Reds rumors: Corey Seager has drawn interest all offseason

The hot stove has been a bit cool of late, but the latest Reds rumors suggest Cincinnati has had their sights set on Corey Seager all offseason.

While a lot of focus of late has centered around Cincinnati’s pursuit of Francisco Lindor, the latest Reds rumors suggest another shortstop may be on the team’s radar. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Cincinnati Reds have had interest in Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager all offseason.

Currently, the best option for Cincinnati at shortstop is Freddy Galvis and that’s not a bad thing. The Reds picked up Galvis’ $5.5M option earlier this offseason after the 30-year-old was claimed off waivers following his dismissal from the Toronto Blue Jays. Galvis hit .260 last season with a career-high 23 home runs.

While Galvis is a serviceable option at shortstop, Corey Seager is an obvious upgrade. A former first-round pick, Seager is a two-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year. The soon-to-be 26-year-old has a career slash line of .294/.362/.491 with 73 home runs and 266 RBIs.

The Reds rumors have been hot and heavy with Cincinnati’s interest in shortstops this winter. Before Christmas, the Reds were said to be involved in the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes. Though Cleveland has hung onto their superstar thus far, it’s still possible a trade comes to fruition before the start of the season.

Seager’s name is an interesting one. Like Lindor, Seager has two years of team control remaining and would become a free agent following the 2021. Unlike Lindor, Seager’s not projected to break the bank during arbitration. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Seager is expected to take home approximately $7M, while Lindor projects to make more than double at $16.7M.

Obviously, the more cost-effective move would be to trade for Seager rather than Lindor, something that can’t be ignored when talking about the Cincinnati Reds. A trade for Seager would also not cost the Reds as much in terms of a return. Nick Senzel‘s name has been among those mentioned in the Lindor rumors, but likely wouldn’t be a requirement to land Seager.

There’s a lot to like about a potential deal for Corey Seager, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have to be willing to play ball. However, with prized rookie Gavin Lux entering the fray, LA’s infield is becoming a bit crowded. The Dodgers have also been among the teams rumored to be after Lindor. Surely a deal between the Dodgers and Indians would necessitate moving Seager as well.

These latest Reds rumors are sure to be hotly debated among the fanbase. A certain segment is sure to prefer Francisco Lindor, while others will be in the camp clamoring for Corey Seager. Either way, it appears clear that Cincinnati is still interested in adding pieces to it’s roster heading into 2020.