Rangers insider signals bold strategic angle on Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom

Texas Rangers insider Evan Grant suggests that the AL West powerhouse should be open about potential trades involving Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom. Grant knows Rangers aren't shopping their superstars, but believes they should if payroll pressure affects creativity.

Grant is the longtime Rangers beat writer of the Dallas Morning News. He shared his bold suggestion to the 2023 World Series champions on Wednesday's episode of "Foul Territory."

“I do think the Rangers have to at least be open to the idea of, if they've got to trim more payroll, and they want to add quality players, and this was all before the Brando Nimmo-Marcus Semien deal, but you've got to at least be open," Grant said (Timestamp: 1:38:02). If somebody approaches you about Corey Seager or Jacob deGrom, you've got to listen."

Grant said that deGrom has a complete no-trade clause, making it difficult to trade the 37-year-old starting pitcher. The two-time Cy Young Award winner missed much of the 2023 and 2024 seasons to injury, but triumphantly returned in 2025 and won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Grant also noted that Seager has limited no-trade protection. However, that will change next year as Seager will become a "five-and-10 guy."

When an MLB player accumulates 10 years of service and plays the last five seasons with the same team, they will get "10-and-5 rights." This right grants them the power to veto any trade proposal.

Seager joined the Rangers on a 10-year, $325 million deal in December 2021. This makes the 2026 season his fifth with the Rangers. He had already reached 10 years of MLB service time in August 2025, having debuted for the Dodgers in September 2015.

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Rangers insider shares thoughts about the team's recent trade

Despite his bold suggestion of listening to offers for Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom, Rangers insider Evan Grant doesn't think it will happen. One reason is the Rangers' recent acquisition of Brandon Nimmo, who was acquired via trade from the Mets in exchange for Marcus Semien.

"That Nimmo-for-Semien deal in the short term really is going to pay dividends because it saves you $11 million," Grant said (Timestamp: 1:38:43). "I thought the most they'd be able to save on Semien was about five or six million."

"And if they did that, they weren't going to get a real quality player in return. They've gotten a guy who slides right into the outfield mix, and that's where they needed to really backfill," he added.

The insider also noted that further cost-cutting measures would significantly hurt the team's chances of championship contention. He said the onus will be on Chris Young, the president of baseball operations, to convince owner Ray Davis, if such a scenario arises.