Brandon Nimmo’s choice to accept a trade to Texas comes into focus as an MLB insider shares the deeper reasons behind it. DD
What convinced Brandon Nimmo to accept the trade to the Texas Rangers?
After spending his entire MLB career with the New York Mets, eyebrows were raised when it was announced that outfielder Brandon Nimmo had been traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for shortstop Marcus Semien.
This was shocking news for both sides. Mets fans are reluctant to let go of their loyal outfielder, and Rangers fans are disappointed to lose their three-time All-Star. Both franchises are letting go of someone special, but they’re also gaining new talent and welcoming new experiences to their ball clubs.
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Although letting go of Nimmo was not in the plans for New York fans, this is an opportunity to carve out another postseason run for Texas. A smart move by the Rangers? Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s without risk for Nimmo, who wants to succeed in the postseason. This trade isn’t expected to provide instant gratification, but it could pay off as the season progresses, specifically as the playoffs approach.
“Brandon Nimmo, who had been with the Mets his entire career with a home in St. Lucie, Fla., says he would not have accepted a trade to the Texas Rangers if they weren’t planning to be a World Series contender again in the next few years. He was told they will not be in a rebuild,” per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
In Nimmo’s 10 years with the Mets, he slashed .262/.364/.438 with a .802 OPS across 1,066 games. As a whole, he recorded 135 homers and 463 RBIs. Nimmo has plenty to offer Texas, and considering Semien has a few years over him, the Rangers are acquiring some younger energy, but not by a large margin.
Not to mention, Semien’s drop in performance has had the franchise rather concerned, particularly this past season. It’s understandable why they opted to ship him out in exchange for a more consistent player.
Heading into 2026, Nimmo is likely to bring some offensive power back to Texas, and with a hunger for victory, this could be the boost that the Rangers need to return to the postseason. It’s no secret that this franchise is looking to be a World Series contender, and it sounds like their goals directly align with those of the veteran outfielder.
The way in which 2026 plays out will be telling — did the Rangers make the right move, or will they regret making this colossal decision in years to come?
