Evan Carter trade rumors are proof that MLB teams see a bright future in the Rangers' little savior

Baseball's winter meetings have come and gone. Most of the headlines involving the Texas Rangers during the week were about trading Corey Seager. For what it's worth, I believe Chris Young when he says that they are not interested in trading Seager.

When Seager is healthy, he is as good as anyone in baseball at any position. Health is the key. So is the Rangers being in the playoff hunt. If the Rangers are out of the playoff hunt come trade deadline time this upcoming season, Chris Young should seriously consider moving Seager.

Corey will be 32 come April. In the last five seasons, he's played over 130 games one time. With his history of injuries, his value will go down with each passing season. Other teams still value him at the moment. That won't last forever. The Rangers still owe Corey Seager 30 million a year for the next 6 years.

Another headline during the winter meetings was that teams were checking in on Evan Carter's trade availability. Evan was limited to 63 games last season. He started off the season at Round Rock, before coming back to the Rangers. Then in August versus Kansas City, he suffered a season ending wrist fracture after being hit by a pitch.

At times in 2025, he looked like the Evan Carter everyone expected. The reality is that he struggles against left-handed pitchers. He also has to face left-handed pitchers to hit left-handed pitching. He had 23 at bats vs left-handed pitching in 2025.

Evan Carter has all-star potential. There is simply no excuse for a player of his potential to have that few at bats vs left-handed pitching. Player development doesn't stop in the minors. Maybe it was a Bochy decision, maybe it was the analytics department making those decisions. Either way it doesn't matter, that's poor development on the Rangers part.

The Rangers hired Skip Schumaker with player development in mind. Skip has said that Carter will get at bats vs lefties. He also said that he will also have to earn those at bats. That's fair, but you also owe it to the kid to give him a fair opportunity. Hopefully the Rangers will. If not, other teams would love to.

Other teams see Carter's potential, and they would like nothing more to steal Evan from the Rangers. Health is a factor for Carter, just like Seager. At the moment Evan is cheap and controllable. At worst he's a platoon player that is a pretty good hitter vs right hand pitching.

At best, he could be healthy Kyle Tucker at the plate. Kyle Tucker is listed at 6'4, 212lbs, Carter is 6'3 190lbs. Both left-handed outfielders. They have similar numbers in their first three seasons, although Carter has played 23 more games in his first three seasons than Tucker did.

Carter through 3 seasons: 131 games, 15 HRS, 19 doubles and 52 RBIs.

Kyle Tucker through three Seasons: 108 games 13 HRs, 18 doubles, 57 RBIs.

Tucker didn't struggle with left-handed pitching the way that Carter has in those first three seasons. He also had roughly 1000 more at bats in the minors than Carter did.

Tucker of course is a big-name free agent this season. Someone is going to give him big name money, despite missing 110 games in the last two seasons.

If the Rangers or another team can get a full season out of Evan Carter, then they will potentially be getting a Kyle Tucker like hitter at the plate for a huge discount. Which is just what teams are looking for in these cost cutting times.