Corey Seager linked to Yankees in drastic Rangers trade scenario

The shortstop who got away may be available this winter, but the Yankees may not be in the same opportunistic position to strike.

Rangers ownership plans to cut payroll for 2026, according to the Dallas Morning Newsand the severity of such measures could lead to the team possibly trading high-priced stars like shortstop Corey Seager or top ace Jacob deGrom.

Should Seager become available, some have pegged the Yankees based on their previous interest and Anthony Volpe’s lack of development in three seasons.

However, the Yankees’ payroll is already close to the $300 million that Hal Steinbrenner uses as a reference point and the team is still hoping to sign Cody Bellinger.

Seager has six years and $189 million remaining on the 10-year, $325 million contract he signed with the Rangers after the 2021 season.

“My main thought is that we’re going to have a big enough payroll that we can win,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said during the GM meetings. according to MLB.com. “We have a great core group. We’re in a great position. We don’t have to take any steps to accommodate payroll or buy payroll flexibility, so to speak.

“But we expect to win with whatever numbers we have. I’m confident we can put together a very good team regardless of payroll number.”

Seager entered free agency in 2021 after a strong run with the Dodgers and many projected the Yankees as a logical destination.

The shortstop seemed like a natural fit in The Bronx due to the team’s glaring need for the premium position, the top of his left bat playing 81 games at Yankee Stadium and the financial flexibility the Yankees possessed at the time.

The Gleyber Torres experiment at shortstop had come to an end, with Quad-A player Andrew Velazquez essentially starting the wild-game loss to the Red Sox.

However, the Yankees had Volpe waiting in the pipeline.

Most locations projected Volpe as a future star at the position and the Yankees opted not to pursue Seager like the Rangers did, which led to him landing in Texas.

Well, four offseasons later, waiting for Volpe has proven to be ill-advised.

Volpe has slashed .222/.283/.379 with a .622 OPS, with fans booing him mercilessly during the playoffs. Even his Gold-Glove defense and baserunning have deteriorated.

But even if the Yankees wanted to move on, it would be a challenge.

Volpe doesn’t earn much and it seems the team is determined to give him every opportunity to succeed, even if the fans don’t agree.

Cot’s Baseball Contracts estimates that the Yankees already have about $281 million in payroll costs, and Steinbrenner has said he doesn’t believe he will have to pay more than $300 million in payroll costs each year.

Adding Seager’s $31.5 million would add another hefty contract to the books at a time when the Yankees have Giancarlo Stanton at $56 million for at least two more years, while Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole also receive a combined more than $63 million over the next three seasons.

On the Rangers side, it remains to be seen whether the team will have to make such drastic moves.

The Dallas Morning News said it is uncertain whether the team will take a small or large pay cut because in theory, trading either or both would jeopardize the team’s chance to win.

Seager cannot block a trade with the Yankees because they are not on his no-trade list, according to the outlet.

The 31-year-old posted a 6.2 BWAR season last year and posted an .860 OPS with 21 home runs and 50 RBIs in 102 games.

“We like the group of position players we have, and we’ll have to evaluate if there are ways to improve that group,” Young said. “It’s our duty to build the best team we possibly can. Unfortunately, just like the nature of baseball, sometimes you have to make tough decisions about players you love who were part of the core group.”

“I don’t think you’ll see big changes where we cut players in nine positions, but I think that change could be good. Every team will go through changes. No team will bring back exactly the same roster. I can’t tell you who that is, but I’m just saying we’re open-minded in terms of personnel.”