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Rangers Should Trade Big Contract to Accelerate Roster Overhaul
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- Rangers Should Trade Big Contract to Accelerate Roster Overhaul
(© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
The Texas Rangers have four expensive veteran contracts on their payroll, belonging to pitchers Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi , shortstop Corey Seager and outfielder Brandon Nimmo.
Texas would prefer to move at least one of those contracts this offseason.
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Who should Rangers keep?
The Rangers will likely retain Nimmo because they acquired him from the New York Mets in exchange for Marcus Semien, and his ability to improve their OBP remains important.
Nimmo hit .260 with 14 home runs, 62 RBIs and a .728 OPS in 155 games.
deGrom and Eovaldi are entering the last year of their respective contracts, while the Rangers continue to need starting pitching. Moving either veteran would create another opening in a rotation already requiring additional depth.
deGrom was particularly ineffective during his last two starts, precisely when Texas needed him most while battling the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West.
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He went 0-2 with a 12.22 ERA and 2.47 WHIP in 8.1 innings, allowing 11 runs with seven strikeouts and seven walks.
Eovaldi has spent four years with the Rangers but is coming off his worst season with Texas.
The right-hander finished 11-10 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 145.2 innings over 27 appearances (23 starts), recording 142 strikeouts against 71 walks.
Will Rangers trade Seager?
That leaves Seager, who has five years remaining on his contract and earns more than $30 million annually.
Removing that salary would create considerable payroll flexibility, but the Rangers must receive the right return before trading one of their most accomplished players.
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Seager has spent five seasons with Texas but endured his least productive offensive campaign with the team. He hit a career-low .227 with 20 home runs, 51 RBIs and a .736 OPS in 102 games.
The 32-year-old has earned 10-and-5 rights after completing 10 MLB seasons and five with the Rangers. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, those rights provide a full no-trade clause, meaning Seager must approve any deal .
Despite his age and recent injury history, Seager should still bring back two or three players, including at least two who are MLB-ready.
His proven ability and experience performing under substantial expectations would make him appealing to teams searching for an established shortstop and middle-of-the-order hitter.
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Texas cannot move Seager merely to reduce payroll. Any return must make the roster younger, more athletic and better positioned for sustained success.
That is the direction president of baseball operations Chris Young wants to pursue. A trade meeting those requirements could justify moving Seager and accelerate the Rangers' transition.
Anything less would not provide enough value for surrendering a franchise cornerstone.
