What a Former Mets Pitcher and Outfielder Could Bring to the Texas Rangers Spring Training in 2026
For the first time since the 2022 MLB season, two former New York Mets will be reunited on the field for the first time. Brandon Nimmo was acquired by the Texas Rangers when Nimmo waived his no-trade clause and was brought to the Lone Star State, while the Rangers sent Marcus Semien to Queens. During their time together in New York, the duo experienced a roller coaster of a time from 2016-2022, as they went to the playoffs twice, but never went further than the National League Wild Card Game. The duo never sniffed the World Series, but individually, they were fantastic, posting amazing stats. Jacob deGrom won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019, which left the Mets with the best career ERA in franchise history, sitting at 2.52. Nimmo, on the other hand, maintained a career-high on-base percentage, hitting .364.
Nimmo comes to the Rangers after posting what some would call an excellent season for the 32-year-old, as he hit career highs with 25 home runs and 92 RBI while complementing those statistics with 13 stolen bases and a batting average of .262. The Rangers' front office and fans are hopeful that Nimmo can continue to build on his career year and be competitive in the American League, potentially sending them back to the playoffs. The Rangers required a consistent batter and a solid outfielder after letting go of the 2023 American League Championship Series MVP Adolis Garcia, and they saw that Nimmo not only brought veteran experience but also great outfield play and could fit right into the starting lineup smoothly, but still has some big shoes to fill trying to replace a fan-favorite. How quickly he adapts to the Rangers’ lineup may determine the success of this transition.
When it comes to deGrom, he can start every three games during the Cactus League schedule. However, the Rangers would rather have him start slowly, accumulate the necessary innings to avoid injury, which he has done for at least one season, and still produce productive innings from him. DeGrom boasted some rather great stats last season, finishing as the 2025 American League Comeback Player of the Year, went 12-8 with a sub-3 ERA, and retired 185 batters via the strikeout. He also started 30 games last season, so expect him to continue that dominance going into the next season. Hopefully, deGrom can give us a taste of what we should expect from him, as the Rangers are set to face Team Brazil later this afternoon. Keep an eye on two things: how many innings will deGrom pitch, and how many at-bats will the Rangers' dugout let Nimmo get.
