Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons Could Have a Rough Free Agency Due to the Dip in Revenue

SI's Tom Verducci shares how the dip in MLB revenue in 2020 is shaking things up for shortstops around the league

With the MLB and MLBPA still working on a deal to begin the season, the revenue losses for the league are obvious, and even a resumed season wouldn't allow the league to recoup revenue losses fully. SI's Tom Verducci shares how the revenue losses from this season could have a big impact on the free agent class of 2021, particularly at the shortstop position. Verducci highlights two shortstops that were looking for a payday in 2021, but with a stacked free agent class at that position - timing might have gotten the best of them. 

Whether or not we have Major League Baseball in 2020, it's clear that a large chunk of revenues have been drained from the game, and that will impact the next free agent class. And when I think about that free agent class - I think about to premiere shortstops Marcus Semien of the Oakland A's and Andrelton Simmons of the Los Angeles Angels. 

Now, you might think they would be best served by signing so-called "pillow contracts" one-year deals in which they can reestablish their value and allow Major League Baseball revenues to build back up. But here's the problem with that strategy. There's no guarantee that those revenues will be built up in a year's time. 

Most importantly, the 2021 free agent class is absolutely loaded with premier shortstops. Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Javier Baez, Corey Seager and Trevor Story, all of whom are younger than Semien and Simmons. For them, this case looks like a case of unfortunate timing.