Marcus Semien

[baumer16]

Darren Wolfson a reporter from Minnesota said Twins and Brewers are in on Semien and a decision coming soon. I would assume the Brewers were the team asking him if he would play 3B

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Darren Wolfson a reporter from Minnesota said Twins and Brewers are in on Semien and a decision coming soon. I would assume the Brewers were the team asking him if he would play 3B

 

That would be quite exciting. Not sure where he would play with the Twins with Donaldson and Polanco entrenched at 3B and SS, respectively.

[PeaveyFury]

That would easily be the biggest acquisition in the NL Central this whole off season so far if it comes to pass....

[wibadgers23]

Man would he look good in our lineup. Would provide some much needed OBP.

[MNBrew]

Semien is a guy worth forking out good dough for. Then sign a Gyorko to pair up w/ Vogelbach at 1B & play everywhere else on the IF and it might work out ok.

[PeaveyFury]

He doesn't even need to be the crazy good player he was in 2019 for a deal to be of immense proportions to the Brewers. If he can just put up 3-4 WAR like he did in his other seasons, that's a HUGE addition.

 

Obviously, if he recreates 2019, he'll likely be in the running for NL MVP. 9 WAR? Insanity....

[Madhawk23]

He doesn't even need to be the crazy good player he was in 2019 for a deal to be of immense proportions to the Brewers. If he can just put up 3-4 WAR like he did in his other seasons, that's a HUGE addition.

 

Obviously, if he recreates 2019, he'll likely be in the running for NL MVP. 9 WAR? Insanity....

 

I hate to get my hopes up for Semien, because I feel like as soon as I do we'll hear that he's signing with the Twins. But, I agree - this make a lot of sense on so many levels, assuming he's OK playing 3B.

[DR28]

He doesn't even need to be the crazy good player he was in 2019 for a deal to be of immense proportions to the Brewers. If he can just put up 3-4 WAR like he did in his other seasons, that's a HUGE addition.

 

Obviously, if he recreates 2019, he'll likely be in the running for NL MVP. 9 WAR? Insanity....

 

I hate to get my hopes up for Semien, because I feel like as soon as I do we'll hear that he's signing with the Twins. But, I agree - this make a lot of sense on so many levels, assuming he's OK playing 3B.

 

Like RRB said tho, where would he play? They have 3B and SS taken.

 

Unless Donaldson to DH? Idk.

[Madhawk23]

He doesn't even need to be the crazy good player he was in 2019 for a deal to be of immense proportions to the Brewers. If he can just put up 3-4 WAR like he did in his other seasons, that's a HUGE addition.

 

Obviously, if he recreates 2019, he'll likely be in the running for NL MVP. 9 WAR? Insanity....

 

I hate to get my hopes up for Semien, because I feel like as soon as I do we'll hear that he's signing with the Twins. But, I agree - this make a lot of sense on so many levels, assuming he's OK playing 3B.

 

Like RRB said tho, where would he play? They have 3B and SS taken.

 

Unless Donaldson to DH? Idk.

 

Are the Twins bringing back Nelson Cruz? If not, then maybe they would plan to rotate Semien in at SS and 3B, giving Donaldson and Polanco some days off in the field so that they can DH? That's really the only scenario I could come up with. Twins have a better roster though to win now, but also a tougher division with the White Sox coming on strong and the Tigers on the uptick. So, maybe we can convince him that Brewers would have best chance to win Central next year if he came on board? Maybe??

[DR28]

I can totally see Marcus being the guy Mark was talking with.

 

God, I hope this happens.

 

Cain

Semien

Yelich

Hiura

 

I like that!

[narwhalattack]

Even if we're getting the 2018 Semien, that's still more power than most of the guys in our lineup last season

[brewers888]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

I get it. But the pickings are somewhat slim at the positions where the Brewers have obvious holes. What is your ideal solution?

[DR28]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

Hmmm, his 2015-2019 WAR say otherwise.

[brewers888]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

I get it. But the pickings are somewhat slim at the positions where the Brewers have obvious holes. What is your ideal solution?

 

Unless there is a Hader trade that solves our offensive ineptitiude I would probably just go the one year route with someone like Cron at first base and look for a similar guy at third. There is no way I would give a long term deal to a guy like Semien who has been a below average hitter nearly his whole career.

[PeaveyFury]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

Hmmm, his 2015-2019 WAR say otherwise.

 

Yep. I posted that yesterday as well. His offensive war was significantly positive in every single full season he's had in MLB. Stating otherwise is factually inaccurate.

[brewers888]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

Hmmm, his 2015-2019 WAR say otherwise.

 

Other than 2019 his WAR has been completely predicated on his defense. That is his only year where he was above average offensively so no way am I paying full sticker price for a defense only player.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

I get it. But the pickings are somewhat slim at the positions where the Brewers have obvious holes. What is your ideal solution?

 

Unless there is a Hader trade that solves our offensive ineptitiude I would probably just go the one year route with someone like Cron at first base and look for a similar guy at third. There is no way I would give a long term deal to a guy like Semien who has been a below average hitter nearly his whole career.

 

But who is that "similar guy at third"? And wouldn't one-year deals for Cron and "a similar guy at third" be the definition of the "bargain basement" deals that you have repeatedly ridiculed for more than a year now? I mean Cron and Smoak have very similar career archs.

[brewers888]

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/marcus-semien/12533/stats?position=SS

 

Check out the numbers for yourself. This is not a premium player besides his one incredibly fluky season. On a one year deal no issue but if its a long term deal for 10 million or more per season it would be a really bad use of resources.

[DR28]

Semien has had a wRC over 100 once in his career and that was his super fluky 2019. His value is all tied up in his defense which is always debatable. I just don't get why anyone would be excited at the prospect of paying big money to a player that has been below average offensively his entire career other than one season.

 

This wouldn't move the needle for us offensively at all. Unless its a one year deal I would say no.

 

Hmmm, his 2015-2019 WAR say otherwise.

 

Other than 2019 his WAR has been completely predicated on his defense. That is his only year where he was above average offensively so no way am I paying full sticker price for a defense only player.

 

What's the league average for WAR then? I would think it's way below what he put up those years.

[Eye Black]

I split out the Marcus Semien discussion since it is based on a report that the Brewers might be involved.

 

Here is the Twitter link referenced.

 

@DWolfsonKSTP: Buzz = he's moving closer to a decision. Brewers, Twins, others have had talks with his side.

[Madhawk23]

I split out the Marcus Semien discussion since it is based on a report that the Brewers might be involved.

 

The more I look at this offensive numbers, the less impressed with him I get. If we were bringing him in at SS, then I'd absolutely be on board with signing him. But, because we would probably be looking at him manning 3B primarily, then he becomes quite a bit less impressive. Asking him to replicate those 2019 numbers is probably a longshot, especially when we all know that they were playing with a slightly different baseball that year.

 

With that said though - not a lot of options out there to fill all of our IF holes. So, I'd still be on board with signing him if it doesn't break the bank.

[PeaveyFury]

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/marcus-semien/12533/stats?position=SS

 

Check out the numbers for yourself. This is not a premium player besides his one incredibly fluky season. On a one year deal no issue but if its a long term deal for 10 million or more per season it would be a really bad use of resources.

 

There seems to be a disconnect between your analysis and the metrics.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/semiema01.shtml

 

Offensive ONLY wins above replacement level, by season:

 

2015: 2.5

2016: 3.4

2017: 2.1

2018: 3.1

2019: 7.5

 

Add in defensive war, and he's an all-star caliber player throughout his career.

 

EDIT: Wait, are you just using Offensive Runs Above Average? You realize that needs to be adjusted positionally for WAR, right?

[Eye Black]

I would be very excited to add Marcus Semien on a short term deal.

 

I would be a bit more concerned if it was a longer term deal. Some of Semien's skill set is predicated on his speed (sprint spreed was still in the 80th percentile last year), but historically top end speed doesn't age well for most players as they get into their 30s.

 

Regarding the 3B question, obviously someone like Semien loses value at the position versus being a shortstop. That being said, I think the Brewers do enough shifting where Semien wouldn't just be anchored to the traditional 3rd base role. He would be someone they could shift around to put in more advantageous fielding positions versus LHHs which would also allow them to possibly limit some of Hiura's deficiencies in those situations. I think he'd add a lot to the Brewers defensively, especially with the way they could deploy him around the diamond in different defensive alignments.

[nate82]

I doubt Arcia stays as the Brewers starting SS for 2021 with or without Semien on the team. If 2019 Arcia shows up again Semien could easily slip over from 3B to SS if needed this would be an insurance type of a deal if Arcia falters offensively again. If you sign someone like Gyorko you could have 3B covered and would just need to platoon him a bit.