The Texas Rangers’ payroll is rapidly increasing, and they could try to shed some salary. Corey Seager is the highest-paid player on the roster and is set to make $31.5 million until 2031. If the Rangers wanted to relieve a lot of salary, Seager could be the best option to trade and would get Texas a solid package in return.
Why Seager Could Be Moved
Ken Rosenthal said that the Texas Rangers are “virtually certain” to cut payroll this offseason. Whether or not the Rangers would actually entertain trading Seager is unknown, but if they did, many contending teams would be interested in the former All-Star. He had a hamstring issue in late April, requiring two separate IL stints. In Late August, Seager had an emergency appendectomy after experiencing abdominal pain. The Rangers would shut him down for the remainder of the season, allowing him to fully recover.
Despite all of this, Seager put together another solid season, slashing .271/.373/.487 with 21 home runs and 50 RBIs, and only played in 102 games. Along with a good season at the plate, Seager also had another good defensive season at short, having a +4 outs above average.
He’s been one of the most consistent infielders in all of baseball, and could draw a lot of attention if he were to be available on the trade market.
Seager Would Have A Huge Market
If Corey Seager becomes available, teams across the league would quickly show interest. While Evan Grant speculated about a possible move for Seager, he still considers it a long shot. Notably, Grant identified the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox as good matches. Because Seager has a full no-trade clause, but the Yankees are not on that list, he could be dealt there.
The Yankees had shown interest in Seager when he was a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, they opted to stick with their younger talent in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza. Fast forward a couple of years, and the Yankees are still searching for their long-term shortstop. Seager would fit perfectly in the Bronx, but New York would have to take on the remaining six years of his contract.
Similarly, the Boston Red Sox were listed in the article and would be an interesting fit on the left side of the infield. If they are unable to retain Alex Bregman, they could look to Seager if he becomes available. Since Seager has played third base in his career, he could technically play alongside Trevor Story at shortstop. However, I still see Boston doing everything in their power to retain Bregman on a short-term deal with a high annual value.
