The Rangers and Braves look like two clubs circling the same dance floor, and the names at the center of the conversation are Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom.
Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos has already shown interest in both, according to Joel Sherman of MLB Network. The Braves were linked to Seager before the 2026 season as they searched for help at shortstop, and deGrom nearly changed teams at the deadline in early August before he used his no-trade clause to stop a deal that could have sent him to Atlanta in exchange for former 20-game winner and All-Star Spencer Strider.
If Texas decides Seager is the piece to move, the Braves’ best fit would start with 20-year-old outfielder Eric Hartman, their No. 1 prospect. Hartman is a left-handed hitter with serious pop and speed, coming off a High-A season in which he hit 25 homers and stole 50 bases.
He is ranked No. 38 overall by MLB Pipeline and, as the source material puts it, the “crown jewel” of the system. That’s where the negotiation should begin if the Rangers are serious about dealing Seager.
Atlanta’s need at shortstop makes the fit obvious enough. Mauricio Dubon and Ha-Seong Kim handled the spot this past season, but Dubon’s .276/.321/.399 line only went so far, and his lack of power stands out next to Seager’s bat.
Dubon is also a free agent, which makes moving on from him cleaner. Even so, Texas would still have to confront the mountain of money attached to Seager: $155 million through 2031, plus his 10-5 no-trade clause.
That alone could stall the whole thing.
DeGrom may be the cleaner path. He also has a no-trade clause, but financially he is much easier to move, with $37 million owed in 2027 and a club option for $20 million in 2028.
For that reason, a deGrom deal feels more realistic, and the target coming back from Atlanta could be Cam Caminiti, the Braves’ No. 2 prospect. The 19-year-old left-hander is ranked No. 39 overall by MLB Pipeline and turned in a strong early run in Single-A, including a scoreless start in his pro career with six strikeouts over four innings.
That kind of swap makes sense on both sides: Atlanta gets the front-line starter it would want in a win-now move, while Texas lands a young arm for the future as it looks to reshape the roster this winter with younger, more athletic players.
If Chris Young wants this conversation to go anywhere, he probably already knows who to call.
In Other News...
Rangers Still Have One Home Problem Holding Back Their October Push
The Rangers push to make October noise has run into a familiar problem at Globe Life Field, where the offense just has not looked as dangerous as it needs to be. Texas was held back by injuries to key bats such as Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager, and even with home run production sitting around league average, the broader numbers showed a lineup that was not doing enough damage on home soil to consistently pressure opposing pitching.
There is also a less obvious layer to the issue, and it speaks to how the roster has functioned since the lineup changed shape. Brandon Nimmo arrived with a power profile that looked like it could fit any middle-of-the-order spot, but his extra-base impact dipped after joining Texas, leaving the Rangers still searching for a version of their offense that travels better in their own park. Until that changes, the home split remains one more obstacle between this group and a deeper postseason run. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Prospect Paxton Kling Is Forcing A Bigger Conversation
Paxton Kling has spent the first week of the Arizona Fall League doing exactly what a Rangers outfield prospect is supposed to do in that setting: turn extra at-bats into extra attention. The AFL is built for players like Kling, giving them a chance to stack plate appearances, show their tools and make a louder case for advancement, and he has wasted little time making his presence felt.
Through three games, Kling has been one of the leagues early talking points for Texas, piling up production at the plate and showing why his name is starting to circulate beyond prospect circles. The bigger question now is whether this burst becomes something more lasting, because early AFL success can open doors for a player and change the conversation around where he fits in the Rangers future. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers May Have A Bigger Roster Reset Than Fans Expected
The Rangers are already looking past this season toward a possible roster shuffle after 2026, and the conversation starts with two players who could be at peak value by then. Ezequiel Duran and Josh Jung both fit the kind of profile that can tempt a front office into making a bold move: productive enough to draw interest, but with enough questions attached that a club might decide to cash in before the market shifts.
Durans best season has pushed him into the sell-high conversation, while Jungs offensive production could put him in the same bucket if the Rangers decide they want to rework the infield around a different timeline. The bigger backdrop is Sebastian Walcott, whose arrival in 2027 could change how Texas views that part of the roster and make any decision on Jung even more complicated than it already looks. [Read more 🡒]