Cubs Rumors: Marcus Semien could be in play this offseason

One report suggest the Chicago Cubs could be in on infielder Marcus Semien.

Unless the Chicago Cubs are content with betting on Nico Hoerner at second base, the team has a need at second base. Last year, they pieced it together with Hoerner, David Bote and Jason Kipnis. The latter is, once again, a free agent – leaving just Bote and Hoerner to handle second and handle backup duties at several other positions.

But knowing the team’s self-imposted financial limitations, one wouldn’t think the Cubs would be connected to any legitimate infielders – at least not until they shed more payroll. But according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Chicago could “find themselves at play” for veteran infielder Marcus Semien.

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Now, had Semien hit free agency one year ago, there’s no way we’re having this conversation. Why? Because he was coming off a third-place finish in American League MVP voting after putting up a .285/.369/.522 line and setting career-highs in pretty much every offensive category. Oh, and he played in all 162 games for Oakland that season, to boot.

This year was a very different story for the former sixth-round pick. He batted just .223 with a .305 OBP – good for a 91 OPS+, a far cry from the 139 mark he put up in 2019. So now, he hits the open market on the heels of a pretty so-so campaign, which is what makes him a far more feasible option for the Cubs.

MLB Trade Rumors pegged Semien for a one-year, $14 million deal at the onset of the offseason, but given how slowly the market has developed, I suspect that he’ll net something closer to the $10 million mark in terms of AAV, with a club perhaps going multi-year to lock him down.

Now, remember, Chicago non-tendered Albert Almora, Jose Martinez and Kyle Schwarber in order to save roughly that much in payroll earlier this month. Schwarber and the Cubs are leaving the door open on a reunion, but there’s nothing in the works.

So why would Jed Hoyer and the front office then pivot to someone like Semien?

He addresses a position of need. Furthermore, he hits lefties pretty well – to the tune of a .274/.336/.476 mark in his career. This year, there was a 150-point split in his OPS against lefties versus righties, even in a down year.

At the end of the day, Semien offers above-average defense alongside Javier Baez up the middle, at the minimum a league-average bat and the ability to hit lefties particularly well (career 121 wRC+). Passan mentioned the Cubs alongside a third of the league, so they’d face stiff competition in securing his services, but if nothing else it’s nice to see them mentioned as a potential fit on a quality player.