Mariners sign shortstop Jean Segura to 5-year extension

The shortstop of the Seattle Mariners’ present is now their shortstop of the future, too.

The Mariners announced Wednesday morning that they have signed Jean Segura to a five-year contract extension through the 2022 season, with a club option for 2023. Terms were not disclosed by the Mariners, per club policy. According to multiple reports on Tuesday night, the team and Segura were discussing an extension worth $70 million guaranteed.

“It means a lot to me, not only to me but to the Mariners organization, to my family, to my teammates, to the front office, to the guys working with the team, the coaching staff. Everybody’s happy,” Segura told Mariners insider Shannon Drayer in an interview for the pregame show on 710 ESPN Seattle. “Everybody has said to me, ‘You deserve it the way you go about your business and play the game the right way.’ It just means a lot to me.”

The 27-year-old Segura was acquired in a five-player trade from the Diamondbacks last November. He is currently on Seattle’s 10-day disabled list with a high ankle sprain, but when he’s been healthy he’s been not just one of the Mariners’ best offensive players, but one of the top hitters in the American League. In 43 games this season, Segura leads the AL with a .341 batting average. He also has four home runs, 20 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 10 doubles, a .391 on-base percentage and .852 OPS.

Segura, a one-time All-Star, led the National League in hits last season.

“Over the past two seasons, Jean has been one of the premier offensive players in baseball,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a news release. “His combination of average, power and speed is extremely difficult to find, especially as a top-of-the-lineup hitter at a key defensive position like shortstop. We are all quite excited about having him here with the Mariners and believe he is a key ingredient in our ongoing effort to build a championship level roster.”

Segura, a native of the Dominican Republic, debuted for the Angels in 2012 and was traded that season to Milwaukee by Dipoto, who was then the Angels’ GM.

“If he didn’t make that trade, who knows where I’d be,” Segura said. “For him to make that trade and give me the opportunity to play every day at the major-league level, that’s made me the kind of player that I am now.”

Segura told Drayer that he knew Seattle would be a great place for him once he was traded to the Mariners.

“When you’re home, there’s nothing that feels like it,” he said. “It’s great to be home and I’ve found a home here. I’ve found a great group of guys.”

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