The Rangers have made it clear they’re looking to cut some payroll this offseason-but don’t expect Corey Seager to be part of that equation.
Despite a flurry of speculation surrounding the star shortstop and his sizable contract-$189 million still owed through 2031-Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young put those rumors to rest in a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio.
“We are not shopping Corey Seager, I want to make that very clear,” Young said, drawing a firm line in the sand.
That hasn’t stopped teams from picking up the phone. Seager’s name carries weight, and rival front offices are doing their due diligence, especially in light of the Rangers’ recent trade of Marcus Semien to the Mets.
“Maybe they thought by trading Marcus, we’d be open on Corey,” Young added. **“We call and check in on great players with other teams as well.
So teams are doing their job-I get it.” **
Why trading Seager would be a mistake
Let’s be blunt: moving Corey Seager would be a head-scratcher for a team that still wants to contend. Yes, the Rangers are trimming payroll.
But they’re also trying to win. And if you watched Texas last season, you know offense-not pitching-was the issue.
Despite boasting the best ERA in baseball (3.47), the Rangers finished the season at a dead-even 81-81, missing the playoffs. The culprit?
A lineup that couldn’t consistently produce. Texas ranked 26th in MLB in OPS (.683), a stat that tells you just how often they failed to get on base and hit for power.
Now consider this: Seager played only 102 games due to injury, and still managed to be far and away the team’s best bat. He slashed .271/.373/.487 with 21 home runs, 50 RBI, and a 151 OPS+-meaning he was 51% better than the league-average hitter. He also posted a 6.2 bWAR in limited action, a number that speaks to just how impactful he was, even while missing nearly two months.
In other words, Seager was the lifeline of an otherwise underwhelming offense.
The Semien-for-Nimmo swap: a step toward balance
The Rangers have already made one significant move, trading Marcus Semien to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. It’s a deal that signals a pivot toward offensive balance.
Semien, while still a defensive asset, has seen his bat cool off over the past two seasons. His glove remained elite, but Texas already has a strong defensive core. What they lacked was consistent production at the plate, and that’s where Nimmo fits in.
Nimmo has posted an OPS+ above 100 for nine straight seasons-a mark of steady offensive value. He brings on-base skills, gap-to-gap power, and a patient approach the Rangers sorely need. The move makes sense: give up some defense to gain a more dynamic, reliable bat in the outfield.
Seager is the cornerstone-not trade bait
Given that context, trading Seager would be a step backward. He’s not just the team’s best hitter-he’s the centerpiece of their offense and a key part of their identity moving forward.
You don’t move a player like that unless you’re tearing it all down. And the Rangers, despite the payroll trimming, aren’t in teardown mode.
They’re retooling with the postseason still in mind.
Chris Young’s comments weren’t just about squashing rumors-they were a clear signal to the league: Corey Seager isn’t going anywhere. And if the Rangers want to get back to October baseball, keeping their best bat in the lineup isn’t just smart-it’s essential.
