Marcus Semien would be a great addition to his old team in the Chicago White Sox.
What’s old could be new again, as former White Sox shortstop Marcus Semien has grown into one of the best players in the American League over the last few years while playing in Oakland and Toronto.
He has made a smooth transition to second base this season with the Blue Jays where he played 147 games at the position and was named to the All-Star team. He posted a .985 fielding percentage and was eighth in the American League in Defensive WAR. After moving over to the right side of the infield, Semien finished third in putouts (202), fourth in assists (317) and second in double plays turned (86).
Semien was fifth in errors at second with eight but he was also fifth in the league in fielding percentage. His defense is far from being a liability and his teaming with Tim Anderson could make for a strong presence in the middle of the infield and at the plate.
Speaking of offense, Semien would be a great addition to the lineup, providing both power with an ability to get on base. He was fourth in the league in homers with 45 while also being fourth in doubles and runs scored. He finished second to teammate Vladamir Guerrero in total bases and finished fifth in hits at 173. His 86 extra-base hits were tops in the AL and he was tied for third in times on base at 242.
Maybe Semien’s greatest ability is his availability as he played in all 162 games this season which would come as welcome news to the White Sox who saw their fair share of players spend time on the injured list. That is an impressive resume and if Hahn wants to go the free-agent route, Semien should be atop his wish list.