The Texas Rangers and All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien have agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract. Semien, 31, hit 45 home runs last season, the most ever for a second baseman. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his career, batting .265/.334/.538 while playing in all 162 games. He’s finished third in American League MVP voting twice in the last three years.
Semien primarily played shortstop for the White Sox and A’s prior to last season, before moving to second base with Toronto. The move payed off, and earned Semien his first career Gold Glove award.
The Rangers have been struggling in recent years, with five consecutive losing seasons since their back-to-back AL West division titles in 2015 and 2016. Texas has not won a postseason series since advancing to the World Series in 2011, where they lost in seven games to the Cardinals.
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