Marlins Sign Jean Segura to Two-Year, $17-Million Contract
After much anticipation, the Miami Marlins have finally made their first notable acquisition this off-season, landing infielder Jean Segura in free agency.
The team reportedly signed Segura to a two-year deal worth $17 million on Thursday, first reported by Héctor Gómez of Z101. His contract also includes a $10 million club option for 2025, with a $2 million buyout.
Once official, pending a physical, the 32-year-old will earn $6.5 million in 2023, $8.5 million in ‘24 and a guaranteed $2 million in ‘25. The total value of his contract will increase to $25 million if his option is exercised.
Segura, a two-time All-Star, entered free agency after his $17-million option was declined by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this winter, ending his tenure with the franchise after four seasons. The right-hander hit .281/.337/.418 with 43 home runs and 176 RBIs across 427 games.
Now, the 5-foot-10 infielder will take his talents to South Beach, where he’ll look to improve a Marlins roster that finished fourth in the NL East last season at 69-93. They also missed the playoffs for a second straight year, making just one appearance (2020) since 2004.
The veteran righty has spent most of his career at shortstop, where he’s logged 7,828 innings, although he played his final three seasons with Philadelphia at second base. But with Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second and Joey Wendle and Miguel Rojas likely to share shortstop, both positions appear to be tied up.
Miami could explore potential trades for either Wendle or Rojas, which would solve the club’s suddenly crowded infield. If everyone stays put, however, Segura will likely open next season at third base, confirmed by manager Skip Schumaker.
Segura signed as an amateur free agent with the Los Angeles Angels in 2007, making his major-league debut in 2012. But he was traded just three days later to the Milwaukee Brewers, along with Johnny Hellweg and Ariel Peña, as part of the Zack Greinke deal.
The Dominican native compiled 476 games with the Brewers from 2012-15, slashing .266/.302/.361 with 23 home runs, 144 RBIs and a 78 wRC+. He was selected to his first All-Star Game during his first full campaign with the franchise in 2013.
After playing in the midwest, Segura was included in a five-player trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he enjoyed a breakout performance in 2016. The talented infielder posted 20 home runs, 64 RBIs, a 126 wRC+ and a .319/.368/.499 slash line through 153 games.
Cashing in on that success, the team immediately dealt him to the Seattle Mariners during the off-season, acquiring Ketel Marte and Taijuan Walker. His tenure in the Pacific Northwest only lasted two seasons, though, being traded to Philadelphia in 2018, sending J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana the other way.
Segura was limited to just 98 games last season – his lowest total since 2012, excluding 2020 – due to a fractured right finger that required surgery. He was effective when healthy, hitting .277/.336/.387 with 10 round-trippers, 33 RBIs and a 105 wRC+ while being worth 1.7 fWAR.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Ian D’Andrea. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.