The Blue Jays inked Marcus Semien to a lucrative one-year contract worth $18 million.
Semien, following a lackluster 2020 season with the A’s amidst the Covid pandemic, where he posted underwhelming numbers of .223/.305/.374 with 7 home runs in 53 games, rebounded spectacularly in the subsequent year. Prior to that, in the preceding season, he had a standout performance with a batting line of .285/.369/.522, accompanied by 33 home runs, marking a peak in his career at that time.
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Opting for a short-term deal, Semien aimed to elevate his market value, and his strategy paid off handsomely for both himself and the Blue Jays. His stellar performance in the 2021 season, hitting .265/.334/.538 with an impressive tally of 45 home runs across 162 games, earned him recognition as an AL All-Star, clinching the Gold Glove at second base, and securing third place in the MVP voting. This translated to a noteworthy 7.1 bWAR, ranking among the top seven in Blue Jays history for batters.
Despite the team’s commendable 91-71 finish, they fell short by just one game in securing a Wild Card spot.
Semien’s outstanding season propelled him to a lucrative seven-year, $175 million contract with the Texas Rangers, underscoring the success of his short-term deal strategy.
Since joining the Rangers, Semien has sustained solid performance, boasting a batting line of .262/.327/.454 alongside 55 home runs and a notable 13.1 bWAR over the initial two seasons. If his performance maintains this trajectory over the next five seasons, he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Additionally, Davis Schneider celebrates his 25th birthday.
Schneider showcased remarkable promise upon his debut with the Blue Jays in August the previous year, tallying 9 hits and 2 home runs in his initial three games. Although he experienced a brief slowdown, he rebounded impressively with a nine-game hitting streak, during which he slammed 4 home runs.
Despite encountering a nine-game hitless streak towards the end of the season, Schneider’s early MLB stint exhibited his potential, boasting a batting average of .276/.404/.603 with 8 home runs in his first 35 games.
The hope is that the team affords him the opportunity to further demonstrate his capabilities in the upcoming season.
Happy Birthday, Davis.