The Texas Rangers have reached a deal on a seven-year contract with Gold Glove second baseman and potential shortstop Marcus Semien, according to a source familiar with the deal.
This person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday night because the deal was not finalized. ESPN, which first reported the deal, said it was worth $ 175 million.
Semien was a shortstop in his six seasons with Oakland from 2015-2020 before starting 147 games at second base and playing all 162 games for Toronto this year. He signed a one-year, $ 18 million contract with the Blue Jays last offseason.
Semien, 31, reached 0.265 and set career highs with 45 home runs, 102 RBIs and 15 goals stolen in his lone season in Toronto. He finished third in the AL MVP vote, as he did in 2019 when he played all 162 games for track and field and reached 0.285 with 33 homers and 92 RBIs.
After a 102-game losing season, the Rangers had indicated they were prepared to spend this offseason to improve the team if necessary.
Texas used a club record of 26 rookies, with at least four or five of them regularly in roster. The Rangers have had their fifth consecutive losing season since their last AL West win in 2016.
In 1,020 career games in nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2013-14), Oakland and Toronto, Semien is batting 0.256 with 160 homers and 482 RBIs.
