Corey Seager is a free agent for the first time in his career, and he is among the most popular names on the market despite being part of a deep pool of shortstops.
So far he has most prominently been connected to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. However, the Yankees more recently appear less interested in spending big on a shortstop.
There is speculation Seager could sign before the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 8:59 p.m. PT, as it would likely cause a lockout if a new deal is not in place.
The Dodgers are hopeful they can reach an agreement with Seager, but if they aren’t able to, they are likely to move forward with Trea Turner at shortstop rather than spending on another player, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
“They love Corey Seager. It feels like it’s Corey Seager or bust. I don’t think they’re looking at Correa, Baez or other shortstops. At this point if they can get Seager, they would love to bring him back.”
Although the free-agent shortstop market features the likes of Marcus Semien, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa and Javy Baez along with Seager, it makes sense for L.A. to move forward with Turner if he’s needed to slide over.
Turner is already among the game’s elite players and if L.A. wants to re-sign him, it would probably help if he is playing his preferred position of shortstop.
The Dodgers also have multiple roles to fill on their pitching staff as Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Corey Knebel and Jimmy Nelson are all free agents. Furthermore, it still makes plenty sense to re-sign Chris Taylor, regardless of what happens with Seager.
Options if not Seager
There is also one more important reason for the Dodgers to sign Seager and not another shortstop. Seager, Semien, Correa and Story all received, and declined, the qualifying offer.
This means, if Seager leaves, the Dodgers would only receive a compensation pick after the fourth round because they were over the luxury tax this past season.
But if the Dodgers sign Semien, Correa or Story, they would lose their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2022 MLB Draft, as well as $1 million from their international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. If they re-sign Seager, they would not gain or lose a pick.
The Dodgers could sign Baez without penalty because he was traded midseason which made him ineligible for the qualifying offer.
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