Marcus Semien signed a 7-year, $175M contract before the 2022 season. He gets a fraction of the attention that Seager gets. That is a mistake.
The production (source: Baseball Reference):
- 2022: .248/.304/.429, 26 HR, 83 RBI
- 2023: .260/.318/.459, 29 HR, 100 RBI (Championship season)
- 2024: .272/.339/.471, 27 HR, 91 RBI
- 2025: .268/.332/.445, 25 HR, 88 RBI
WAR across 4 Rangers seasons: 18.4 total, averaging 4.6 per year.
At $25M AAV, that is roughly $5.4M per WAR — below the market rate of $8-9M per WAR. Semien has been underpaid for his production.
What the numbers do not capture:
- Defensive excellence: Semien has won a Gold Glove at second base. His OAA per Baseball Savant has been +5 or better in 3 of 4 seasons. He saves runs with his glove.
- Durability: 155+ games in all 4 seasons. He does not miss time. For a $175M investment, availability is the most important ability.
- Lineup construction: Semien hitting at the top of the order sets the table for Seager. His .340+ OBP as a leadoff hitter puts runners on base for the middle of the lineup.
- Clubhouse presence: Multiple teammates have cited Semien's work ethic and professionalism as setting the standard for the team.
The comparison to Seager: Seager gets the headlines. He is the flashier player, the bigger contract, the World Series MVP. But Semien's consistent, underrated production has been equally important to the Rangers' success. You cannot build a championship team without players like Semien.
Sources:
- Baseball Reference — seasonal stats and WAR
- Baseball Savant — defensive metrics
- Spotrac — contract details
- FanGraphs — WAR valuation
What would you do?
Durability is the underrated factor. 155+ games every year for 4 straight years. That consistency allows the coaching staff to plan and the lineup to develop chemistry. It matters more than people think.