The New York Yankees are, once again, expected to be key players in free agency this year. Stars such as Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Pete Fairbanks, and Lucas Giolito have all been linked with potential moves to the Big Apple this winter. New York will be particularly interested in bringing in a big bat and strengthening their bullpen.
Nevertheless, it seems a bit unlikely that the Yankees will grab all of their needs in free agency. After all, a multitude of top teams around the league are also looking to spend big in the coming months. This lengthy list of clubs includes many of the regular heavy hitters. Smaller market teams such as the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, however, are in the mix as well.
Assuming that New York fails to bring in multiple stars via free agency, they will look to the trade market. One premier player now being linked with the Yankees is Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager. Bleacher Report has listed New York as the top potential landing spot for Seager, if he were to be traded soon.
Texas Rangers Expected to Lower Payroll in Offseason
GettyThe Texas Rangers may trade Corey Seager to fix swelling payroll.
Seager’s future with the Rangers is somewhat precarious due to the team’s insistence on lowering its payroll. The aforementioned news outlet claims that Texas is facing luxury tax penalties because of its swelling collective salaries. While it remains to be seen if the Rangers would be willing to part with Seager, he is one of their highest-paid players. The shortstop is scheduled to receive $31.5 million annually through 2031.
The idea of Texas trading Seager to the Yankees was previously introduced by Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The reporter wrote back in September that the Rangers could capitalize on Seager’s value while they can. The shortstop, 31, likely will not have as much trade value in the future as he does right now.
“If dealing Seager could potentially net two bats and a pitcher, the Rangers should at least have a serious discussion about it,” wrote Engel. Texas also has a potential Seager replacement waiting in the wings in Josh Smith. The versatile 2024 Silver Slugger award winner can play multiple positions, including shortstop.
Shortstop is a Weakness for the New York Yankees
While the Yankees may have more glaring positional needs at the moment, they could certainly use an upgrade at shortstop. Anthony Volpe endured a disappointing 2025 and is set to miss the start of the 2026 season because of recent shoulder surgery. As a result, Jose Caballero is, at least for the moment, expected to be New York’s starting shortstop on opening day.
Seager would be a massive improvement, at the plate and defensively, for the Yankees. New York shortstops combined to post a fielding rate of just .964% last season, second-worst in baseball. Volpe and company also managed to have some of the worst offensive production in the entire league. Seager, on the other hand, ranked high in the league in fWAR (4.0) and defensive runs saved (16).
The Rangers shortstop does, as pointed out by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, have an eight-team no-trade list. The Atlanta Braves were recently forced to look elsewhere in their search for a shortstop because they were on that list. It has not yet been revealed if the Yankees are also part of the clause in Seager’s contract.
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