Dodgers Team News

MLB News: Marcus Semien Signs with Texas, Rangers ‘Aren’t Done’ in Free Agency

The first big piece of the offseason fell on Sunday afternoon when it was reported that the Texas Rangers had reached a deal with infielder Marcus Semien. The contract is for 7 years and about $175 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Passan also reports that the Rangers aren’t done wheeling and dealing just yet. Of course, Texas has been linked to former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager this offseason. Semien has played mostly shortstop over his nine-year big league career, but he moved to second base with the Blue Jays last season and posted an MVP-caliber year.

If Semien was signed to play shortstop, then the Rangers would seemingly be out on Seager or any other top free agent option at the position. But if he’s open to remaining at second base, then Texas could continue its franchise-altering offseason. Jeff Passan said in a tweet that Texas is still in on Colorado free agent Trevor Story. But it’s easy to imagine Seager and potentially Carlos Correa still being in play.

WATCH: Marcus Semien Signing With Texas Rangers, How it Impacts Dodgers Pursuit of Seager/Kershaw

Texas has also pushed hard to try and lure long-time Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw to pitch for his hometown Rangers, but that move feels harder to imagine. 

More MLB Deals

The Texas Rangers also reportedly added free agent outfielder Kole Calhoun on Sunday, but they certainly aren’t the only team making a splash ahead of the impending CBA lockout. The New York Mets spent big on Friday, agreeing to contracts with three top free agents (OF Starling Marte: four-year, $78M; OF Mark Canha: two-year, $26.5M; INF Eduardo Escobar, two-year, $20M). The Marlins inked outfielder Avisail Garcia to a four-year deal and a pair of starting pitchers signed with AL East teams (RHP Corey Kluber to Tampa Bay and RHP Michael Wacha with Boston).

Meanwhile, the Dodgers remain quiet and ready to pounce.

NEXT: Is Kris Bryant an Option if LA Doesn’t Re-sign Chris Taylor?

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

8 Comments

  1. Dodgers ready to pounce? WSS. As noted in this article, Rangers, Twins ,Rays, Marlins are getting something done. IDK for sure but Roberts , by virtue of how he managed the pitching and position players may be a deterrent for players from wanting to sign here.

    1. Yeah I’ve been noticing the same thing Paul. The Dodgers are either waiting for the market to fizzle so they can offer lower contracts, then using the excuse that their intentions were to make sure the players had plenty of time to play the field. But it appears to me that as you’ve stated, no one seems to be all in about just re-signing. Looking around at other org’s for instance the rival Vagiants, they seem to have players like crawford , Desclafani etc., that love their org’s so much they sign asap. Not one Dodger has resigned, and they just came off WS runs. And looking at the few signings they actually have done, it looks like Friedman and the dumpster project players have more of a priority than the players that gave him a Championship.

    1. That state Income tax thing is only useful for athletes making the same millions dollar contracts they’d get in CA or NY. For your average citizen it gets canceled out by lower salaries

  2. I like what the Mets are doing so far. I think they’ll be better than the dodgers when Friedman goes cheap this off-season. That’ll be a monumental embarrassment considering how dysfunctional NY is

    1. It sure does look like Friedman is realizing the Should have been dynasty is past tense. They may end up better than the Dodgers , but they’re not a World Series team even if they get “Dead Arm” Scherzer ..

  3. That kind of money is for a SS. The Rangers likely heard the same worn-out pitch by Boras and said, “no thank$”. Native Texan Trevor Story makes more sense and won’t cost them as much.

    The Yankees are said to be looking for a short-time SS as their top prospect is a SS and is only two years away from the big show.

    Seager’s options are dwindling, and it sure looks like he might just take a 3-year deal, maybe less and hit free agency again, to stay in LA. November 30 is coming fast! In that case, move him to 3B with Trae at SS and JT in the DH spot…..

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