Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien has hired the Wasserman Agency for representation, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Agent Joel Wolfe will take the lead.
Semien’s agency switch comes amid a breakout campaign for the 28-year-old, a valuable regular from 2015-18 who has found another gear this season. Acquired from the White Sox in a significant December 2014 trade, Semien entered this season as a lifetime .249/.310/.403 hitter with 9.7 fWAR in 2,637 plate appearances. Semien has since has slashed a career-best .276/.363/.480 with a personal-high 4.3 fWAR in 524 trips to the plate. He slugged a pair of home runs Monday, giving him 19 on the season and easily putting him on pace for the second 20-HR showing of his career.
Semien’s offensive strides have come thanks in part to improved plate discipline, as he has posted the top strikeout and walk percentages of his career (13.9 and 11.8, respectively). Meanwhile, Semien has also taken noticeable steps forward as a defender over the past couple seasons. He combined for minus-15 Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-9.7 Ultimate Zone Rating from 2016-17, but he’s now enjoying his second straight year in the pluses in those categories (13 DRS, 14.4 UZR since 2018).
The well-rounded Semien has emerged as arguably one of the premier middle infielders in baseball – all the more auspicious for a low-budget A’s team that’s not breaking the bank on him. Semien’s making a a team-friendly $5.9MM salary this season, but unfortunately for Oakland, his bargain days don’t look as if they’ll continue for much longer. Next year’s slated to be Semien’s last as an arbitration-eligible player, and though the Athletics have discussed an extension with him, nothing has come together yet.
[RELATED: MLBTR Agency Database]
Wow!!! Breaking news!
White Sox gave away a lot of really good shortstops .
Shhh. Don’t tell them that they get really defensive.
And threw in last night’s starting pitcher and one of our catchers for one awful year of Jeff Samardzija.
It’s another trade often forgotten when people talk about how great of a GM Rick Hahn is.
You obviously don’t the White Sox, or baseball in general, do you? Anyway, I’ll take Tim Anderson over Marcus Semien all day, everyday. I am happy Semien finally reached his potential though.
Considering what the Sox acquired in that deal, the A’s win that one.
Semien’s current WAR: 4.4
Tim Anderson’s current WAR + his 2018 WAR: 4.3
I mean, it’s not even close
Not really. The only reason I would take Anderson over Semien would be for a bat-flip contest. Otherwise, I’d take Semien every single day.
Wow Semien is quietly having a pretty incredible season… I wasn’t even aware of how solid he’s been thus far in 2019. He’s already accumulated 5.0 WAR and cut down on his errors from 20-something last season to only 8 this year!
Hit 2 homers today in a great game against cubs
He was a solid waiver wire pickup for fantasy baseball. I was even able to flip him in a package for Ryu
His defensive numbers are somewhat skewed by having an otherworldly defender beside him and a really good first baseman. He IS better but he also knows Chapman will gobble up anything to his right and Olson will gobble up anything thrown close.
I would extend him 3 years. Don’t care about money since there’s no cap like hockey. Maybe 4 years, opt out after 2/3. He’s worth the investment. Plus he’s proven and a leader.
Oh yeah because the A’s are free spenders with no regard to payroll
I think this signals an extension is unlikely. May circle back to A’s but definitely testing free agency.
Im not convinced theyll sign semien long term. Theyve been talking extension since summer 2017 prior to him improving last couple years. Jorge mateo is out of options for next season and having a very good season in AAA although inflated vegas stats. And hes their next best ready shortstop anytime soon.
I didn’t realize how badly Sox got fleeced on that Samardzija trade until they announced it on espn last night. Semien could be a 6-7 War player this year and Bassit looks like a really solid pitcher.
A’s roster starting to get expensive. Does Billy keep the team together in 2020 or begin reshuffling (translation getting cheaper & younger) this offseason? As with most A’s endeavors likely a combination. Semien would return a good haul and shouldn’t settle for an extension until he sees what Didi Gregorius lands in FA.
If Billy is smart he’ll sell high on Liam Hendriks. Should’ve done it last year on Treinen. Early returns appear A’s made a mistake extending DH only Khris Davis. Misjudged the market and he’s regressed mightily, partially blamed on injuries per reports. The foundation piece long term in the A’s ideal world has to be Matt Chapman. Not eligible for FA until 2024 (Age 31 season) but is a Boras client that could wait to hit the market. Pursing early extensions on Laureano (if back healthy) and Matt Olson logical.
Budget in Oakland is always the question. Do they get a new stadium? Pitching wise it appears they’ve found a formula that works and vastly benefits from elite D. A’s are a good team that if their young pitching can kick in will prolong this window of contention.