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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers intend to explore trading Corey Seager at this week’s general managers’ meetings. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the club’s plans Tuesday, citing people briefed on its intentions. The meetings are in Las Vegas, and Seager would have to approve any deal.
Corey Seager’s Contract Runs Through 2031
Seager’s 10-year, $325 million contract, signed in December 2021, originally carried limited no-trade protection. After 10 years of major league service, including five consecutive seasons with Texas, Seager gained full no-trade rights at the end of 2026.
Seager is owed $155 million over the next five seasons, with a $31 million salary in each year from 2027 through 2031.
In 2026, Seager hit .227/.312/.424 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI in 102 games. His .736 OPS was the lowest of his career. He had surgery Oct. 6 to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. At the club’s Sept. 28 end-of-season press conference, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Seager had dealt with the spur “for a few months.”
After returning July 31 from his second back-related injured list stint, Seager hit .269 with 10 home runs and an .804 OPS through the end of the season. Among shortstops, he finished eighth in Defensive Runs Saved.
Seager turns 33 on April 27. Rosenthal wrote that the free-agent market lacks quality shortstops, and that the prospect cost of a controllable shortstop such as Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels, Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins, or CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals would be steep.
Chris Young Expects 2027 Payroll Near 2026 Level
Texas went 80-82 in 2026. The Rangers have missed the playoffs in each of the three seasons since winning the 2023 World Series.
Jacob deGrom is owed $37 million for 2027. Nathan Eovaldi’s salary for that season is $20 million. Both are entering the final guaranteed year of their contracts.
Young expects the Rangers’ 2027 payroll to be comparable to 2026. Rosenthal put the figures in the $190 million range in cash and the $215 million range for luxury tax purposes.
Young said on a Nov. 2 Zoom call with reporters that he did not think the Rangers had to trade anyone.
During the same call, Young described the Rangers’ offseason approach.
“Oftentimes, [you] trade one player to make yourself stronger in two different spots, and that’s what we’re looking to do,” Young said.
Rosenthal wrote that every club faces financial uncertainty with a potential lockout looming. The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players’ union expires Dec. 1.
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