​The Sporting News originally published a piece exploring why the Rangers’ “last call” to trade Corey Seager lands at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and it’s now being highlighted with The Sporting News listed as a preferred source. The Texas Rangers sit just behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, making it reasonable to anticipate them entering July as buyers at the deadline. Yet the rest of July could unfold in any number of ways: a strong push could accelerate a deal-making spree, or a rough stretch could push Texas toward selling. Regardless of the path chosen, August 3, 2026 looms large as a pivotal deadline for the Rangers.
According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, this 2026 deadline could be the Rangers’ final window to move Corey Seager. The shortstop has previously surfaced in trade rumors, and if Texas ever intends to move him, August 3 is the last chance to do so. “When it comes to the possibility of the Texas Rangers trading shortstop Corey Seager, the deadline represents something of a last call,” Sammon and Rosenthal observe.
So why is the 2026 trade deadline Seager’s last real shot at a deal? The answer is straightforward: Seager’s no-trade clause. “Once the season ends,” the reporters note, “Seager will gain the right to veto any deal as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five consecutive with the same club.” Seager has worn the Rangers uniform since 2022, earning three All-Star selections, contributing to a World Series championship, and establishing himself as one of the most productive players in the majors over the past several seasons. He carries an .854 OPS and 23.3 bWAR with the Rangers, alongside 127 homers and an MVP runner-up finish from 2023, marking him as one of the sport’s elite players for a substantial stretch.
However, with the 2026 season in the rearview, the Rangers won’t be able to trade Seager without his permission once the year ends. Texas has previously entertained inbound trade inquiries involving him, so a deal this summer isn’t out of the question. Seager is signed through 2031 on a 10-year, $325 million contract, a substantial commitment for any acquiring club. A team like the Atlanta Braves might be willing to take on that salary if they meet the Rangers’ likely high asking price this offseason, though the financial terms would be a major consideration.
Regardless, if a trade is on the horizon, it must materialize this summer. After the 2026 season, the no-trade clause will block new deals without Seager’s consent, making the only possible window to move him without his input this year. So the Rangers effectively have through August 3, 2026, to broker a deal involving Seager. If he remains on Texas’s roster past the trade deadline, it’s a strong indicator he’ll stay in Texas for the foreseeable future.