The Atlanta Braves season ended on Wednesday, Oct. 7, when the Los Angeles Dodgers took the NLDS three games to one. The offense stalled, and the stars went quiet. Now the front office faces a hard choice: rebuild the core or add a proven winner. According to Matt Postins of Texas Rangers on SI, the answer is clear. He says the team should go get Concord, N.C., native Corey Seager before it is too late.
A Clear Path to a Shortstop Fix
The Braves have a gaping hole at shortstop. Ha-Seong Kim can play the position, but his bat was unresponsive this season, and he is a free agent. The Rangers might decide to hit the reset button on their roster. If they do, Postins says they must “go back to the team that inquired about Jacob deGrom — the Atlanta Braves — and take a swing at a big deal.” This is not a suggestion; it is a direct call to action based on the current roster needs.
Money is not the problem for Atlanta. Spotrac reports that Seager’s base salary will be $31.5 million next season and remain unchanged each year until the 2031 season. The Braves can handle that payroll. The real cost is the price of admission. “Texas may have to pry three prospects out of Atlanta, but they should be targeted at Double-A or above,” Postins added. The list includes outfielder Eric Hartman, left-handed pitcher Cam Caminiti, and middle infielder Tate Southisene. Trading for a two-time World Series MVP is worth the price.
Why Seager Fits the Window
The Braves are in a win-now window with Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson still in their prime. They cannot afford to wait for the next generation to arrive. Two World Series MVPs and two World Series victories are what Seager adds to the table. His postseason numbers are scary good. Per reports, in 78 postseason games, Seager posted a .254 batting average alongside 55 runs, 48 RBIs, 19 homers, and 76 hits. That is the kind of clutch hitting the team lacked against the Dodgers.
There is a catch. Seager now has a full 1- and 5 no-trade rights, meaning he can veto any trade, including a potential deal to Atlanta. Atlanta must be one of them. If the deal gets done, the team gets a player who knows how to win when the lights are brightest. The alternative is watching another year pass without a solution at shortstop. Mauricio Dubon is about to be a free agent, and he can play just about everywhere, but he is not a long-term fix. The Braves need a star, not a stopgap.
The Clock Is Ticking
The offseason has just begun, but the opportunity to make a splash is right now. The Rangers might listen to offers, and the Braves have the assets to make a deal happen. Given the void Seager will create at shortstop, Postins indicates the last prospect could be the move. The team has the money and the need. They just need the guts to pull the trigger. The Dodgers showed what happens when you fail to add elite talent. Do not let that happen again.
