Mets' Brandon Nimmo-Marcus Semien trade opens door for signing $140M World Series champion rival

Hunter Cookston

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Mets' Brandon Nimmo-Marcus Semien trade opens door for signing $140M World Series champion rival image

The New York Mets are looking to make significant moves this offseason, and the first of many came on Sunday when they traded veteran Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien. It was a shocking move, to say the least.

“The New York Mets and Texas Rangers have agreed to a trade that would send second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets and outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Nimmo, 32, agreed to waive his no-trade clause, sources said, allowing the deal to be consummated, pending MLB approval,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.

This deal now opens the door for another potential move—one involving New York Yankees rival Cody Bellinger.

“Cody Bellinger now emerges as an unbelievable fit for the New York Mets. He can play LF, CF, or 1B. If the Mets sign a 1B to a shorter contract, he can move there after that player leaves the Mets and then move Benge to LF (better there),” MLB reporter Michael Marino wrote.

The Mets would be wise to strike a deal with Bellinger, as he fits several of their biggest positional needs. Pete Alonso is currently a free agent, and Nimmo is now in Texas. Bellinger’s projected contract also isn’t nearly as steep as Juan Soto’s massive deal last winter.

“Predicted Contract: 5 years, $140 million. A $28 million AAV would give Bellinger a slight raise over the $26.6 million figure of his last contract, and while he might push for a sixth year, a five-year deal and an option for 2031 might be where his market ultimately lands,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.

The Mets are coming off what may be the worst collapse in MLB history, and they’re doing everything they can to ensure next season doesn’t end the same way.

Bellinger would be a major step in the right direction, and after the Nimmo trade, the fit makes even more sense. The Mets would also be poaching another star player from the Yankees for the second straight offseason.

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