​The Sporting News origin of this story notes that the Texas Rangers currently sit atop the AL West, yet there are lingering rumors about the club acting as a seller. A rough stretch following the All-Star break could push Texas toward selling, but at the moment it’s hard to picture them parting with talent that could help this season. Still, offseason dynamics could tell a different tale.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Rangers could entertain trading Corey Seager this coming winter. However, two major obstacles could prevent such a deal from taking place. Nightengale writes that Seager’s trade value has taken a significant hit, pointing to his six IL stints over the past two years and the hefty $155 million he’s owed over the next five seasons. The Rangers are not compelled to move Seager, and they might not part with him even if they received a strong offer, though offers may be difficult to come by.
Seager, a 32-year-old shortstop signed to a 10-year, $325 million contract, isn’t the type of player teams typically would offer a king’s ransom for, which is likely what it would take to affect the Rangers in a meaningful way via trade. His injury history represents a major red flag that could erode trade value even before factoring in the contract. When you add the contract and the injury concerns, Seager becomes a considerably less attractive trade target.
There could still be interest in Seager from teams given his resume as a five-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and two-time World Series MVP, but the combination of his injury history, massive contract, and a .182 batting average with a .667 OPS through 51 games this season complicates any potential deal. Nightengale does not explicitly state that the Rangers intend to trade Seager; however, the rumors that he could be available, coupled with these two major issues, present real hurdles for any potential move if the Rangers decide to part ways with the Seager contract.