The Atlanta Braves need to find a shortstop and improve the starting rotation this offseason, and the latest reports suggest that the Texas Rangers could help them solve both problems.
According to The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant, the Rangers will be looking for trade partners for Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom. Per Grant, president of baseball operations Chris Young noted the team plans to have the same budget, but be more competitive next season. He also noted that the roster will be different and the front office is evaluating trade interest and the market.
Seager and deGrom are signed to expensive contracts, and both could help the Braves. Neither one was particularly great last season, but the entire league knows what type of players they are when things are going well.
deGrom was an All-Star in 2025 and has made 30-plus starts in back-to-back seasons. He did not pitch well last season, but he is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and five-time All-Star who could be the No. 2 starter in the Braves rotation if they believe he can get back on track.
Seager had elbow surgery after the season ended, so it's possible that an elbow issue led to his down year. He had a .227 batting average last season and posted an OPS below .850 for the first time since 2022.
Mauricio Dubón saved the Braves from a disaster at shortstop last season, but he is a free agent and figures to be more of a utility player than a star shortstop.
The Braves could put together a package to take deGrom and Seager off the Rangers' hands, but it will depend on what is important to the Rangers. If the Rangers are trying to dump both contracts, the Braves have the financial capability to do that and would not have to give up much prospect capital.
However, if the Rangers are willing to eat some money to get better prospects, the Braves may be even more interested. Seager is signed to a 10-year, $325 million deal that runs through 2031. deGrom is due $37 million in 2027 and has a $20 million club option for 2028.
A deal between the Braves and Rangers that sees the Rangers shed some payroll and add players to help them compete while filling two huge holes for the Braves would make a ton of sense. The Rangers don't necessarily need to add big-league talent from the Braves because freeing up some money would allow them to do that on the open market.
Overall, Young wants to get more competitive with a similar payroll. It seems impossible to do that without moving Seager and deGrom.