Rangers offseason begins with openness to major moves, including potential trade talks

The Rangers’ offseason roadmap starts with flexibility, not certainty. Speaking Tuesday during the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, Texas president of baseball operations Chris Young said the organization is entering the offseason with “a number of different paths” and plans to be nimble as the market shapes what’s possible.

Young framed the approach as operating on multiple fronts, then committing to a lane once the team can see where it leads. He said some elements of the process are out of Texas’s control, and that once the Rangers choose a direction, they will “continue down that lane” and make the best decisions available within it.

The clearest lane the Rangers could explore is trade discussions around Corey Seager, a former World Series MVP who has three years left on the front half of a 10-year contract. The organization has been open to listening for inquiries, with Young indicating that Texas is willing to test what teams could offer rather than treating any scenario as off-limits.

The reporting around Seager’s market comes with practical complications. Seager will be 33 next season, is scheduled to make $32.5 million in 2027, and has 10-and-5 rights, which can give a player veto power over certain trades.

Young also pointed to the team’s broader financial planning. He said he expects payroll to stay about the same as 2026, in the $190 million range, and that maintaining competitiveness could involve creativity, including the possibility of moving one of the club’s big-money contracts.

While nothing is described as definite, the Rangers’ message is that they are willing to explore. Young said the team is “very open-minded” and is looking at the situation through “a different lens,” adding that it does not necessarily mean a major deal is coming, and it also does not mean Texas is under financial duress to shed contracts.