While 2020 wasn’t the best of seasons for Marcus Semien, his struggles could be exactly what keeps him with the A’s. Mark Feinsand thinks the Oakland native will end up back with the A’s with so much uncertainty.
We don’t know where Marcus Semien will end up next season. What we do know is the A’s players, front office and fans want him back in Oakland. And more for the reasons than what he brings on the field. The Bay Area native has made a name for himself in the community.
With that said, there is some additional hope that he could stay in Oakland, and it has to do with the 2022 offseason.
There will be five big-name shortstop free agents on the market following next season: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager, Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story, Chicago Cubs’ Javier Báez, Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa and Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor.
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There’s not enough time to detail each of these guys’ numbers and accomplishments, but trust me, they’re very, very good.
Would someone of Semien’s caliber want to approach that crowded market? Probably not.
There also are plenty of rumors surrounding Lindor and whether he will remain with the Indians or be traded this winter. He’s projected to earn around $21 million in arbitration in his last year before heading into free agency.
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Before you attach that money to Lindor and compare it to Semien, remember we are coming off of an unprecedented season. The guys heading into the current free agent market have no idea what to expect. And while we aren’t sure what Semien is worth, it would be smaller than that considering teams are said to be tightening their budgets.
OK, back to Semien …
Additionally, his dip in 2020 numbers compared to the previous season could add to his chances of staying with the A's.
Here’s an overview:
- In 2019, Semien slashed: .285/.369/.892
- In 2020, Semien slashed: .223/.305/.374
Quite a difference.
RELATED: A's desperately hope Semien remains in Oakland
The recent extension of designated hitter Khris Davis on a two-year, $33.5 million deal through the 2021 season might not seem big, but for the A’s it looked like a sign of things to come with future free agents. Now, that might not be the case.
Ideally, it would be great to have sign Semien to a similar multi-year contract so he can avoid a tough market, and make both parties happy. Semien made it clear he wants to stay #RootedinOakland, and the team has reciprocated their feelings about the shortstop.
All of this helps the argument that Semien will remain with the A's, but nothing is for sure in this uncertain market.