Reds rumors: Cincinnati involved in negotiations with Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien, according to the latest Reds rumors, has been in negotiations with the Cincinnati front office.

To what extent remains to the seen, but according to former Reds GM and current contributor to The Athletic Jim Bowden, Cincinnati has been involved in negotiations with shortstop Marcus Semien. These Reds rumors are sure to bring a smile to the faces of the Cincinnati faithful.

The Cincinnati Reds are in a need of shortstop, badly. And, it just so happens that Marcus Semien may be the best available one on the open market. Semien, along with former Reds farmhand Didi Gregorius and Gold Glove Award-winner Andrelton Simmons represent the upper echelon of the shortstop market this offseason.

Francisco Lindor, the hottest name on the trade market heading into the winter, was recently dealt to the New York Mets and we haven’t heard much from the Colorado Rockies when it comes to their desire in trading Trevor Story. So, if Nick Krall and the Reds front office hope to make an upgrade at the shortstop position, it’ll likely have to be via free agency.

According to Bowden, the Cincinnati Reds are not the only team to have been involved in negotiations with Semien. The Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics, and Boston Red Sox are all said to have been involved with Semien to some extend. The Red Sox see Semien as more of a second baseman since the left side of their infield is set with Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts.

If the season started today, the Cincinnati Reds would likely have either Kyle Farmer or José García as the team’s starting shortstop. Neither is a fantastic option, as Farmer is more valuable as Cincinnati’s do-everything utility player, and García is in need of more time at the minor league level.

Despite a subpar 2020 campaign, a solid career and fantastic showing in last year’s postseason have Marcus Semien hoping to strike it big this offseason. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that the California native could take home a one-year/$14M deal, but it’s quite possible that Semien is holding out for a longterm contract.

These Reds rumors should be comforting to the fanbase, as Reds Country is hopeful that the front office abandons their interest in trading away star players like Mike Moustakas and Eugenio Suárez, and decides instead to go all-in and compete for the NL Central crown. Adding Semien would certainly help reach that goal.