*Photo from The Athletic*
The Toronto Blue Jays might have a top flight infield in baseball, with their young core of Bichette, Guerrero, and Biggio. Now, they've improved it even more. The Blue Jays and SS Marcus Semien are in agreement on a one year, $18 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The contract has been confirmed by the Blue Jays.
After a stellar 2019, Semien did regress a little in 2020, posting a .223 average with a .679 OPS, hitting 7 homers and 23 RBI in 53 games played for the Oakland Athletics in the Pandemic shortened season. In his major league career, which spans 8 seasons, Semien is a .254 hitter with a .747 OPS, hitting 115 homers and 380 RBI in 858 games played, spent with the Athletics and the Chicago White Sox.
Semien has spent most of his career in the majors playing shortstop, but does also have experience at second and 3rd base, which gives manager Charlie Montoyo plenty of options in the infield with the talented core. Bo Bichette is pretty solidly entrenched at shortstop, so Semien will likely see the majority of his starts at second base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr was moved from 3rd base to first base in 2020, but has been training at 3rd all offseason in an attempt to get back their full time. That of course would push Biggio out of 3rd base, where he played last season after Guerrero moved to first, and likely into a utility role, as he can play second, short, and some outfield as well, drawing starts in the infield when Bichette or Semien need a day off.
Semien will be looking to get back to his stellar form in 2019 with Oakland, posting a .285 average and an .892 OPS, slugging 33 homers and driving in 92 runs, playing all 162 games for the Athletics. This year is more of a bounce back, prove it year for Semien, in the hopes he can get a bigger contract next year when he hits the free agent market again.
Semien's acquisition is the latest in a long line of moves for the Blue Jays this winter, as they've added Robbie Ray, AJ Cole, Tyler Chatwood, Kirby Yates, and George Springer in a busy winter.
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