Categories: Rumors

Report: Jean Segura drew interest from AL team before signing with Marlins

Jean Segura has signed with the Marlins. (Cheryl Pursell)

The Detroit Tigers had interest in former Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jean Segura this offseason, according to Barry Jackson and Craig Mish of The Miami Herald.

It’s unclear whether the Tigers — coming off of a disappointing 66-96 season — ever made a formal offer to Segura. Ultimately, the two-time All-Star agreed to a two-year/$17 million deal to join the Marlins, which includes a $10 million club option for 2025. New Marlins’ manager Skip Schumaker plans to utilize Segura at third base, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.

Given how frequently Segura has been compared to another former Phillies infielder, Plácido Polanco, it’s interesting that the Tigers and Marlins were two of his suitors this winter. With Chase Utley ready to take over at second base on a full-time basis, the Phillies traded Polanco to Detroit in June of 2005. Polanco would later return to the Phillies as a third baseman, signing a three-year/$18 million deal ahead of the 2010 season. After his second stint with the Phillies, Polanco — who was born in the Dominican Republic and went to Miami Dade College — finished his career by playing third base with the Marlins in 2013.

Segura is a native of the Dominican Republic, and while he’s headed to a market that’s much less interested in baseball than Philadelphia, he has Miami ties as well. Jackson and Mish noted that Segura utilizes Pinecrest Physical Therapy in the offseason, which is located in Miami.

In four seasons with the Phillies, Segura slashed .281/.337/.418 with a .755 OPS, while flashing one of the strongest arms in the league at second base.