Dodgers News: Corey Seager on the Trade Block? Is a Dodgers Reunion a Possibility or Pipe Dream?
As the Rangers aim to reduce payroll, is a trade involving Corey Seager possible? Additionally, could Los Angeles be a potential destination?
LOS ANGELES, CA—In typical offseason fashion, we’ve heard multiple “bombshell” rumors about the sport; however, this past week, the latest rumor involves the Texas Rangers, the 2023 World Series Champions, considering a payroll cut, with a potential trade of All-Star shortstop Corey Seager being discussed.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Rangers plan to reduce their payroll for the 2026 season to reset their tax penalties.
The team seems virtually certain to cut payroll. The amount might depend upon whether the Rangers pay the luxury tax for the third straight season, resulting in a 50 percent penalty on every dollar they spent over the $241 million threshold.
However, while initially Rosenthal stated that there was no trade possibility involving either shortstop Corey Seager or right-handers Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, that seems to have changed according to Ronsethal’s latest report. The Atlanta Braves, who have a void at shortstop and are inquiring about a Seager trade, have not made much progress in talks, as they are one of six teams on Seager’s no-trade list.
While a Seager trade seems to still be unlikely, if the Rangers are wowed with an offer, could a reunion with the Los Angeles Dodgers make sense?
The short answer would be a resounding yes. Seager, one of the best left-handed hitters in baseball, would insert right in the middle of a powerful, star-studded Dodgers lineup, which already includes two-way superstar and four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.
Where Seager would be the biggest hurdle for Los Angeles in a potential deal, as both Seager and Betts ranked in the top ten in outs above average at the position last season, but a switch to second base for Betts would be the likely outcome.
Despite playing a limited role for the Rangers last season due to injury, Seager put together a four fWAR season at the plate, while slashing .271/.373/.487 with a 138 wRC+ and hitting 21 home runs in just 102 games.
Since signing a massive 10-year, $325 million contract with the Rangers after the 2021 season, Seager has been worth every penny, hitting a combined .278/.355/.517 with a .872 OPS and helping the Rangers secure their first World Series championship, winning his second career World Series MVP Award in 2023.
Now, after the 2025 season, Seager is owed $189 million over the next six seasons, a similar figure to the one top free-agent outfielder and former Dodger Cody Bellinger is projected to receive, another player Los Angeles has been linked to this offseason.
However, other than money, Seager also fills a hole that will come up for the Dodgers after the 2026 season, as the team does not have a full-time replacement at third base for veteran Max Muncy, who has just one year and $10 million remaining after the team exercised its club option on him earlier this month.
According to Baseball Trade Values, one of the best trade simulators for the public, Seager is pegged at -$43.1 million value due to his massive contract, years remaining, and his age heading into his thirties.
In any trade, the Rangers would be forced to eat some money to get any valuable assets in return, a situation that would bode well for the Dodgers, who rank number one in MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings.
How realistic is a trade for Seager? I would go out and say on paper a deal is possible, and the Dodgers have the money and prospects/major league-ready talent to get virtually any trade done, but I don’t expect this reunion to happen.
While the Rangers will look to shed payroll, trading a guy that they expected to be a cornerstone of their franchise would be detrimental to the fan base, and their window for contention in the American League West is not over, meaning they could still push for a World Series with the core they have.
The Dodgers’ most significant needs this offseason aren’t a full-time shortstop either; the organization has stated that late-inning right-handed relief help and an outfielder are atop the wish list this winter.
Still, a Seager trade would make the Dodgers significantly better while bringing back a fan-favorite and homegrown player and filling a hole at third base in the foreseeable future. But in this case, it’s more of a pipe dream than an actual reality.
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