Going into the offseason, one of the most unsettled spots on the Atlanta Braves' roster is at shortstop. Ha-Seong Kim and Mauricio Dubon manned the position in 2026, and both are set to be free agents this offseason. Even if they were sticking around, Kim was one of the worst hitters in baseball this season, and Dubon is probably best used as a super utility player with his limited offensive upside.
In short, the Braves need a shortstop that can hit. The offense needs more consistency, and there is no guarantee that some of the Braves’ struggling veterans on long-term deals, such as Austin Riley and Sean Murphy, will turn things around. If Atlanta brings in someone new, that player will really have to contribute at the plate.
A cursory look at the free-agent market (both at shortstop and in general) doesn't give much confidence that the Braves can find such a bat on the open market. However, MLB insider Joel Sherman seems to think that Atlanta could revisit trading for Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, who they have apparently kicked the tires on in the past.
.@Joelsherman1 mentions the Braves' past interest in acquiring Rangers’ shortstop Corey Seager 🤔 https://t.co/ILX5O0cO5q pic.twitter.com/bDpoyiYJkZ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 9, 2026
Braves' rumored interest in Corey Seager would solve shortstop woes...maybe
On paper, there is a lot to like with a potential Seager trade, who has been a rumored possibility for the Braves for a few years now. Seager may not be the perennial MVP candidate he once was, but he still hits the absolute crap out of the ball (89th percentile or better in average exit velocity, barrel %, and hard-hit % in 2026), and he has hit 20 or more home runs in five straight seasons. Combine that with Seager's consistently high walk rates, and you have exactly the kind of hitter the Braves need right now.
There are some problems, though. One previous sticking point with a Seager trade is that the veteran shortstop reportedly has the Braves on his limited no-trade list. Even if he were to be convinced to agree to be traded to Atlanta and forgo the lack of an income tax in Texas, Seager has dealt with a number of injuries in recent years and hasn't played in more than 123 games since 2022. Seager's ability is also declining, as he only hit .227 this past season, and his sprint speed now ranks near the bottom of all of baseball.
The hope would be that a change of scenery (and a different training staff) would rejuvenate Seager and keep him productive and on the field. However, the Braves would then have to decide how much of his $31.5 million AAV through 2031 they are willing to pay, and Texas would need to figure out how much of Seager's contract they are willing to eat to move him. In short, there are a lot of moving parts to consider before there is any hope of a potential trade, but the payoff could be huge if the Braves can pull it off.
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