Across the four days of the Winter Meetings, the Boston Red Sox ended up connected to a multitude of infield options. Players ranged from superstars on the trade market to high-end role-player free agents or players coming from overseas.
Corey Seager was one player who certainly stuck out. The veteran shortstop's name has been floated around as a potential trade candidate since his middle infield partner, Marcus Semien, was traded a few weeks ago. The lefty, who turns 32 in late April, is headed into year five of his 10-year, $325 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
Seager is a superstar. He has been one of the best hitters of the decade. Since 2021, he has a .283 average with a .893 OPS. He's averaged over 25 doubles, over 26 home runs, and 72 RBIs per season while being worth 25.5 bWAR. His 142 WRC+ in that span puts him just behind Kyle Tucker and just ahead of Mookie Betts. His biggest question mark is his health, having only one full season (2022) since 2018, and averaging just 118 games per season since 2021.
Because Seager is a shortstop, it would require moving one of him or Story off short. While Seager has generally been a better defender at short, moving him to the hot corner could allow him to stay healthier.
This trade package should net the Red Sox Corey Seager from the Rangers
Despite the injury problems, Seager will be worth a haul if he gets moved. Current reports say the Rangers aren't actively shopping him, but are fielding phone calls. He's what the Red Sox could offer to get the deal across:
Red Sox Receive Corey Seager for Brayan Bello, Marcelo Mayer, and Anthony Eyanson
The Rangers will require a lot in return for Seager. Bello would be a young, cost-controlled pitcher the Rangers would love. He would immediately slot into the middle of their rotation, but the bigger piece is that he would make the money work better. Seager is due $31.5 million a year for the next six years. Sending Bello back would clear over nine million against the luxury tax for the next four years for Boston, instead of the Rangers having to send money in return. He is also expendable now that Gray and Oviedo have been brought in, plus all of the depth the Sox already have.
Texas would get Mayer to be their shortstop of the future. He is MLB-ready and has high enough potential to be a major part of the return for Seager. Eyanson was a 3rd round draft pick in the 2025 draft, but was the 40th-ranked prospect in the draft by MLB.com.
The combination of the three: an already established starter under team contract, an MLB-ready shortstop, and a young pitcher with lots of potential, should be enough to convince the Rangers.