Mets Trade Brandon Nimmo To Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien

 

Mets LF Brandon Nimmo (Photo Credits to Roberto Carlo)

The New York Mets traded LF Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers this afternoon for second baseman Marcus Semien.

 Nimmo's contract runs through the 2030 season after he signed an eight-year $161 million extension after the 2022 season. 

He was drafted by the Mets in 2011 and ended his Met career with a .262 batting average, 135 homers and 463 RBI. Nimmo has struggled defensively the last few seasons while also dealing with injuries and declining offensive production which made the Mets want to get rid of that contract.

Semien has had poor offensively numbers the last two seasons with a career low .669 OPS this past season and only 470 at-bats due to injury and .699 OPS in 2024 even though he was named an All-Star.

He had an outstanding season in 2023 with the Rangers hitting .276 with 29 homers, 100 RBI, 185 hits, 40 doubles and 14 steals finishing third in the American League MVP voting.

He is still an excellent defender as a two-time Glove glove award after winning the award last season and also won it in 2021.

Semien adds much needed defense to a team that struggled defensively last year especially up the middle at second base.

Even though it will be sad to see Nimmo go as a popular homegrown Met, Semian brings a lot of value with his defense and has shown what kind of hitter he could be. 

Semien might benefit from a change in scenery and could thrive playing in NY.

Mets Name Justin Willard As Pitching Coach

 

Mets pitching coach Justin Willard (Photo Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets officially named Justin Willard as their new pitching coach for the 2026 season. 

Willard was hired by the Boston Red Sox in 2024 as the director of pitching and helped the team have the fifth best ERA in the majors last season as well as having Aroldis Chapman, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have bounce-back seasons.

Prior to the Red Sox, he worked in the Minnesota Twins organization from 2017-2023. 

Mets Hire Troy Snitker As Hitting Coach

 

Mets Hitting Coach Troy Snitker (Photo Credits to Brett Davis-USA Today Sports)

The New York Mets announced today that they have hired Troy Snitker, the son of Braves manager Brian Snitker as their hitting coach.

Snitker was the Houston Astros hitting coach from 2019-2025 and was fired earlier in the offseason after the Astros were ranked 21st in runs scored, tied for 16th in homers and 23th in batting average with runners in scoring position.

He began his professional coaching career in 2016 as the Astros rehab coordinator and in 2017 was the Single-A Buies Creek Astros and then had a promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi. 

Mets Shutout 4-0 to Marlins in last game of season and are Eliminated From Postseason

 

Mets 1B Pete Alonso and SS Francisco Lindor (Photo Credits to Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The New York Mets lost to the Miami Marlins 4-0 this afternoon at loanDepot Park in the final game of the regular season and ended up with a record of 83-79 and were eliminated from the National League Wild Card race.

LHP Sean Manaea got the start as an "opener" and had a scoreless bottom of the first and and picked up the first two outs in the bottom of the second and was then taken out.

RHP Husacar Brazoban came in next and picked up the last out in the bottom of the second and the first two outs in the bottom of the third and was then taken out.

LHP Brooks Raley had to come in and picked up the last out in the bottom of the third and one out in the bottom of the fourth and a single and was then taken out.

RHP Ryne Stanek followed and gave up a RBI double by 1B Eric Wagaman and two batters later, a RBI double to catcher Brian Navarrerto and was then taken out.

RHP Tyler Rogers came in next and gave up a RBI triple to LF Javier Sanoja and a RBI single to CF Xavier Edwards.

RHP Edwin Diaz followed with two scoreless innings in the bottom of the fifth and sixth.

RHP Ryan Helsley threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh,

LHP Gregory Soto threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

The Met offense did nothing all game with five hits and went 0-8 with runners in scoring position.

They had their best scoring chance in the top of the fifth after 3B Ronny Mauricio, SS Francisco Lindor and RF Juan Soto all walked to load the bases, but 1B Pete hit a hard line-out to left-center fielder that went 115.9 mph off the bat, but was caught by Sanoja.

This will go down as one of the most disappointing seasons in Mets history after a hot start until June 13th, but played poorly for the last three months due to the depleted pitching staff/bullpen and inconsistent offense.

It will be interesting to see what moves are made to improve this roster.

Thank you everyone for supporting and reading my posts all season long and continue to look out for posts during the offseason.

Until next season, LGM!

Game 162: Mets vs. Marlins Starting Lineup and Pitching Match-Up

 Mets Starting Lineup:

1. Francisco Lindor-SS

2. Juan Soto-RF

3. Pete Alonso-1B

4. Brandon Nimmo-LF

5. Mark Vientos-DH

6. Jeff McNeil-2B

7. Francisco Alvarez-C

8. Ronny Mauricio-3B

9. Tyrone Taylor-CF

The pitching match-up is LHP Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.80 ERA) vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.66 ERA)

Mets Beat Marlins 5-0 Behind Dominant Outing From Holmes To Stay Alive in Wild Card Race

 

Mets RHP Clay Holmes (Photo Credits to Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

The New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 5-0 this afternoon at loanDepot Park and improved their record to 83-78.

The Met offense got off to a fast start in the top of the first after SS Francisco Lindor led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Two batters later, 1B Pete Alonso drove in Lindor with a RBI double.

After a scoreless top of the second, Alonso came through once again in the top of the third with a solo homer.

The offense was held scoreless for the next two innings until the top of the sixth after Alonso led off with a walk and advanced to second on a balk.

Three batters later, 2B Jeff McNeil drove in Alonso with a RBI double for a much needed insurance run.

In the top of the ninth, catcher Francisco Alvarez led off with a single and two batters later, CF Tyrone Taylor singled.

Lindor then drove in Alvarez with a RBI single and RF Juan Soto followed with a based loaded walk to bring in another run.

RHP Clay Holmes had an outstanding start in his final start of the season.

Holmes threw six scoreless innings allowing one hit and three walks with two strikeouts.

The only one hit he allowed was a single by 2B Xavier Edwards in the bottom of the fourth.

His sinker was his most dominant pitch as he was able to get 11 out of the 18 hitters he recorded.

It was the first time he has gone six innings since August 23th and the only the second time since June 7th.

Holmes finished up with 12 wins and an ERA of 3.53 which is the top 10 of the National League.

LHP Brooks Raley followed with a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

RHP Trevor Rogers came in next and threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

RHP Edwin Diaz closed it out with a scoreless bottom of the ninth.

The Mets final game of the regular season is tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, September 28 at the Marlins at 3:05 p.m.

Game 161: Mets vs. Marlins Starting Lineup and Pitching Match-Up

 Mets Starting Lineup:

1. Francisco Lindor-SS

2. Juan Soto-RF

3. Pete Alonso-1B

4. Brandon Nimmo-LF

5. Starling Marte-DH

6. Jeff McNeil-2B

7. Francisco Alvarez-C

8. Ronny Mauricio-3B

9. Tyrone Taylor-CF

The pitching matcb-up is RHP Clay Holmes (11-8, 3.66 ERA) vs. RHP Eury Perez (7-5, 4.20 ERA)