Marcus Semien perfect fit for Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners were on the cusp of the postseason in 2021. Can the Mariners take the next step by adding some firepower to their offense in the form of free agent infielder Marcus Semien?

That’s why Marcus Semien makes sense for the Seattle Mariners

We previewed Semien as he is at the top of the list for the best free agent available this off-season. Last season, 31-year-old Semien set a single-season record for second basemen in Major League Baseball history with 45 home runs. That and his 102 RBI were both career highs, and he played both shortstop (21 games) and second base (147 games) for the Toronto Blue Jays.

These are all things that would play well in Seattle and are needed in 2022, especially as the Mariners are turning down a $ 20 million club option for Kyle Seager, a third baseman who beat 35 homers for Seattle last season. The Mariners have somewhere to make up for this loss of performance, and adding Semien to the freelance agency would be an ideal way to do that.

After JP Crawford settled in on the shortstop (and ended a season where he cut .273 / .338 / .376 with nine homers and 54 RBI), Semien could step in on second base for the Mariners and an immediate improvement over the Abraham. his Toro and Dylan Moore combination that held the second base last season.

Mariners President of Baseball Operation Jerry Dipoto said earlier this off-season that his team is looking for “adaptable” players who are “ready to hit the field.” That certainly fits with Semien, a long-lived gamer who saw action in 159 games in 2018 and 162 games in both 2019 and 2021.

Let’s not forget that Semien has a lot of experience in the American League West and has spent six of his nine MLB seasons with the Oakland A.

Of course, Semien will come at a steep price, especially after hiring Scott Boras to represent him until 2022. After a one-year $ 18 million deal with the Blue Jays, Semien will look to capitalize on his success in 2021. If the Mariners cut Seagers’ salaries, would that signal discomfort about a big deal? It seems unlikely, especially after previous comments on Seattle, to increase its payroll as it pursues a post-season spot.

At first glance, Semien seems to be a perfect fit in Seattle.