I recognize that all of these 10 year deals are likely going to have some rough years towards the end, but when Corey Seager signed for 10 years and 325 million in 2021, I think more than a few folks were worried about both the short and long term.

Allow me to copy/paste the below snippet from Jamey Newberg's "The Newberg Report" on Substack that I thought was enlightening:

The point is that while other Texas contracts (or arbitration projections) are being redlined as underwater at this point, Seager’s is nowhere near that. Four years into the landmark 10-year deal without which the Rangers don’t have a World Series championship, Seager is still earning his keep. By the FanGraphs Value metric, he has yet to have an overpaid season, even though he’s missed a significant number of games in the last three — including more than one-third of the schedule this year:

2022: 151 games played, paid $32.5 million, worth $34.7 million

2023: 119 games played, paid $35 million, worth $51 million

2024: 123 games played, paid $34.5 million, worth $37.1 million

2025: 102 games played, paid $32 million, worth $32.1 million

In his four years as a Ranger, Seager’s wRC+ (runs per plate appearance, league- and park-adjusted) is ninth best in baseball at 141. The fascinating thing about that is that the eight players ahead of him — Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Yordan Alvarez, Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, and Tucker — all have negative defensive fWAR adjustments, ranging from Tucker’s -12.0 to Ohtani’s -65.1. Only Seager’s is positive (22.1). In fact, you don’t see a higher defensive number on that chart until you get to Cal Raleigh, who is 23rd in wRC+.

With Bo Bichette signing today for 42 million per year AAV, I just thought it was appropriate to revisit this and realize what an amazing player we have at shortstop right now.

14 comments

  2. After this off-season I’m just glad we got our chip before the dodgers went insane with these contracts. Do I wish we spent more? Sure but I’m just grateful for 23 more today

  7. The Bichette contract is still steep, but $60 million AAV for Tucker is just absolutely insane, that’s the one that really gets me. I would be lowkey pissed if I was a guy like Freeman and saw that, bc they’re in the same category to me of very solid but not generational talent players and Tucker is now getting twice as much with a 2 year option. Salary cap (and floor) honestly can’t come fast enough imo, it’s so insane that Tucker is going to make just $9 million less than the Marlin’s entire projected payroll

  8. Totally agree with your point here. That said, Seager could hit .000 for the rest of the contract and it still would be worth every penny.

  10. who cares this team is run by cheap bums, dodgers rolling out a 450 million dollar payroll while the rangers nickel and dime a barely 200 million dollar payroll LMAO, pathetic

  11. ![gif](giphy|XqHfYIe1ySyzw9UsEW|downsized)

    He was worth it the minute this occurred. “High drive, it’s tied!”

  12. 10/$325M and a ring already. Yeah, that’s a steal. With Bichette getting $42M AAV, Seager’s deal looks even better in hindsight. If the last few years get rough, that’s what the parade footage is for.

  14. They always do, that’s why it’s important to sign guys when you can. Suarez for 5/130 is going to be an insane steal in years 3-4-5

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