Why the Guardians' path to the postseason is easier after latest trade blockbuster

The hot stove is officially on. 

After there were some sparse flames on Friday with the non-tender deadline, the Mets and Rangers fully flipped the switch on when they executed a 1-for-1 trade that sent outfielder Brandon Nimmo to Texas and second baseman Marcus Semien to New York. 

While it’s a bit of an odd trade to unpack (you almost never see MLB trades that don’t involve any prospects), it all but confirms the Rangers are planning on executing a variety of moves this offseason with finances as the main priority.

And, if that is indeed the case, it means the Guardians should have one less team to worry about in their quest to make the postseason in 2026. 

The Guardians shouldn’t have to worry about the Rangers in 2026

Although the Rangers didn’t make the postseason in 2025, the Guardians were competing with them for a Wild Card spot for most of the second half before the Rangers faded and the Guardians got hot. 

Part of the reason for Texas’ second half swoon was the lack of Semien, who didn’t play after Aug. 20 after suffering a season-ending foot injury. He finished the year hitting .230 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI in 127 games while also winning the AL’s Gold Glove at second base. 

Meanwhile, Nimmo hit .262 with a career-high 25 home runs and 92 RBI last season with the Mets and waived his no-trade clause to go to Texas. Although he fills a hole in center field for the Rangers, the loss of Semien is going to hurt.

There’s already been plenty of reporting indicating that Rangers’ ownership is looking to cut payroll, and this trade all but confirms that’s going to be the case; Nimmo is owed more money long-term but his per-year salary is lower. 

Two years ago the Rangers reached the top of the baseball mountaintop thanks to Semien, Corey Seager and Adolis García. Now Semien’s a Met, García’s a free agent and Seager is beginning to generate plenty of buzz as a potential trade target. 

That should be music to the Guardians’ ears. While Cleveland’s main goal will obviously be winning the American League Central (which they’ve done in back-to-back seasons), it looks like they won’t have to worry about the Rangers impacting the postseason picture next season. 

That said, the trade also shows how quickly things can move in the MLB offseason. Early last week word first leaked out that the Mets were considering trading Nimmo; it took less than a week for him to end up in a place that no one expected to happen. 

Guardians fans are no strangers to that kind of offseason whiplash (who can forget last offseason's infamous trade(s) with the Blue Jays?), and Sunday was just another reminder of that. 

We’ll have to wait and see if the Guardians are involved in a similar kind of deal at some point this offseason.