The New York Mets traded for second baseman Marcus Semien to play a regular role in the infield, but as the aging veteran heads toward his late 30s, the club is thinking about capping his playing time.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told Chelsea Janes of SNY that the team would be monitoring Semien’s health as the 2026 season gets underway. “We will have to watch him closely,” Mendoza said. “Being available is super important for him and us as a team. But again, we just have to be mindful and manage the workload there.”
New York landed Semien in a one-for-one swap with the Texas Rangers. Longtime outfielder Brandon Nimmo went the other way in the deal. The Mets used a rotation at second base that included Jeff McNeil, Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna, and Brett Baty last season. Only Mauricio and Baty remain with the team, and neither is expected to see much time at the keystone. Semien has three seasons left on the seven-year, $175 million contract he signed with Texas.
New York Mets Could Limit Marcus Semien’s Playing Time
Semien’s calling card has been his availability. Following the shortened 2020 season, the veteran ripped off four straight years of playing in 159+ games. As Janes pointed out, Semien set a record with 835 plate appearances during the 2023 season. He played in every regular-season game, then every playoff contest as the Rangers marched to a World Series title.
The 2025 campaign finally saw Semien miss some time. The 35-year-old infielder fouled a ball off himself in late August, breaking a bone in his foot. The injury cost him the rest of the season. Semien’s 127 games played last year were his fewest since 2017, excluding the abbreviated 2020 season.
The Chicago White Sox selected Semien in the 6th round of the 2011 draft. He made it to the big leagues in 2013, spending parts of two seasons with Chicago. Semien was sent to the Athletics in a deal that saw Jeff Samardzija go to the White Sox. The infielder provided decent offensive production for several seasons in Oakland. Semien broke out in 2019, slashing .285/.369/.522 with 33 home runs. He finished third in American League MVP voting. Mike Trout narrowly edged Alex Bregman for the award that year.
What Can the Mets Expect From Semien in 2026?
Never known for his contact quality, Semien saw his numbers slip even further this past season. He ranked in the 8th percentile in bat speed in 2025. Semien’s hard-hit rate slipped to 35%, his worst mark in the past three seasons.
The athletic metrics suggest the decline wasn’t as severe, though. Semien earned +7 Outs Above Average, per Statcast. He ranked in the 81st percentile for sprint speed. Semien averaged just 76.9 mph on throws in 2025, which ranked in the 11th percentile, but that was actually a slight improvement on his 2024 mark.
Semien should slot into the middle of the Mets’ lineup. With Juan Soto and Bo Bichette hitting ahead of him, he should have a solid opportunity to improve on his recent RBI totals. After driving in exactly 100 runs in 2023, Semien has been at 74 and 62 RBI the past two seasons, respectively. A decrease in playing time could affect his totals, though.
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