With the frustrating outcome of the 2021 season behind the Rangers, there is hope on the horizon. Ending the year with a dead-last placement in the AL West, the Ranger’s record of 60-102 reflected a lack of talent on the field.
However, ESPN insider Jeff Passan received word that Corey Seager, the Dodgers’ star shortstop, has been picked up by the Rangers. The Rangers dug deep into their pockets for this massive deal: a whopping $325 million to Seager for ten years with the Rangers.
Jon Heyman, sports insider for MLBNetwork, added that the terms of the deal were “Limited, no trade. No-opt out.” For those not familiar, an opt-out clause means that a player could “test” free agency at specific points throughout their contract. Seager does not get this luxury with the Ranger’s deal.
Seager was somewhat of a fixture on the Dodgers, with a slew of commendations such as double All-Star selections, a World Series ring, and a Rookie of the Year award. The Rangers have previously stated that the 2022 season would be accompanied by a large budget and eventually lured Seager, a 6-year Dodgers loyal.
Seager entered free agency after 2021 and became the centerpiece of the Ranger’s most expensive deal ever. He was on the radar of many potential teams due to great batting in previous seasons, with CBS Sports saying that “Seager can really hit.”
On Sunday, the Rangers also picked up infielder Marcus Semien with a reported ten-year, $175 million deal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan stated that pitcher Jon Gray was engaged in finalizing negotiations with the Rangers for a four-year contract worth $56 million.
The Rangers began throwing funds to stack out a middle infield, with Semien earning a Gold Glove for the excellent defense at second base. All deals are yet to be official but have reached the final stages, according to analysts.
CBS estimated that the Rangers have a salary commitment of $550 million with the newly-added players.