Mariners sign Jean Segura to $70 million extension

Jean Segura is injured right now, but the Seattle Mariners clearly see him as a big part of the future.

Last offseason, no MLB general manager was more active than Seattle Mariners’ GM Jerry Dipoto. One of his most notable deals sent starting pitcher Taijuan Walker and infielder Ketel Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks for shortstop Jean Segura, outfielder Mitch Haniger and a prospect.

Segura has been a bright spot for the Mariners this season, with a .341/.391/.462 slash-line, four home runs, 20 RBI, seven stolen bases and 29 runs scored for a team lingering around .500 (29-30). Despite his being on the disabled list with a right ankle injury right now, Jon Heyman of FanRag has confirmed an initial report the Mariners have agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract extension with Segura.

Jon Morosi of FOX Sports first reported the two sides were close to a multi-year extension on Tuesday night. So things moved quickly, and the Mariners are keeping Segura in the fold for the foreseeable future.

Just as a good 2013 season with the Milwaukee Brewers was becoming a distant memory, Segura had the best season of his career with the Diamondbacks in 2016. He led the National League in at-bats (637) and hits (203), while hitting .319 with 20 home runs, 33 stolen bases, 64 RBI, 102 runs scored and a 5.6 WAR (via Baseball Reference). So their decision to trade him was odd, to say the least. But the Mariners clearly see Segura as a long-term building block, and an average of $14 million per year though 2022 is not payroll-busting money.

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Dipoto originally suggested last week Segura would be out for two months with his high ankle sprain. But he reportedly may resume baseball activities as soon as later this week, with an eye on cutting that timetable in half. Talks about a contract extension were surely independent of Segura’s injury, and when he will return to the lineup, but it is interesting timing.