Rangers fans shouldn't worry about Marcus Semien, Brandon Nimmo 2026 WAR projections

Rumors have suggested Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo may have been an issue in the Mets' clubhouse. However, there were also reported tensions between New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien and Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, yet the two led the Rangers to their first World Series title in franchise history. As long as Nimmo performs to Texas' expectations, and the team is competing for a playoff spot, no one will pay attention to the clubhouse vibes.

Based on FanGraphs' Steamer projections, Semien is expected to post 3.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) next season, and Nimmo is expected to post 2.6.

While some may look at the projections and figure that if they come true, then the Mets will be happier than the Rangers next season regarding the Semien-Nimmo trade. However, while 0.5 additional WAR could be a huge difference for a team at the end of the season, the Rangers should still be happy with the deal in 2026 if both projections come true.

If Semien and Nimmo WAR projections come true, Rangers should still be happy regarding trade with Mets in 2026

Rangers fans shouldn't care if Semien has a slightly higher WAR than Nimmo next season because Nimmo is projected to be a better hitter than Semien, and Texas desperately needs to improve offensively. Despite leading the league in ERA (3.47), the Rangers finished the 2025 campaign with an 81-81 win-loss record due to a lack of offensive production.

The Rangers also had a great defense last year, ranking third in the American League in Outs Above Average (27) behind the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. Their defense will likely decline a bit due to losing Semien, but it should still be among the league's best. Essentially, the Rangers chose to regress a bit defensively to get stronger offensively by dealing Semien for Nimmo.

Per FanGraphs, Nimmo is projected to hit .256/.336/.428 (116 wRC+) with 23 homers, 71 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Semien is projected to hit .241/.314/.400 (103 wRC+) with 22 homers, 74 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Let's hope Nimmo's projection comes true, as it'd significantly improve the Rangers' offense.