Seager on the Block? Rosenthal Says Texas Will Explore It in Vegas, and Cy Young Night Is Tonight

By Hank Dalton, RF Sports Radio MLB voice

Rangers fans, the GM Meetings just got interesting. On Tuesday, the biggest name on the Rangers' roster went from 'available if someone asks' to 'the club plans to explore it.' Corey Seager is not traded, and he may never be, but Texas is going to find out what he is worth.

The facts

Per Dallas Sports Journal, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Tuesday, citing people briefed on the club's plans, that the Rangers intend to explore trading Seager at this week's meetings in Las Vegas. Seager would have to approve any deal. He gained full no-trade rights at the end of 2026 after 10 years of service, including five straight with Texas, and he is owed $155 million over the next five seasons, $31 million a year from 2027 through 2031.

Seager hit .227 with 20 home runs, 51 RBIs and a career-low .736 OPS in 102 games this year, per DSJ, and had surgery on Oct. 6 to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. After returning July 31 from his second back-related injured-list stint, he hit .269 with 10 homers and an .804 OPS. He turns 33 on April 27. Rosenthal wrote that the free-agent market lacks quality shortstops.

Texas went 80-82 and has missed the playoffs three straight years since the 2023 title. Jacob deGrom is owed $37 million and Nathan Eovaldi $20 million for 2027, the last guaranteed year for both. Rosenthal put the payroll in the $190 million range in cash. "Oftentimes, [you] trade one player to make yourself stronger in two different spots, and that's what we're looking to do," Chris Young said on Nov. 2. The CBA expires Dec. 1.

Around the league, Will Venable of the White Sox and Pat Murphy of the Brewers won Manager of the Year on Tuesday, per CBS Sports; Murphy is the first to win it three straight years. Cy Young winners are announced tonight, with Dylan Cease, Parker Messick and Cam Schlittler the AL finalists and Jacob Misiorowski, Chris Sale and Cristopher Sanchez in the NL, per MLB.com.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: exploring is fine. Doing it is a different conversation. Seager is the best hitter this franchise has had in a decade when he is healthy, and the second-half numbers say the bat is still there.

But I understand the logic. If a contender needs a shortstop and the free-agent market is thin, the price could be a center fielder and a catcher, which is exactly what this team needs. Young said one-for-two. Seager is the only player who brings back that kind of return.

Prediction: no Seager deal before the Dec. 1 deadline, but the rumors do not go away until spring training.

What to watch next

Watch the Cy Young announcements tonight at 6 p.m. CT on MLB Network, MVP on Thursday, and any Rangers news before the meetings wrap. For our GM Meetings preview, read our Nov. 10 GM Meetings preview, and follow the winter on our MLB Playoffs page. Note: this beat keeps the MLB Playoffs label until the label switch is approved.

Radio question: would you trade Corey Seager for a starting center fielder and catcher, or is he untouchable?

Sources: Dallas Sports Journal - Rangers plan to explore Corey Seager trade at GM Meetings; MLB.com - Rangers could consider trading Corey Seager, other stars; CBS Sports - Venable, Murphy win Manager of the Year; MLB.com - 2026 BBWAA Awards finalists; USA Today - When is Cy Young announced?.