Jeff Passan on rumors surrounding Braves trade target Corey Seager

One of the most intriguing nuggets that came from the MLB Winter Meetings was that the Braves have checked on the availability of All-Star shortstop Corey Seager.

“The question is whether the club has any interest in furthering discussions,” Evan Grant reported for The Dallas Morning News. “According to two people with knowledge of the conversations, several deep-pocketed teams, including the Boston Red Sox, have noted the Rangers’ financial approach to the winter and have expressed interest in Seager this offseason. While the Rangers have noted the interest and haven’t explicitly said he’s unavailable, they haven’t engaged in deeper discussions.

“Other teams that have inquired include Atlanta and the New York Yankees.”

The Braves have maintained they’re comfortable with Mauricio Dubon as the everyday shortstop, but the reality is they’ve been searching — desperately — for a long-term answer at the position for three years now. It’s been a black hole since Dansby Swanson left in free agency, and there isn’t a prospect in the system remotely close to major-league ready. Dubon offers a bit more upside than Orlando Arcia or Nick Allen, but he’s still a stopgap, another defense-first option who isn’t going to meaningfully change the lineup.

Corey Seager is a completely different conversation. He’s the kind of player who can alter the trajectory of a franchise by himself — one of the best shortstops in baseball with two World Series MVPs to prove it. If there’s a player worth the Braves pushing their chips in for, it’s Seager. And according to Jeff Passan, the Rangers are indeed listening, hoping a team comes along with an offer so strong they can’t refuse.

“The Texas Rangers are in listening mode on star shortstop Corey Seager, which doesn’t mean the two-time World Series MVP is by any means going to be moved but reflects the Rangers’ willingness to overhaul the team beyond their trade of Marcus Semien,” Passan writes for ESPN. “To be abundantly clear: Texas isn’t looking to shed the remaining $186 million on his contract. The return would need to overwhelm the Rangers. But they are facing a payroll crunch, and with Alonso landing a $155 million deal and Schwarber reaping $150 million, Seager’s deal is quite appealing. He’s only 31, he plays an excellent shortstop and of all the position players ostensibly available via trade or free agency, he is the best.”

Six years and $186 million is a massive commitment for a player who will be 32 years old in 2026, but Corey Seager has shown no signs of slowing down. He’s posted 22.1 WAR in just 495 games over the last four seasons with the Rangers. This is a game-changing talent at a position of desperate need, and his arrival would immediately widen Atlanta’s championship window.

If Texas is willing to listen, the Braves shouldn’t stop checking in until the Rangers stop picking up the phone.

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Photo: Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire

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