The Rangers have already agreed to terms with one of the five big free-agent shortstops, hammering out a seven-year, $175MM deal with Marcus Semien. They’re reportedly still in the market for another infield upgrade, however, and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets that they’re making a “big push” to sign Corey Seager.
Both Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported last night (Twitter links) that the Rangers were in play for Seager even after agreeing to the Semien deal, with Sherman adding that Seager is hopeful he’ll choose a new club today. And Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News wrote earlier today that the Rangers remained “very much” in the hunt for Seager as of this morning.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported this morning that both the Rangers and Dodgers were more much more involved in the Seager market than the Yankees, who aren’t believed to have been as aggressive on the 27-year-old. That meshes both with the idea of Texas still being a serious player for Seager and with recent reports suggesting that the Yanks might not sign any of the big-name free agent this winter.
It’s far from clear that Seager’s market is a two-horse race between the Dodgers and Rangers at this point. That said, both parties can certainly afford to sign Seager long-term, and the Dodgers did just tap out during the bidding for ace Max Scherzer, who’s headed to the Mets on a record-setting three-year contract. Seager, like Scherzer (and Semien), is represented by the Boras Corporation, so it’s perhaps possible now that with Scherzer and Semien resolved, the focus will turn to finding a landing spot for Seager.
Seager rejected an $18.4MM qualifying offer from the Dodgers at season’s end and is widely expected to cash in on a contract that spans upwards of a decade in length. The former first-round pick and NL Rookie of the Year has posted a combined .306/.381/.545 batting line with 31 homers through his past 147 games/641 plate appearances.
While the Rangers already have Semien in tow and have another capable defensive shortstop in Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the defensive flexibility both Semien and Kiner-Falefa bring to the table allows Texas to be rather nimble in its offseason pursuits. Seager could conceivably play either shortstop or third base, while both Kiner-Falefa and Semien can handle any of third, short or second base. Signing Seager would headline what’s been a highly aggressive offseason thus far for a Rangers club that has not only signed Semien but also agreed to deals with righty Jon Gray (four years, $56MM) and outfielder Kole Calhoun (one year, $5.2MM).
Mariners got Ray
They should ask the Padres how massive spending sprees work
And they should reflect on the ARod contract from 20 years ago the Yankees had to take off their hands just 3 years later. It’s never a question of IF but WHEN they’ll be looking to get out from under those contracts……even if the player is producing as expected.
But they never surrounded Arod with anyone nor had any minor leaguers ready. Completely different scenario as they are signing to fill multiple spots.
The rangers still don’t have any minor leaguers ready. They are buying to buy. Until the minor leaguers develop, they won’t know where to add.
And arod wasn’t moved as much bc of money as it was he didn’t get along with the manager or teammates and had bad locker room presence.
Semien isn’t Hosmer and Seager isn’t Myers.
Gotta hand it to Texas. They’re walking the talk.
No problem. The Yankees signed Jose Peraza. They’re all set.
I look forward to platitudes abounding in the Yankees GM/manager pressers regarding this offseason if this offseason continues.
Rangers get Semien and Seager, Yankees should be embarrassed as an organization.
If Seager goes, Baez and Story have much more leverage. As Cashman keeps monitoring, the leverage increases for the player, IMO, not the Yankees.
And, lol on Jose Peraza. Cashman always gets his guys, man. Even if it’s 5 years later…
Why would you want your team to sign a bad contract?
Ya, Nice monitoring Cashman, does monitoring mean watch all the best free agents go by when you have a lot of money to spend ? Anyway Ray or Gausman would have been a nice #2 pitcher to compliment Cole, we still need SS help, and we should address CF AND 1ST base, maybe a nice Xmas present is coming Freddie Freeman , K.Marte and Seager
270.5/8 for seager. If Marcus Semien got 175 for 7. Seger is get minimum 100mil more imo
Semien is leagues better than seager though.
Texas aint fing around got dang!
These types of spending sprees rarely work out…
True. But it’s fun to see a new team try every year.
Jeez……Yanks will be holding a bag of used balls-that they will overpay for- after this FA season is over !
In fairness the Yankees have two 300+ million dollar contracts. How many do fans expect them to carry? Being patient and smart with the next one is probably the way to go.
Actually Yanks will not have to overpay because they are waiting it out smartly I think. Long term contracts never work out especially for defensively deficient players. I’m fine with waiting and maybe Story can be signed for a 3-4 year contract after the lockdown.
I think dodgers should let seager sign elsewhere so they can recoup a draft pick and then offer the money to trea Turner and sign him long term instead
I like your logic. Turner is just as good with more speed. We traded for him so we should utilize him.
I love Seager but we have a ton of needs and can get a couple of players at this price. Plus we will need Kersh!
Tacoshells: Unfortunately I’m in agreement with your logic. It makes perfect sense. No, I’m not a Dodgers fan. I’m a Braves & Pirates fan. Yes, I’m really a fan of 2 teams. I’ve followed both teams for over 40 years, ever since I was a kid in the late ’70’s.
What did you do and who did you root for in 1990-1992 in the NLCS ?
Yankees making huge mistake here unless getting Correa. They have lost even more because the Mets are actually spending and getting all the positive media. Steinbrenner must really want to lock in some profits versus spending to improve.
The object of baseball is to win the World Series and not the off-season. Ask the Padres. Ask the Mets last year too…
Texas: Get’er Done!!! Then trade Kiner-Falefa to the Yankees as a stop-gap until the kids can arrive.
Yeah, I have read a lot about IKF from some of the Ranger fans in here and they seem to really like his play.
Kind of inverse – TX having a very NYY offseason and NY quite the opposite.
SPEND IT ALL!!!
I’m a fan of TX for making these moves. They took a couple seasons, reset, and are getting after it, man. As a fan, that’s got to inspire confidence your ownership is trying to win for its fan base.
The rangers still haven’t learned from Arod!! Keep signing then trade for 1/2 value! Remember how Cliff Lee and Josh Hamilton got them a ring???
Fg-3, to be fair, it wasn’t Josh Hamilton’s fault that the Rangers don’t have a ring.
and they dealt for Cliff Lee, they didn’t sign him. After the trade, he left for Philidelphia…
I applaud the Rangers effort. At least they are putting their money where their mouth is and attempting to improve.
As a long time Yankees fan, I am disgusted about the lackof commitment to winning. Their offense was near the bottom last year, they need a SS and they are interested in Simmons and his .558 OPS. Amazing.
George wouldd have signed saeger and scherzer. Hank and Hal play it smart by not overpaying.
Hank is playing golf in heaven with dad, they both passed. Hal is playing it smart. Some people don’t remember the dumpster fire that was the 1982-1990 Yankees. After that, it took until 1993 that they started being respectable again, built when George was on hiatus. Also, Stick and Cash were able to tame George (a little) by threatening to tell the media that a “bas trade” was his idea…
Proud to be an Astros fan, I’d never sign a deal for longer than 5 years unless it covers some arbitration years. These long term contracts are nonsense. Have yet to see someone explain the $8-10M per WAR foolishness I see bandied about
That’s what I would say if I was about to lose another of the players that made my team great.
dougdeb@hotmail.com how can anyone be proud of a bunch of cheaters????
Trashtsros…
The Yankees will make the playoffs with Urshela at short.. who needs a broken down 27 year old error filled ss
Which one, Urshela or Seager? They are literally the same player minus the lefty stick.
You can’t be serious. Seager offensively > Urshela, and it’s not even close. You are allowed to look up statistics, you know.
Blue Jays and Rays both got decidedly worse the last couple of days and the Red Sox and Yankees both refusing to be the schoolyard bully God intended. Still time but this is getting sadder by the hour..
Guess this opens the door for the Orioles to win the AL east….?
Rays got worse? They added Kluber and Raley to a squad that only lost Colin McHugh and Micael Wacha as ‘key’ contributors. Cruz was nice but he wasn’t that good with them. Rays need some more relievers and a couple of platoon bats and they’ll set for 2022.
Blue Jays got Gausman back instead of Ray, which going forward I don’t think makes much of a difference.. Losing Semien does hurt but they have enough bats to figure it out without him too.
I can’t really bring myself to delve too much into it but if you asked any random 100 baseball fans who or what a Railey is you’d get about 3 positive id’s and Kluber may have some decent starts left in his damaged shoulder/arm etc but he’s getting about the same as Wacha which should tell us what his expectations are.. Gausman might be a wildcard but away from the protection of SF and back risky ALE he’s no sure thing. I just don’t think any of this is moving any needles compared to the losses. And none of it changes the fact RS & NYY are on the sidelines. NYY might still make a splash for a SS but the clock is ticking.
Gausman is not a ace never won the game for my giants got way to much cash let him go
Totally disagree. The Rays and Blue Jays actually signed players. the Yankees were well behind the Rays in the standings and barely held off the Blue Jays from getting the last wild card spot. to me with the Yankees just standing by and watching all the better players go off the board and later bargain shop for the left over players isn’t going to work. If the plan is bring back an even older Gardner to help in the outfield and sign a couple of reclamation project pitchers like last year, they’ll definitely miss the playoffs. Maybe that’s the wake up call they need and see how quickly the fan base turns on them.
As a matter of fact, the Yankees do not make the playoffs if not for that 13 game winning streak in August which could’ve easily ended at 9, if not lesser than that. Mind you, they still could’ve easily missed even with it.
Hit the nail on the head imo.
Is that going to be +$400 million for 2nd and SS? This is some crazy $$ coming in fast and furious.
Everyone is saying these spending sprees don’t work out and that’s true. But if the Rangers don’t stop here and follow these up with filling in the holes with great role players and also continue to work hard on making sure that their prospects pan out and get great coaching, then they may get to relevance again MUCH quicker than anyone anticipated. From a Tigers fan, good luck to you and at the very least you all will have a full ballpark!
Rangers if they sign Seager likely trade IKF, Solak, Peters, Otto to Reds for S Gray or Marlins for Hernandez or Cabrera. Maybe Balt for Means and add a mid level prospect such as Acuna or Apostel. Then finish shopping with one of Suzuki/Bryant/Schwarber and one of Rodon/Kershaw if no trade as described above occurs
they should hold on both acuna and Acosta. would rather them trade Otto Alexy which may be more appealing due to them being major league ready
If Isiah Kiner-Falefa is up for trade discussions, I really hope the Tigers consider!
The Yankees sacrifice their biggest advantage again ($).
Self imposed spending limits from the wealthiest team whose owner is leading the charge on essientially setting a salary cap by proposing to lowering the LT ceiling and impose a floor.
Good grief, George left this team to a hedge manager, not a baseball fan.
Tom Ricketts owner of the Cubs $60 million payroll for 2022 says ‘Hold my beer Hal. I’m sitting on more cash than Yankees’
I want to see that 10 year deal just for fun.
While I gotta think spending sprees don’t work out great, the new stadium needs a team worth watching.
Seager and Semien along with IKF and Garcia isn’t the worst lineup out there. The rotation still has way too many question marks but there’s a lot of arms in the running.
I gotta think they’ll also look at trading some prospects away for more help. Especially MIF or some of those back end starter profiles they have about 10 of.
Sign Story instead or Schwarber and Rodon.
Yankees are not doin crap!!! What the hell is going on … George is turning in his grave! Time to sell Hal
Congrats Rangers fans! You’ve got a ownership which walks their talk.
Breaking news, Yankees sign …. Wait for it………….wait for it patience … is a virtue….Jose Peraza!!
Well I guess this means thewe know what team the Seager family will be rooting for in the AL West this year; & it’s definitely not the Mariners anymore.
Yankees reset there tax just so they could not spend any money on the best Fa class in years gotta love Hanky stupid Hank rip George
I hate them but dodgers doing it right