am looking forward to seeing an improved infield in 2026, with the dynamic combination up the middle and an improved Brett Baty focused on his third base play. The first base position will be unresolved for at least a month but if the floor is Pete’s defense, I’ll take it.
The Semien age factor will remain a wild card here. He will turn 36 during the 2026 playoff drive next September.
ReplyDeleteI love it when the Mets put a position to bed.
DeleteMy guess is his health will hold up through 2027
That's good enough for me right now
Tom even though Brandon is younger than Marcus, I feel he is aging faster and more of a faster decline for his age.
DeleteI feel this trade will workout even though we got the older player in return.
The fact that the Mets had to throw in money tells you that it was not orchestrated by Texas. They get what they need and save a few bucks, but it’s obvious the Mets didn’t trust the contract. I have not checked his splits, but word has it Simien was very good from June til year’s end but awful in the first two months. Hopefully, he can be the June til end of year version.
ReplyDeleteFact
DeleteThe first phone call was made by Texas
Semien was not a target for the Mets because they never had knowledge he would be available
Truth
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLOL… ok. I understand that you were told this, but I also understand that:
Delete1. If the Mets didn’t know that Simien was available, how did the Rangers know a guy with a no trade clause was available?
2. What made them think the Mets were interested in trading Nimmo rather than calling up Boston for Durran or some other team when the Mets already had a second baseman in McNeil? He may not be golden, but he was ok. Would the Mets call Cincinnati asking them if they was a SS? That’s the story they gave Nimmo, so it’s the only story that will be heard.
I will watch closely how the Mets play an invited prospect at Spring Training in March
ReplyDeleteJett Williams
Jett had less reps in CF than I expected last year - maybe a nod to the three prospects Benge, Ewing, and Morabito or maybe an indication that they want him at second base in the future.
DeleteThey should have Jett Williams shadowing Demien in spring training. Teach him grasshopper.
ReplyDeleteIf Jett isn't included in a blockbuster, I think he spends the year in AAA at 2B.
ReplyDelete