Long-Term Deal: Marcus Semien Signs With Texas Rangers

 

With his second top-3 MVP finish in the last three years, free agent Marcus Semien had no shortage of suitors. It was going to take a mammoth offering to land the Scott Boras client, and the Texas Rangers were the team that stepped up to the plate. It's believed to be a whopping 7-year deal.

WOAHHH!!

Marcus Semien LONG TERM deal to the Rangers!! https://t.co/w0ta2Js31N

— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) November 28, 2021

Semien Rangers deal is believed to be for about $175M over the 7 years

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 28, 2021

Jon Heyman is reporting that the deal is believed to be worth $175M.

The seven-year length is a stunning development, as Semien enters the 2022 season in his age-31 season. But his improvement as a player culminated in an MVP-caliber 2021 season for the Toronto Blue Jays, when he blasted a career-high 45 HR with 102 RBIs.

In addition to the term, the ability of the Rangers to offer Semien the shortstop job is likely what won him over. He played 2nd base for the Blue Jays in 2021 (and won a Gold Glove doing it), but he had said late in the season that he still considered himself a shortstop. 

Some of the other top contenders for Semien, included the Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants, were interested in Semien playing 2B, which undoubtedly helped Texas' case. Other teams were likely chased off by the 7-year term.

Still several other big-time shortstops on the market, however, notably Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Javy Baez and Trevor Story. 

Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports