Rangers Rumors: Atlanta Braves could revisit Corey Seager trade interest

The Atlanta Braves checked in on Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager last offseason, according to MLB Network's Joel Sherman. On MLB Network's MLB Central, Sherman said he could see the Braves reaching out to the Rangers about Seager again this offseason.

"A lot of teams checked in on Seager last offseason... I believe Atlanta was one of those teams," Sherman said. "I wouldn't be surprised if they did again."

Atlanta used a rotation of Mauricio Dubón, Ha-Seong Kim, and Jim Jarvis at shortstop this year to mixed results. Dubón was mostly a surprise with the bat, but is still better suited as a utility man. Kim was a major disappointment and battled injuries. Both are free agents.

The Braves haven't had a true star shortstop since they let Dansby Swanson walk in free agency after the 2022 season. Orlando Arcia was decent for a while, but nowhere near Swanson's star caliber.

Braves could use a star shortstop like Rangers' Corey Seager

Acquiring Seager would give the Braves a long-term star shortstop. Seager is already 32, but his contract runs through the 2031 season.

The Rangers have slashed payroll significantly since winning the 2023 World Series. Ownership would likely give the Rangers' front office the green light to deal Seager and might even force president of baseball operations Chris Young to trade the star.

Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million contract with Texas before the 2022 season. Seager has struggled to stay healthy since joining Texas, but he has still posted strong numbers. In his five seasons with Texas, Seager has posted 21.6 fWAR and a .270/.348/.502 slash line with 137 home runs. He has also excelled defensively with the Rangers, posting +27 Defensive Runs Saved.

Unfortunately, Seager is coming off the worst season of his Rangers career, hitting .227/.312/.424 (106 wRC+) with 2.1 fWAR and 20 home runs. He appeared in just 102 games due to a back issue and a concussion. The shortstop recently underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. Seager didn't miss any games because of his elbow injury, but it's still a reminder of how injury-prone he is.

Because of Seager's large contract and injury history, the Rangers may look to trade him this offseason. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox could also pursue the veteran shortstop.

It's worth mentioning that Seager has a full no-trade clause as a result of earning his 10-5 rights, playing at least 10 years in the league, and at least five with his current team. Last offseason, he had just a partial no-trade clause that included eight teams and was viewed much more favorably around league circles.

Therefore, he can only be traded if he consents to a deal. If the Rangers want to move him, there's a good chance he would choose to stay in Texas, as he planned to remain with the organization for 10 years when he signed his big contract, and Texas doesn't have a state income tax. On the other hand, Seager grew up in North Carolina, roughly 400 miles outside of Atlanta. Perhaps a deal that allowed him to return to his roots would be enough to earn his consent.

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