Corey Seager's return could determine Rangers' trade deadline direction

Texas Rangers fans have finally received the news they've been waiting for. Shortstop Corey Seager has been reinstated from the 7-day concussion injured list on Thursday, the team announced. Unfortunately, utilityman Cody Freeman has been placed on the 10-day injured list as a corresponding move. Seager is in Thursday's lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, batting third and playing shortstop.

How Seager performs from here on out will likely have a major impact on the Rangers' trade deadline plans. Before Texas placed Seager on the IL on June 15, the shortstop had been performing well below expectations, hitting just .186/.284/.373 (82 wRC+) with a 26.5% strikeout rate in 204 plate appearances. For a player making over $30 million per year, that's not going to cut it.

On the bright side, Seager's defense has been solid; the shortstop has 2 Defensive Runs Saved in 412 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, strong defense isn't good enough for a player who is supposed to be the club's best hitter. The Rangers need a major offensive boost, and Seager could be the player to do that. If Seager cannot get things back on track, it's difficult to imagine Texas can remain in the playoff race, even in a weak American League.

The Rangers may have to sell at the trade deadline if Seager cannot provide the team with the offensive power he's known for. Unfortunately, the club doesn't have many attractive trade chips, but president of baseball operations, Chris Young, will have no choice but to sell if the team falls out of contention.

Rangers could consider trading Seager

Seager could be one of the players who gets traded if the Rangers sell before the Aug. 3 deadline. It may sound crazy. Why sell low on a player when his value is at the lowest it's ever been? Well, for one, many teams probably think Seager will bounce back and would be willing to give up some value for him or pay much of his contract. Dating back to his first year in the majors in 2015, Seager has never finished a season with a wRC+ below 100.

Additionally, Rangers' ownership has made it clear it wants to spend less money by drastically decreasing payroll in recent years. Texas has gone from a payroll of just over $250 million in 2023 to $185.9 million this season. The injury-prone Seager is only in year five of his $325 million deal, and the Rangers may look to shed as much of that as possible.

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