Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees are actively exploring every opportunity this offseason as they strive to keep pace with their division rivals. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, New York has contacted the Texas Rangers to discuss a potential trade for Corey Seager.
Will Corey Seager Be Moved?
The Rangers have already made a major move this offseason, acquiring Brandon Nimmo from the New York Mets in exchange for Marcus Semien, and they’re reportedly open to dealing another cornerstone player. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Texas is willing to listen to offers for Corey Seager, but would need to be “overwhelmed” to consider a deal. Seager ranks among the elite shortstops in baseball and is under contract for six more years at $186 million.
Paying Seager $31 million per year in today’s market is a bargain for the elite two-way production he delivers. Despite an injury-plagued season, Seager still produced above-average offensive numbers. His pivotal contributions to the Rangers’ 2023 World Series Championship are exactly what contending teams covet.
A deal for Seager does not appear imminent, as Texas would require a stellar trade package to even consider moving him. The New York Yankees are reportedly among the interested teams—and Seager would be an ideal fit in the Bronx.
Yankees Checked In On Seager
Cashman is responsible for thoroughly evaluating every player, but it’s encouraging to see the Yankees expressing genuine interest in acquiring Seager. The Anthony Volpe experiment at shortstop has been a rollercoaster, and it’s clear the time has come to move forward. The real question is whether Cashman’s massive ego will once again override logical decision-making and grant Volpe yet another chance. New York holds the prospect capital needed to finalize a deal, and they must act decisively while the opportunity is ripe.
Given the current construction of the Rangers’ roster, they may have little interest in Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez. Instead, Texas would likely target controllable pitchers or infielders who could help offset the loss in production between Semien and Seager. A prospect like George Lombard Jr. could be highly attractive to Texas, and his value to New York would be diminished if Seager occupied the position for the foreseeable future.
On the pitching front, prospects such as Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Carlos Lagrange could also be enticing to Texas. Parting with high-potential young talent is never easy, but the Yankees’ primary focus should be securing a championship for Aaron Judge, rather than simply building for the future.
