MLB Analysis: Mets and Rangers trade; Mariners secure Naylor

MLB Free Agency Season 2025-26: Analysis and Grades

The MLB 2025-26 signing season is officially open! At Alofoke Deportes, we keep you updated with analysis and ratings of every major move, whether it’s a millionaire signing that changes the course of your team or an impactful trade. Our experts will evaluate every move as it happens. Keep reading to get the freshest analysis from now until the start of spring training!

Featured Trades: Rangers and Mets

The Rangers and the Mets were involved in a trade that involved prominent veterans.

• Mets receive: Marcus Semien
• Rangers receive: Brandon Nimmo

Mets Grade: C+

Direct exchanges between quality veterans are rare. This move, which takes Semien to New York in exchange for Nimmo, is interesting, but also involves players over 30 years old with expensive contracts. The description “shocking” would not be the most appropriate. For the Mets, it’s important to consider that Semien is 35 years old. Although he competed for the Most Valuable Player award in the Texas championship season in 2023, his offensive numbers have decreased. His offensive performance is not as promising as that of Jeff McNeil, who could have opportunities in other positions. However, Semien is a better defender than McNeil. He is coming off winning his second Gold Glove, an honor backed by solid fielding metrics. Although Semien’s contract has a higher average annual value than Nimmo’s, it is shorter in duration and will reduce New York’s long-term obligations. An aspect that raises questions is the Mets’ depth in terms of high-quality infield prospects, such as Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio, and Jett Williams, who have considerably greater potential than Semien.

Rangers’ Grade: C+

If positional adjustments are ignored, Nimmo is a better hitter than Semien and should be a considerable upgrade for Texas in the outfield compared to what the Rangers were getting from Adolis García. He is not as good a defender as García, especially in terms of arm strength, and is more likely to play in left field in Texas instead of García’s position in right. The Rangers could be weakening their defense. We’ll see how this develops as the offseason progresses, but for now, we can focus on Nimmo’s bat and the possibility of his numbers improving with the change of scenery. He’s a hitter with a higher average than both, and he has the best plate discipline of the trio. These are characteristics that the Rangers’ offense sorely needed. Nimmo’s contract is a problem, but it’s more of a long-term problem than in 2026, when he’ll earn $5.5 million less than Semien. The Rangers are looking to reorganize while controlling spending, and this is the type of deal that helps that agenda. The Rangers may worry about the real downside of Nimmo’s deal later. For now, they can hope that moving to a new stage for the first time will boost Nimmo’s numbers, which have stabilized a level below where they were during his best time with the Mets.

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward; Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels

The Orioles made a trade involving prospect Taylor Ward and Angels pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.

• Orioles receive: Taylor Ward
• Angels receive: Grayson Rodriguez

Orioles Grade: D

While the reasoning behind the exchange between the Reds and the Royals was understandable, this move by the Orioles is not so clear. The hope is that this agreement will be the beginning of a series of moves in the market. Ward, who will turn 32 next month, is likely at the limit of his prime in his career. He has been a decent player, but his skill set is limited. He is someone who is acquired for his bat. In that regard, Ward hit a career-high 36 home runs in 2025, but his underlying numbers suggest he slightly exceeded expectations in that area. He is a player who looks to hit a pitch, even if that means taking some strikes. All of this would be fine for a year of a productive hitter who would probably earn between 12 and 14 million dollars through the arbitration process. But at the cost of four years of a pitcher with Rodríguez’s potential? I don’t see it.

Angels’ Grade: A-

This is about the potential for an Angels pitching staff desperate for a true number 1 starter. The possibility of Rodríguez fulfilling that potential in an Angels uniform is an exciting notion for fans in Anaheim. This deal opens a hole in the Angels’ outfield without an obvious organizational solution. But finding a free agent replacement that approximates or surpasses Ward’s production shouldn’t be that costly. Here’s a vote to go after Cody Bellinger. The possibility of that type of improvement and, perhaps someday, a fully realized Gray-Rod, all for the low price of a Taylor Ward season? Sign me up.

Mariners Secure Josh Naylor

The Mariners began the winter by re-signing Josh Naylor.The agreement: 5 years, $92.5 million

Rating: A-

If there were an award for the prediction of the most likely free agent to come true, Josh Naylor’s return to the Seattle Mariners would have been the favorite, so it’s no surprise that this is the first major signing of the offseason. As soon as the Mariners’ season ended with that heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the American League Championship Series, the management made it clear that re-signing Naylor was their top priority. The Mariners backed up their words with a five-year contract.

It’s easy to understand why they wanted Naylor back. The Mariners have been looking for a long-term solution at first base for, well, almost 20 years. Naylor provided a great spark down the stretch, batting .299/.341/.490 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 54 games, earning him 2.2 WAR. Given the pitcher-friendly nature of T-Mobile Park, it’s not easy to attract free agent hitters to Seattle, but Naylor talked about how much he loves hitting there. In 43 career games at T-Mobile, he has hit .304 and slugged .534. Naylor is a high-contact hitter in the middle of the order; he finished with the seventeenth-best strikeout rate among qualified hitters in 2025. Naylor’s entire game is a bit contradictory. He doesn’t run (third percentile), but he stole 30 bases in 32 attempts, including 19 of 19 after joining the Mariners. He doesn’t seem like he’s fast on the field, but his Statcast defensive metrics have been above average in each of the last four seasons.

This agreement extends to its 33rd season, so there may be some risk at the end of the contract, but for a team with World Series aspirations in 2026, the Mariners needed Naylor to return. The management will be happy with this signing, and so will the Mariners fans.