Miami Marlins signing infielder Jean Segura for first big move of offseason

The Miami Marlins finally made their first big move of the offseason.

The Marlins have an agreement in place to sign infielder Jean Segura to a two-year, $17 million deal, a source confirmed to the Miami Herald on Wednesday. Once official, the Marlins will need to make a corresponding move to make room for Segura on the 40-man roster, which is currently full.

Segura, who turns 33 on March 17, has 11 years of big-league experience and spent the past four seasons with the Philaelphia Phillies. He gives the Marlins a steady hitter for a lineup that desperately needs one who can also play above average defense.

Segura is a career .285 hitter with a .739 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 107 home runs, 492 RBI and 712 runs scored in 1,328 games.

In 427 games over the past four seasons in Philadelphia, Segura hit .281 with a .755 OPS, 43 home runs, 176 RBI and 228 runs scored.

He only played in 98 regular-season games last season, missing extensive time while on the 60-day injured list with a right index finger fracture, but still hit .277, belted out 10 home runs and had 35 RBI.

Before playing in Philadelphia, Segura had stints with the Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.

The main question for Segura is where he will play.

Defensively, Segura has primarily played shortstop and second base in his career but can also play third base. The Marlins have Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Miguel Rojas returning in the middle infield and Joey Wendle as one of their primary options to play third base. Segura, a right-handed hitter, could possibly platoon with the left-handed-hitting Wendle and Chisholm at third and second base.

Wendle and Rojas are also entering the final years of their respective contracts.

Segura ranked in the 84th percentile for outs above average last season, according to Statcast.

Segura was the Phillies’ starting second baseman throughout their entire playoff run, which ended in a World Series loss to the Houston Astros. Prior to this season, Segura was MLB’s active leader in regular-season games played (1,328) without a playoff appearance.