Four Years Ago (Really? Just four years?)
The Blue Jays signed Marcus Semien to a one-year, $18 million contract.
Semien was coming off a poor 2020 season (a shortened season due to the Covid pandemic) with the A’s, hitting just .223/.305/.374 with 7 home runs in 53 games. The year before, he hit .285/.369/.522 with 33 home runs, a career year.
Marcus wanted to sign a one-year deal to rebuild value to get a bigger one after the 2021 season. It worked, both for him and the Jays. He hit .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs, playing in all 162 games. He made the AL All-Star team, won the Gold Glove at second base and came in third in MVP voting. That would be good for a 7.1 bWAR, tied for seventh best in Blue Jays history for batters.
The Jays finished 91-71, unfortunately, 1 game short of the Wild Card spot.
Semien turned that into a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Texas Rangers. So, taking the one-year deal worked out well for him.
In the first three seasons with the Rangers, he’s hit .254/.320/.433 with 78 home runs and a 17.0 bWAR. If his next four seasons go as well, he could make the Hall of Fame.
It is also Davis Schneider’s 26th birthday.
I don’t have to tell you how terrific Davis was when he first came up to the Jays in August 2023. He had 9 hits and 2 home runs in his first three teams. After slowing up, he went on a 9-game hitting streak with 4 home runs.
There was a 9-game hitless streak near the end of the season, but in his first 35 MLB games, he hit .276/.404/.603 with 8 home runs.
2024 wasn’t as good to him. He hit .190/.282/.343 with 13 home runs for a 0.0 bWAR.
I’m curious how things go for him this year. He will have to have a good spring to make the team. And even then, he won’t get playing time at second or left field. He’ll be looking for a utility role.
Happy Birthday, Davis.