Marcus Semien’s 74 wRC+ in 2026 wasn’t just bad, it was the worst offensive year of his entire Major League career, flat out. This guy became one of the most prominent faces for the Mets’ absolutely dramatic underperformance, and yeah, it was brutal to watch from start to finish.
The Trade That Wasn’t What It Seemed
Remember when David Stearns, the Mets’ GM, talked up Marcus Semien? He came in after the trade that sent franchise stalwart Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers, and Stearns publicly sounded optimistic. He talked about how the three-time All-Star could contribute in 2026, even acknowledging the veteran second baseman had a down year in 2025. Stearns was pushing the idea of an offensive rebound and talked about Semien’s expected contributions in the field and on the bases.
But let’s be real here. If you gave Stearns truth serum, he’d probably admit that trade was way more about offloading Nimmo. Getting Nimmo onto another team secured an open corner outfield spot and provided some sweet long-term salary relief. Accepting Semien in return? That was just the price to make it happen. The team probably wasn’t surprised if they looked into the future and saw Semien’s offensive downturn, which started a couple of years back, continuing. Still, they probably hoped for a couple of things. First, that he’d keep providing Gold Glove caliber defense, or at least well above-average, even if that part of his game slipped a bit. Second, that the rest of the team would be strong enough to overcome one below-average bat in the lineup. Plus, if it all went sideways, cutting ties with Semien before his contract expires at the end of the 2028 season would be way easier than moving on from a homegrown guy like Nimmo, whose contract had two extra years tacked on.
A Consistent, Crushing Decline
Looking purely at what Semien brought to the table in 2026, it’s honestly tough to imagine how he could have been much worse. From the jump, he looked every bit of his 35 years old. We’re talking declining bat speed, exit velocities that just weren’t there, and skills that, let’s face it, aren’t coming back.
That 74 wRC+ he put up for the entire year? Career worst. It’s a huge step down from the 90 wRC+ he posted in 2025, when he was already a below-average offensive player, albeit only marginally so. What’s wild is how *consistent* this poor performance was. He was just bad all year. There were no hot streaks, no “remember when” moments. His best month at the plate was August, and even then, he scraped together a measly 88 wRC+. That tells you everything you need to know about how tough his 2026 season was.
This wasn’t just a tough year; it was a loud warning. With Semien still on the books through 2028, what do the Mets do now? They needed him to be a piece that elevated the team, not one that dragged them down to a dramatic underperformance. It’s clear his best days are long gone, and the impact on the team is undeniable.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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