The Braves’ search for a shortstop has landed them in a tricky offseason market, and Ken Rosenthal has now put Corey Seager in the mix as a possible target.
Atlanta is operating in a free-agent class that doesn’t offer much help at the position. Left field has a few names that might draw interest, but the options there are described as older, pricey and tied to qualifying offers, which makes them tough fits for the Braves. That leaves the trade market, where the shortstop names are more appealing but come with a heavy cost.
The Orioles have indicated they’ll take calls on Gunnar Henderson. The Marlins have as well on Otto Lopez, and the Angels are expected to be open to moving Zach Neto as they move into what should be a major rebuild. All three would bring years of control, but landing any of them would likely require Atlanta to empty most of its farm system.
That’s why Seager stands out. Rosenthal reported that the Rangers intend to explore moving him at the general managers’ meetings.
“The Rangers, though, intend to explore moving Seager at the general managers’ meetings, according to people briefed on their intentions who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly,” Rosenthal writes for The Athletic.
Of course, the fit comes with a long list of complications. Seager will be 33 next season, is still owed $155 million and is coming off elbow surgery.
He has also dealt with injuries, which only adds to the risk. Any trade would almost certainly require Texas to absorb a significant chunk of that money, whether by sending cash or taking back bad contracts.
Then there’s the no-trade clause. Seager controls where he goes, and Braves fans have already seen how that can matter after Jacob deGrom blocked a deal to Atlanta at this year’s trade deadline.
Still, Rosenthal’s mention of the Braves is enough to make the idea worth considering. He specifically listed Atlanta first among the possible suitors.
“Given all of that, would the Atlanta Braves, who have a glaring need for a shortstop, try for Seager? What about the Toronto Blue Jays, who ranked 28th in OPS at shortstop, just ahead of the Braves?
The Yankees, who passed on Seager as a free agent during the 2021-22 offseason but could now use him at third base? The Boston Red Sox, who showed prior interest in Seager and are non-committal on whether Trevor Story will be their shortstop in 2027?”
If the Braves were to seriously pursue a Seager deal, Spencer Strider looks like the most obvious piece to start the conversation. Even after Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday that the expectation is Strider will be ready for the start of the season, the right-hander remains a shaky asset.
He has had trouble staying on the field, and when he has pitched, his velocity drop has made him a well-below-average arm. Unless he gets back to throwing 99 mph this offseason, the Braves would likely view his contract as something they’d love to move.
Strider is guaranteed $22 million in each of the next two seasons, and that alone would not cover the rest of Seager’s deal. But it would at least give Atlanta a starting point.
However Anthopoulos handles shortstop, the decision will carry risk. The Braves can gamble on prospects and chase a star with multiple years of control.
They can gamble on money and hope Seager stays healthy. Or they can gamble on the roster they already have and hope Mauricio Dubon can hold the spot for a year or two until a farmhand is ready.
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