Semien went 2-for-7 with an RBI in Friday's extra-inning win over the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Semien played hero for the Athletics, as he notched the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 13th inning with a single to center field. It was Semien's second multi-hit game of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time for Oakland. Even though Semien is only hitting for .190 with a .215 on-base percentage in 65 at-bats this season, he has been consistent and has hit safely in 10 of the team's 14 games so far.

Semien, who went 1-for-4 with a run and three strikeouts in a win over the Rangers on Wednesday, is now sporting a 31.5 percent strikeout rate across his first 54 plate appearances.

EDGE Analysis

The leadoff hitter is typically responsible for setting the tone for a team's offense, and as such, it isn't surprising to see the Athletics have often struggled to score runs this season with Semien seeing a significant drop-off at the plate early. The veteran shortstop, who's due to hit the open market this coming offseason, has also seen a drop in walk rate from 11.6 percent to 3.7 percent and sports a pedestrian 25.7 percent hard contact rate after logging a 41.9 percent figure last season. There is no artificially low BABIP (.286) as a culprit either, as Semien is simply either swinging and missing or putting the ball in the air a lot more (51.4 percent flyball rate) than in previous seasons. Semien has hit safely in three of the past four games, but he still sports just a .130 average (3-for-24) in five August contests and hasn't left the yard yet this season after slugging a career-high 33 home runs in 2019.

Semien went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's loss to Seattle.

EDGE Analysis

Semien finally got the A's on the board in the eighth inning with a two-run triple off Bryan Shaw. He then scored thanks to a sacrifice fly from Ramon Laureano. Unfortunately, the A's still came up short. The 29-year-old has now hit safely in six straight games.

Semien went 2-for-4 with a run in a win over the Angels on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran shortstop has reached safely in each of the first three games of the season, and he's hit in two straight. Semien has also parlayed his four instances on the base paths into three runs thanks to some timely hitting behind him, leading to a relatively productive fantasy start in 2020.

Semien has a big season as the everyday shortstop ahead of him with unrestricted free agency looming this coming offseason, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran shortstop and fantasy managers will both hope Semien didn't peak in 2019, when he produced a career-best .285/.369/.522 line with new high-water marks in doubles (43), runs (123), walks (87), home runs (33) and RBI (92). Semien also played all 162 games for the first time in his career in 2019, and he suited up for 473 of a possible 486 games over the 2015, 2016 and 2018 campaigns. Therefore, the 29-year-old is likely to have the entire 60-game canvas afforded by the 2020 regular season to try and make another strong case for a lucrative long-term contract, although it remains to be seen what the financial environment across MLB will be this coming winter.

Semien, who is due to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, may find it difficult to maximize his earnings with the Athletics or another team due to the depressed financial climate expected from an abbreviated or canceled 2020 campaign, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Semien is already guaranteed to receive a full year of service time for 2020 under any circumstance as part of an agreement reached between MLB and MLBPA in late March. However, his original $13 million salary for the delayed regular season will be significantly depleted due to the reduction in games expected, and Semien's ability to begin making up for lost income with his next contract could also be compromised. Slusser reports the veteran shortstop is already a longshot to re-sign with the Athletics on a multi-year deal due to the organization's goal of retaining at least one of Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, but she adds that they could even struggle to extend him a qualifying offer that is still likely to be in the $18 million range due to financial hardship.

Semien will be credited with a full year of service time even if the 2020 season is canceled outright, keeping him on track to become a free agent next offseason, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Semien's impending free-agent status, along with that of teammates such as Liam Hendriks, Mike Fiers and Yusmeiro Petit, was secured as part of a multi-faceted agreement reached last Thursday between MLB and the MLBPA. There's still a stronger likelihood the 2020 regular season is played in some form as opposed to being canceled outright, but this provision gives Semien some peace of mind. If there's ultimately no 2020 campaign, the veteran shortstop will potentially head into the open market on the strength of a career-best 2019 season that saw him slash .285/.369/.522 with 83 extra-base hits (43 doubles, seven triples, 33 home runs) and 92 RBI across 747 plate appearances while appearing in all 162 games.

Semien is hitting .400 with a double, four RBI, four walks and four runs across six spring games.

EDGE Analysis

The shortstop will play his final year under team control on a $13 million contract, making his salary second only to Khris Davis on the Athletics. Semien could well be elsewhere in 2021, but after compiling a career-best .285/.369/.522 line last season that included new high-water marks in doubles (43), triples (seven), home runs (33) and RBI (92), he's expected to be a major contributor again this coming season.

Semien agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the A's on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is his third and final year as an arbitration-eligible player before heading to free agency. He will be Oakland's second-highest paid player, behind Khris Davis ($16.75 million in 2020).

Semien will start at shortstop and bat leadoff Sunday against the Mariners, but he's expected to exit the contest after one plate appearance, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Athletics have already secured home field for their wild-card matchup Wednesday versus the Rays, so Semien and several other regulars will likely get the opportunity to rest up with little at stake in the regular-season finale. Semien likely would have been excluded from the lineup entirely, but he may have talked his way into starting so he could play in all 162 games this season. With only one plate appearance on tap, Semien won't be worth including in DFS lineups.