How Big of a Mistake Was it for the Dodgers to Let Corey Seager Leave in Free Agency?

The Dodgers’ postseason offense as soon as once more went lacking in motion for the second straight NLDS towards a divisional opponent in 2023.

If the Padres’ 3-1 shocker was the trailer in 2022, what Arizona did to my favourite crew in sweeping style turned out to be a horror film that seemingly didn’t finish.

Hindsight is clearly 20/20 however followers like me marvel to at the present time simply what would have occurred if Andrew Friedman bucked as much as pay Corey Seager his desired contract.

Seager broke out as 2016 NL Rookie of the 12 months and has developed into an MVP candidate as a Texas Ranger.

2020’s NLCS and World Collection MVP, LA doesn’t have a championship within the Dave Roberts period with out the hulking shortstop’s efficiency over that magical postseason.

A lot of Seager’s former teammates at Chavez are watching him dominate the postseason stage from their couches after LA’s entrance workplace didn’t ship his desired worth level within the 2022 offseason.

Many bear in mind Seager’s heroics from the bubble championship run however the majority of my reminiscences from Seager’s profession are frustration and heartbreak.

I don’t consider Seager’s 2017’s residence run off Justin Verlander in Recreation 2 of the World Collection however as an alternative I bear in mind him rolling over to Jose Altuve as the ultimate out within the crushing seven-game collection loss.

I bear in mind LA buying and selling for Manny Machado in Seager’s stead because of his elbow harm that pressured him out of your entire 2018 playoff run.

As a substitute of Seager’s contemporary bat within the lineup it was Machado who embarrassed himself in his respective closing at-bat that sealed a title for the Boston Pink Sox at Chavez Ravine as soon as once more.

I bear in mind each bat, however particularly Seager’s, falling flatter than a deflated balloon to the Nationals as LA collectively broke my coronary heart after their 106-win domination within the 2019 common season.

Even in 2021 together with his looming free company, I resigned myself to a doable life with out Seager after Andrew Friedman dealt for each Trea Turner and Max Scherzer on the commerce deadline.

Each a part of me stated that the transfer made sense however loads of Dodgers followers not like me wished he was nonetheless with the crew.

Studies all learn that Seager needed to affix Texas because of connections with Chris Woodward as the previous Dodger third base coach and no state tax for the huge contract he’d earn.

All of these issues made sense however what by no means did to me is why some individuals thought Seager was some world beater within the postseason outdoors of 2020.

Seager recorded eight strikeouts in every postseason run outdoors of 2020 and didn’t hit above .237 in any run along with that mark.

The harm historical past and excessive price ticket into Seager’s thirties additionally remained considerations for me on a possible deal and I believed it was good to maintain Trea Turner as an alternative for 2022.

Now after one other poor postseason in LA there aren’t as many excuses after the center infield remained a difficulty all season lengthy.

Mookie Betts kicked out to second base to make method for Jason Heyward and David Peralta within the postseason and each single one in all their bats didn’t impress this playoffs.

Seager in the meantime has picked up the place he left off in 2020 as he turned the primary man to stroll 5 instances in a postseason recreation throughout his collection with the Orioles.

LA’s former prime prospect appears all too snug in his new residence the place the Dodgers at the moment are scrambling for choices throughout the board.

Veteran reclamation tasks and Gavin Lux’s delayed restoration depart me fairly skeptical about the way forward for LA’s plans particularly within the postseason.

Texas has their subsequent celebrity face to guide them into the nationwide highlight solely this time they don’t seem prone to transfer on a la Alex Rodriguez 20 years in the past.

In his absence, LA’s choices throughout the board all appear to be worse choices than their former shortstop.

Shohei Ohtani appears a great free agent for the franchise, however continuity with their previous shortstop wouldn’t have necessitated the transfer.

Even when 2020 appeared fluky in all senses of the phrase, the reminiscences from that championship run largely washed away sins of years previous.

All these issues lead me to however one conclusion for that query.

Seager ought to’ve retired a Dodger. Plain and easy.

Dodgers Followers Consider Seager Ought to Have Stayed in LA

A ballot ran just lately on X.com (previously Twitter) exhibits that the overwhelming majority of followers additionally consider Seager ought to have remained in Dodger blue.

The place do you stand? Ought to the Dodgers have ponied up an additional $30-40 million to maintain him in LA? Hold forth within the feedback beneath.

Obligatory Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities

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