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Corey Seager is under contract with the Texas Rangers through the 2031 season, but the American League West team reportedly could be interested in trading him this offseason.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday that Texas is “in listening mode” with the shortstop as part of the front office’s “willingness to overhaul the team beyond their trade of Marcus Semien.”
Passan noted any return on a Seager trade “would need to overwhelm the Rangers” since they aren’t looking for a straight salary dump even though finances may be something of a concern.
“They are facing a payroll crunch, and with Pete Alonso landing a $155 million deal and Kyle Schwarber reaping $150 million, Seager’s deal is quite appealing,” Passan wrote. “He’s only 31, he plays an excellent shortstop and of all the position players ostensibly available via trade or free agency, he is the best.”
Seager would surely generate quite the market of interested teams given his resume.
His list of accomplishments include two World Series titles, two World Series MVPs, a National League Championship Series MVP, a Rookie of the Year, five All-Star selections and three Silver Slugger awards.
The 31-year-old is also coming off his best defensive season of his career and was responsible for 16 defensive runs saved above average, per FanGraphs.
The Rangers could get a significant return package for their star shortstop all while getting out from his long-term contract before he is potentially aged beyond his peak years of production. Still, that would be threading the needle since losing Seager would also figure to hurt the team’s competitive chances in the AL West.
While he played just 102 games last season, he was effective at the plate as well as with his glove.
Seager slashed .271/.373/.487 with 21 home runs and 50 RBI and may have reached the 30-homer mark for the fourth straight year had he played close to the entire 162-game schedule.
With his ability to impact the game as a hitter and fielder, his track record of coming through in the biggest moments with two World Series MVPs under his belt and the opportunity to drastically raise the ceiling by adding him to the lineup, Seager is someone who could define the offseason for a team if he is traded.
It will just be up to the Rangers to decide if they really want to make such a move.