Corey Seager's disappearing act should seal Rangers' future

It's fair to say that Ray Davis, though he may be tight-fisted, didn't get anywhere close to the bang for his buck in 2026. That was never more evident than when watching $325 million man Corey Seager absolutely shrivel up when the Texas Rangers needed him most. It has been a pattern that has been taking shape for three years now, following his heroics in the 2023 postseason run.

He, along with Jacob deGrom and "Big Game" Nate Eovaldi, was AWOL when the organization was right on the cusp of backing into an AL West title and the #3 seed in the playoffs. Seager is an everyday player, so his shortcomings were on display night in and night out. And the numbers are staggeringly dismal.

Corey Seager gets payed a lot of money to perform at a high level in high-leverage situations, and he flat-out didn't show up down the stretch

To say that Seager didn't earn his hefty 2026 salary down the stretch would be an understatement. The numbers make it quite clear. He was 3-for-24 (.125) with no walks and 9 Ks over the final week, when a single win could have meant the difference between staying home and entering the postseason with a chance to make another run at a title.

Seager managed to stay healthy for the final two months of the season, playing better than he did during an injury-filled disaster of a first half. He raised his average from .182 to .227. The fact that we're giving him credit for getting to .227 is all you need to know about the slugger's 2026 campaign. Moreover, when the spotlight was brightest, he shrank away from it.

The 2-time World Series MVP has earned a reputation for playing big in big games, but baseball is a game of "what have you done for me lately?" Seager has not been that guy either over the final week of 2026 or during the injury-riddled three years since 2023.

Just like with the president of baseball operations, Chris Young, the runway from the World Series is done. When you're making $32.5 million a year and taking up a lion's share of the team's payroll, you don't get the luxury of coasting on the coattails of past achievements. You have to be ready and able to be one of, if not the best, players on the field almost every day. His ineptitude at the plate, highlighted by an abysmal final week with everything on the line, is unacceptable.

All the trade chatter that was surrounding the shortstop at the deadline is now back on the table because he has not shown that he is the same player that he used to be. When you add all the time he has missed due to injuries, it feels like Seager has been stealing money.

Seager was quoted in the Dallas Morning News after the disappointing end to the season, “Obviously it’s not where you want to be, but just proud of this team and how they fought towards the end, and all year...We got through a lot of things. We never gave up on each other. I was just proud of the fight.” Sorry, but you did not accomplish the desired outcome. Feeling good about losing out doesn't work for most of us.

The team acted on his behalf by sending clubhouse glue guy Marcus Semien to New York this past winter. Seager appears ready for a change of scenery himself, so Young and the Rangers' fanbase should say sayonara. Don't let the door hit you in the behind on your way out. It is truly a shame that Seager's situation has come to this, but he has only himself to blame. Unfortunately, now that he has a 10-5 no -trade exemption, the ball isn't entirely in their court.

While Seager can block a trade, it really feels as if the team needs to engage with him and work to come to an agreement. Find him a home where he feels comfortable, even if it means eating money and taking a less-than-stellar trade return. A superstar player is supposed to be a leader, and by his comments and his performance, Seager failed in that regard when the lights were brightest in 2026.

Seager's future with the team is one of a litany of difficult quandaries that ownership will have to tackle this winter, but it will be hard to justify bringing him back. Still, because they didn't make the move at the deadline when they should have, they may not have a choice in the matter.

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