Vegas Week for Chris Young: GM Meetings Open With Seager, deGrom and Eovaldi on the Table and a Dec. 1 Lockout Looming

By Hank Dalton, RF Sports Radio MLB voice

Rangers fans, baseball moves to Las Vegas this week, and Chris Young arrives with a flat payroll, a list of needs and a clock that runs out in three weeks. This is not a quiet offseason column anymore. It is a deadline column.

The facts

Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the 30 clubs' executives arrive Monday for MLB's General Managers Meetings at the Aria Resort & Casino, with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 and a lockout expected. Nightengale writes that executives expect a blueprint similar to 2021, with plenty of conversations but no major acquisition completed by week's end.

On Texas, Nightengale reports that Young has been told the payroll will not increase, which means talent coming in requires talent going out, and that Young will let teams know Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are available. All three have no-trade protection. Seager has $155 million remaining over five years and had elbow surgery in October, per the column, and deGrom is owed $37 million in 2027 with a possible 2028 option tied to innings and Cy Young finish. Nightengale also notes the AL West is getting tougher, with the Angels and A's about to spend and the Mariners looking for a rebound.

That lines up with what Young said last week, per MLB.com: he expects 2027 payroll to be "very similar" to this year's, roughly $193 million, leaving about $20 million, and he wants to "trade one player to make yourself stronger in two different spots." SI has floated Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes as a cheap trade idea and relievers JoJo Romero, Alex Vesia, Brock Burke and Jonathan Loaisiga as budget bullpen options; those are suggestions, not reports. Lone Star Ball also notes that Mark Feinsand expects the meetings could be busier than usual because of the lockout, and that former Ranger Joc Pederson is among the free agents Mike Axisa highlights.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: the lockout deadline is the whole story. Three weeks to rebuild a bullpen and a catching room with a flat payroll is not a normal winter, and anyone expecting a leisurely approach is going to wake up in December with the same roster.

I still would not move Seager. Nightengale notes Seager has 10-and-5 rights and can veto any deal, and an expensive shortstop coming off elbow surgery in a lockout winter is a hard sell without eating money. deGrom or Eovaldi is where a real return could come from, and only if the player says yes. deGrom already used his no-trade clause at the deadline.

Prediction: Texas does not make a major trade this week. Expect cheap relief signings and one low-profile deal before Dec. 1.

What to watch next

Watch the Nov. 17 qualifying-offer deadline, the Silver Slugger winners that day, and any Texas bullpen signing before the lockout. For our Sunday payroll column, read our Nov. 8 payroll column, 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: if Chris Young can only move one of Seager, deGrom or Eovaldi, which one should it be?

Sources: USA Today - What happens in Vegas? Top MLB free agents and trade targets for GM Meetings; MLB.com - Chris Young discusses Rangers' plan for 2026-27 offseason; SI Inside the Rangers - This minor trade could pay major dividends; SI Inside the Rangers - Relief option on a budget; Lone Star Ball - Monday Morning Texas Rangers Update.