The New York Mets’ decision to flip Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien on Sunday carries serious weight. It wasn’t just a trade. It was a recalibration of the roster, the payroll and the team’s offseason priorities in one sharp pivot.

On the surface, swapping two expensive veterans might look like a lateral move. But dig a little deeper and the motivations — and opportunities — become much clearer.

Why Semien solves a problem the Mets couldn’t ignore

Marcus Semien is not the hitter he once was. His .230 average, 15 homers and 62 RBIs last season paint a picture of a declining offensive contributor. That 89 wRC+ backs it up — 11 percent below league average.

But the Mets didn’t make this trade for his bat.

Semien played gold glove–caliber defense at second base, logging 1108.1 innings wit

See Full Page