A Ranger No More
Even though the baseball season is over, there is plenty to discuss, especially since the winter meetings are around the corner. Managers and owners will meet in hopes of improving their team and creating a brighter future. Trades and signings will hold fans’ breath as we wait to see who will rise in the rankings. Before the winter meetings, the biggest news out of Dallas was trading star second baseman, Marcus Semien, to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Semien was a foundational piece of the Texas Rangers 2023 World Series team, bringing home the franchise’s first ever title. Now two years later as Semien goes to the Northeast, the question becomes, how did this happen just two years after winning a championship?
Marcus Semien was drafted in the 2008 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox, where he would spend his first two years in the major leagues. After two years in Chicago, Semien was traded to the Oakland Athletics, where his career truly ignited. During his time in Oakland, Semien improved significantly as a batter and a fielder, putting up impressive batting averages every season, leading his team to wins and becoming a fan favorite for Oakland fans. Some believed that Marcus Semien was not only going to stay with the Athletics for the remainder of his career, but also become a foundational piece in winning a World Series title.
In 2021 however, Semien became a free agent for the first time in his career, and can decide where he wants to play. Many believed that Semien would remain with the Athletics due to his connection to Oakland growing up nearby, and the deep connection he built with the fanbase. However, Semien decided it was time to part ways with Oakland and sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Marcus Semien signed a one-year $18 million deal with Toronto in hopes of contending for a title. Toronto was very aggressive in 2021 after a poor display in 2020, and they believed that Semien was going to be a franchise piece if he could prove himself in 2021. Semien became an All-Star second baseman for the Blue Jays, as well as winning a Golden Glove Award, and the Silver Slugger Award, also scoring a historic 45 home runs, which at the time was the most by any second baseman in MLB history. Once again his career soared and the expectations grew even higher. All signs pointed to Semien becoming one of the highest paid second basemen in all of the MLB.
Although Semien enjoyed the free agency market, he knew that eventually he would need to sign a long term deal and win a title. Semien then signed a 7-year $175 million deal with the Texas Rangers. Semien was ready to bring the Rangers a championship. With the additional help of other teammates such as Jacob DeGrom and Adolis Garcia, the Texas Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series. Semien finally had the missing piece of his career, a championship ring, and it seemed that he would be a Texas Ranger for the rest of his career.
Unfortunately, due to several injuries and a decline in his batting, it was time to accept that Semien was at the back half of his career. With the Rangers already over the salary capacity, Semien seemed to be a top candidate to trade away in order to lower the overall salary cap. Semien was traded in a one-for-one trade to the New York Mets, in exchange for Brandon Nimmo.
Brandon Nimmo has spent his entire career with the New York Mets, from 2016-2025, Nimmo proved to be known for his on-base percentage, as well as his patience on the plate, making him ideal for a team like the Rangers who need offensive improvements. Nimmo from 2016- 2025 batted at a .262 average, has 974 hits, 135 home runs, 463 RBIS and a .802 OPS. Nimmo has also proven to be a high caliber outfielder that can work well with Adolis Garcia.
Most around the league believe that the Texas Rangers are going to continue being aggressive as we inch closer to the start of the season. With the winter meetings ahead, there are many free agents that can prove beneficial to the Rangers if they can figure out the financial situation for 2026. Overall, this is a positive step forward for the Texas Rangers and for their hopes of winning another World Series Championship.