MLB News: Yankees Still In Search Of Available Shortstop After Losing Semien

KEY POINTS

The Rangers hand Marcus Semien his desired seven-year deal worth $175 million
The Yankees backed out in the chase for Semien due to his demand
The Rangers are also finalizing a deal with Jon Gray

The New York Yankees were in search of a shortstop, and Marcus Semien loomed as a plausible choice.

However, the 31-year-old is now off the table with the All-Star player reportedly reaching a deal with the Texas Rangers.

The Yankees reportedly halted their pursuit on Semien when they opted not to offer the said player a seven-year deal worth $175 million, Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported.

With New York backpedaling, the Rangers stepped in and appear to be at the cusp of making it official according to sources in a report by ESPN.

Semien played for the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year deal. He was moved to second base. but the shift did not prevent him from being named to his first All-Star Game in his nine-year career.

Making it sweeter for Semien is the fact that he was awarded the 2021 Golden Glove Award and the 2021 Silver Slugger Award.

He also finished third in the American League MVP voting, making him the only player with two top-three MVP finishes in the past three years.

Despite the fantastic season that Semien had, it appears the money and length of tenure that was required to sign him were too much for the Yankees.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman mentioned in October that the shortstop was a position they needed to address in the offseason.

This came after New York opted to move Gleyber Torres to second base towards the end of the year, mainly due to his poor performance.

With Semien no longer available for New York, Cashman will now have to divert his attention on other shortstop free agents.

Among the names, available include Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Baez and Trevor Story.

As for the Rangers, Semien is not the only player they are finalizing deals with. Jon Gray is another player who is in the final stages, set to be signed to a four-year pact worth $56 million.

Texas has already come to terms with outfielder Kole Calhoun. The 34-year-old right fielder agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.2 million, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

The deal also includes a club option on Calhoun for the 2023 season.