Losing Semien to Jays a bad sign
A’s inability to sign SS to one-year deal an alarming sign that team is in bad financial spot
The A’s are never too shy to cry poor. This year is no exception because all Major League Baseball teams are taking substantial financial hits because of the pandemic
But Oakland’s inability to sign shortstop Marcus Semien to a one-year deal is an alarming sign that the A’s are truly in a bad financial spot.
The A’s could have extended qualifying offers worth $18.9 million to closer Liam Hendriks and Semien.
Though Hendriks was probably a lock to leave — he’d eventually land a three-year, $54 million deal with the Chicago White Sox — it seemed entirely possible that the A’s could bring back Semien on a short-term deal under the qualifying offer. Semien could bounce back after a rough, short 2020 season, positioning himself for a more lucrative deal next off-season, and the A’s could keep their leader at a reasonable price.
Instead, Semien fled Tuesday to Toronto on a one-year, $18 million deal to play second base for a young, talented Blue Jays team spending on pieces to bolster a budding contender. Safe to say the move will be a culture shock for Semien.
It’s a lot of money for a middle infielder, sure, but it’s not a good sign that the A’s weren’t able to match that deal to keep their clubhouse leader, 2019 MVP finalist starting shortstop and fan favorite in his hometown for another season, at least.
There was clearly interest on both sides for a reunion.
Baseball-wise, there are fixes to the loss. Nick Allen could be a defensive star next to Matt Chapman in the near future —
maybe not in 2021, but soon.
Andrelton Simmons signed with the Minnesota Twins not soon after Semien’s signing, but the A’s may find a player via trade or free agency if they don’t slide Chad Pinder into a regular shortstop role.
Morale-wise, it’s yet another hit to a franchise that’s already numb to the pains of playing or working for a cash-strapped organization.
Last spring, Chapman indirectly voiced his frustrations and displeasure with his adjusted contract for the truncated 2020 season, which totaled $230,926 for the two-time Platinum Glove winner. He retweeted a tweet that said: “So I just learned I’m making more
this year than @mattchap6 Guess dinner on me for one more year buddy !!!”
Then, he liked a series of tweets from A’s fans calling out ownership for not spending on players, especially stars such as Chapman.
We also know the A’s won’t have the green light to spend on players until they have shovels in the ground at the new stadium site. Billy Beane, the team’s executive vice president of baseball operations, and general manager David Forst have said as much.
“All the things we’re doing parallel what goes on with the stadium, and when we can start planning on that happening,” Beane said in December 2019. “Until we know that’s going to happen, we have to stay relatively nimble.”
New ballpark plans at Howard Terminal screeched to a halt with local government officials entirely preoccupied with the pandemic. And, with it, the A’s financial future grows even dimmer.
The A’s had 10 free agents heading into this offseason. Four of them — Semien, Hendriks, Robbie Grossman and Mike Minor — have walked. The current state of affairs in Oakland can’t sit right with stars such as Chapman and Matt Olson, as it certainly shrinks the possibility of an extension for them and the dozen players who hit arbitration this year.
The A’s payroll is shrinking.
Oakland is a talented team, and it should contend with the hordes of young talent it has on the 2021 roster so far.
But morale is important, too. And the Semien loss stings for more reasons than the obvious.