Corey Seager trade debate represents one of Yankees' biggest problems

Following the 2021 season, the Yankees had major needs. Their Wild Card Game loss to the Boston Red Sox, fans were hoping, would send a message. But it didn't. New York pretty much made no moves in the month leading up to the mini lockout and then made the tone-deaf decision to acquire Josh Donaldson in a trade with the Twins in March. Oh yeah, and they extended Aaron Boone despite the perfect opportunity to move on.

Their most glaring need was at shortstop, where Andrew Velazquez was starting at the end of that season. This free agency class was littered with star shortstops, but none more attractive than Corey Seager, who felt like the perfect fit in many ways.

But the Yankees passed on all the options. They traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa in that Donaldson deal to create a soft landing for Anthony Volpe come 2023 — a decision that will surely haunt the franchise in future literature.

Speaking of the Donaldson deal, that represented a Cashman Special: bringing aboard players a few years too late. This has been a trend since 2021. Names like Rougned Odor, Jay Bruce, Corey Kluber, Marwin Gonzalez, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Carrasco (and likely others) haunt our dreams. Not to mention, taking on contracts via trade in the form of Giancarlo Stanton, Ryan McMahon, etc. have hurt the Yankees more than it has helped.

Yankees shouldn't trade for Corey Seager despite temptation to do so with incomplete roster

Seager would be exactly that. Why would there be any interest in paying for the back half of Seager's onerous contract after missing out on the largely dominant first four years? The whole point of chasing Seager back in 2021 was to lock in elite performances from at least 2022-2025 before regression set in. Taking on Seager's age-33 through age-37 seasons when he's breaking down more and more hardly makes sense.

Not to mention — another Yankees problem! — of playing Seager out of position. Why would he be a fit for third base? Because anything is better than McMahon? Seager's played just six career games at the hot corner. This would be a solution for a team who had six or seven of the nine positions locked and loaded. The Yankees don't even have three! It's Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and a bunch of "we need to figure this out" — with Ben Rice's future at first base atop the offseason list.

Rangers insider Evan Grant suggested the two sides have already spoken about a deal and that Ryan Weathers and Anthony Volpe were reportedly "floated as potential trade chips." Look, if the Yankees pull the trigger, there's no doubt we'll all be rooting for Seager. But at this point, to acquire an expensive, imperfect fit while sacrificing depth just doesn't seem to make any sense.

With limited options in free agency, though, this very well could be an option for the Yankees to upgrade. We just hope it doesn't end up being a cautionary tale if it comes to fruition.

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