Last offseason, the Red Sox turned their back on a player who ended up having a Top 5 MVP season. And, you know what? It was the right move.
Marcus Semien finished with the fourth-best WAR in Major League Baseball in 2021 (7.1), better than even Juan Soto, the player who has a really good chance at winning the National League MVP.
The Toronto second baseman played in all 162 games, totaling 45 home runs, 15 stolen bases and a .873 OPS.
The 31-year-old Semien was also the second choice of the Red Sox when it came time to free agent wooing last offseason.
"We talked a little but I think they really liked Kiké (Hernandez) and how he can move around. It was a great fit," Semien told WEEI.com. "Kiké and I both had the same agent so I talked to my agent about it and he said, ‘Yeah, they want to go that route.’ At that point, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to stay at shortstop this year or not. In my mind, I was focusing on shortstop, although ultimately I landed at second base with Toronto, with that being later.
"(The Red Sox) definitely liked me at second base, it seemed. I think once they got Kiké they were set with what they wanted to do."
And the Red Sox can thank their lucky stars they did prioritize Hernandez. Otherwise, they are sitting here still trying to figure out how to find elite centerfield defense, while living through second base uncertainty all over again.
Semien ended up signing a one-year, $18 million deal with the Blue Jays and now finds himself back in the free-agent market. He not only will seemingly once again look to live life as a shortstop - joining an elite free-agent class at the position - but will be doing so with Scott Boras as his new agent.
The Red Sox, conversely, are secure knowing that they have one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball under contract at $7 million for 2022. There has also been the emergence of Christian Arroyo, who has tempered the kind of offseason second base desperation that initially led them to Hernandez.
The signing of Hernandez - who finished a .799 OPS while hitting out of the leadoff spot for Sox - has presented the Red Sox value and the kind of financial flexibility that might not be in play if they jumped in the Semien pool.
A one-and-done season with Semien at second base would have likely left the Red Sox with uncertainties at both centerfield and second base, paving the way for a public plea to make a run at the likes of free agent centerfielder Starling Marte.
As for Semien - who found his career year at just the right time - he is a pretty good spot, as well.
Perhaps the Red Sox decide it's worth it to play in the deep end of the free-agent market and once again show some interest in the likes of Semien, or even Marte.
But because of how things shook out, there is a little less desperation for all involved. And that's a feeling you can't put a price tag heading through the winter months.