Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, a Red Sox American League East division rival. Schwarber returned to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five year deal for $150 million. Either slugger would have fit the “middle-of-the-order bat” bill that Breslow specified.
But the Red Sox are almost certainly not done yet. A full two months remain in the offseason and multiple potential trades and free agent signings are still possible. On Thursday, the hosts of the popular Red Sox podcast “Play Tessie,” which is affiliated with the Red Sox flagship radio station WEEI, suggested a tantalizing trade idea that would shake up the Boston roster — as well as the payroll.
“ Off the top of my head, spur of the moment, who says no?” said co-host Sammy James on the podcast. “Corey Seager to the Red Sox. Duran and Story to the Texas Rangers.”
Duran, the Red Sox’s five-year veteran outfielder, appears to be facing relegation to a part-time role with the emergence of rookie sensation Roman Anthony, the former No. 1 prospect in baseball, in left field. A pair of Gold Glovers in Ceddanne Rafaela in center and Wilyer Abreu in right round out the outfield.
Story would be a more problematic trade candidate. A shortstop — the same position as the Texas Rangers’ five-time All-Star Seager — who will be playing the fifth season of a six-year, $140 million contract, Story, 33, finally remained healthy through a full season this year. Over the first three years of his contract, Story played in only one of every three possible games, due to various injuries.
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But this year Story played 157 games, belting 25 home runs with a respectable if not spectacular .741 OPS.
Seager on the other hand is an 11-year veteran at age 31 who was the 2016 National League Rookie of the Year after the Los Angeles Dodgers picked him in the first round of the 2012 draft, out of Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina.
For the Red Sox, who aim to make a deeper run into the postseason after being eliminated in the wild card round this year, Seager also comes with extensive postseason experience. Between the Dodgers and Rangers, the shortstop has played in 17 playoff series, including three World Series — of which he was named MVP in two. Seager was also NL Championship Series MVP in 2020.
Could the “Play Tessie” trade actually happen?
In the end, the three hosts agreed that the Red Sox would say no — the main reason being Seager’s contract. The three-time Silver Slugger winner is still owed $31.5 million per year for the next six years, a bill that the Red Sox would most likely recoil at paying, even after shedding the $75 million owed to Story over the next three years.
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