Seeing Andrelton Simmons sign for $7.5MM less might feel disheartening at first, but Semien has the higher ceiling, and if nothing else, Toronto maintains the long-term integrity of the plan to keep Bichette at short by adding Semien over Simmons. MLBTR predicted a one-year, $14MM contract for Semien, so he’ll make slightly more in total dollars than we expected. In terms of value, the Jays did well to get a talent like Semien on a one-year deal. While that’s miles from the luxury tax line, it does represent a spending increase, both in terms of the luxury tax count and in real dollars, where their year-over-year payroll has jumped from approximately $118MM to $132MM. Even after the additions of Springer and Semien (plus Hyun Jin Ryu last winter), their luxury tax payroll is projected around $146MM. Their lineup now features a well-fed George Springer, Kirby Yates and Tyler Chatwoodwill help the bullpen, and don’t forget that the offseason began with the Jays keeping Robbie Ray in their rotation. This isn’t the first firework Toronto has lit this winter. That foursome – Guerrero, Semien, Bichette, and Biggio – has the potential to form one of the most fearsome infield groups in the game – especially if their homegrown trio continues to grow into their vast potential. has notably been preparing himself for reps at third base, though he’s more to likely start most games at first. They can now continue to flex star Bo Bichette at shortstop while moving Cavan Biggio across the diamond to third, as notes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca ( via Twitter). For that matter, Semien’s willingness to play second base is a boon for the Blue Jays. ![]() ![]() Regardless, moving to second base should secure his glove as a plus asset. Take that with the potential value he brings on defense, and even if Semien doesn’t re-emerge as an MVP candidate, Toronto has acquired a high-floor player with potential for more.ĭefensively, his glovework has received mixed reviews: subpar numbers by Statcast’s Outs Above Average, but generally more positive scores (at least since 2018) by DRS and UZR. Even considering a down 2020, however, he has consistently been between 92 and 98 wRC+. He’s never been an All-Star (for what that’s worth), and outside of his galvanizing 2019 campaign, Semien hasn’t posted a wRC+ over 100. While Semien’s 7.6 fWAR season earned him a third-place finish in AL MVP voting, it’s fair to question whether another hulk-out season is coming. 285/.369/.522 with a career-high 33 home runs, 13.7 percent strikeout rate, 10.6 percent walk rate, and 138 wRC+. His bat caught up in a major way the following season as Semien slashed. Much of that hike in value, however, came on the defensive end. In 2018, the San Francisco native enjoyed a mini-breakout by cutting his strikeout rate from 22.0 percent to 18.6 percent and bumping his fWAR total to 3.9fWAR. For the next three seasons, Semien produced like a second-division starter, averaging 1.98 fWAR per 600 plate appearances. He began his career with the White Sox, but found himself headed to Oakland as part of the December 2014 Jeff Samardzijadeal. Semien became a star during his six seasons in Oakland, and yet, it wasn’t a clean, linear process. In Semien, GM Ross Atkins lands a high-ceiling bat for 2021 and takes another significant piece off the board. The Jays reached an agreement to sign free agent shortstop Marcus Semien to a one-year, $18MM deal. JANUARY 26: The Toronto Blue Jays continued their push to join the top tier of contenders in the American League today. ![]() ![]() JANUARY 30: The Blue Jays have announced the deal.
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