With Corey Seager among the top free agents available this winter and several teams in need of a shortstop, he figures to be in line for a lucrative contract.
Seager to this point has spent the entirety of his career with the Dodgers, and after they were eliminated in the National League Championship Series, expressed a desire to remain with the only organization he’s known since being drafted.
The Dodgers share in that sentiment, but reportedly have been competing against the likes of Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, among other teams, in negotiations thus far.
Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers and Yankees remain in the picture to sign the 27-year-old, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Yankees and Dodgers are both playing for star SS Corey Seager. For a big free agent, this tandem of marquee teams is like the Holy Grail.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 17, 2021
Seager is the co-headliner of a star-studded free agent shortstop class that includes Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, Javier Baez and Trevor Story. Where Seager separates himself from the group is being a left-handed hitter, which the Yankees would stand to benefit from adding to their lineup.
Despite being limited to 95 games this past season due to a right hand fracture, Seager hit .306/.394/.521 with 22 doubles, 16 home runs and 57 RBI.
Seager looking to sign
While it’s unclear how advanced talks with the Dodgers, Yankees or any other club may be at this stage, it was recently reported Seager had interest in signing a new contract prior to the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expiring at 8:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Assuming a new deal is not in place by then, MLB is expected to enter into a lockout that will halt free agency, trades and all other business.
The first step for Seager in free agency will be to officially decline the qualifying offer, as the deadline is less than 24 hours away.
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