Some GMs dance around whatever roster issues come up when they introduce a shiny new player after an important trade, but that’s not New York Mets GM David Stearns. He just acquired second baseman Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers, but he had to give up outfielder Brandon Nimmo to do it. 

Nimmo was a long-time fan favorite, but that doesn’t mean Stearns was in favor of keeping him. He reiterated his goals about improving the defense when he discussed the trade, and Stearns also made it clear that he was not a favorite of running it back with the current group after what happened this season. 

"It's a recognition that what we did last year wasn't good enough and running it back with the exact same group wasn't the right thing to do," Stearns said on a Monday videoconference with reporters that was part of an ESPN story written by Jesse Rogers. "[Semien] balances our lineup from the right side which is something we were seeking to do."

There are two issues with Semien: (1) the fact that he’s 35, and (2) the second baseman’s offensive production in Texas dropped this season. He hit .230 with 15 home runs, with the home run total being Semien’s lowest since 2018. 

Stearns indicated that he’s confident that Semien will rebound, but he clearly cares more about his defense. 

"This is a player that can contribute to winning baseball in a variety of different ways," he stated. "The bat may not lead the way at this point in his career. ... What we're counting on is the contributions he can make for us defensively [and] how he can perform on the bases. We think that's how he can help us win games." 

Rogers mentioned that second baseman Jeff McNeil could play some in the outfield with Nimmo gone, or he could shift over to first. That seems unlikely, but Stearns did address the elephant in the room, which is whether first baseman Pete Alonso or closer Edwin Diaz would be returning now that both have opted out to be come free agents. 

"As I've said before we'd love to have Edwin and Pete back," Stearns said. "They are both great Mets. I'm not going to get into any specifics of any conversations we've had [with them] to this point."

The money question also came up as well, as Stearns was asked if he could bring back Diaz and Alonso and add more in free agency. 

"Sure, I think anything would be realistic right now," Stearns answered. "Payroll space is not unending but I'm also very confident we're going to have the support we need and the resources we need to put a very good team on the field."