The Carlos Correa era is over for the Mets, as the highly-desired free agent with the questionable long-term health status appears set to return to Minnesota. Correa now joins Carlos Beltran as former Astros who were set to join the Mets, only never to suit up for a single game with the club after agreeing to terms. With Beltran, it was over his involvement with the sign-stealing fiasco. With Correa, it was over his ability to remain healthy due to an injury suffered earlier in his career.
It didn’t seem real when the Mets first got him. And it turns out that was exactly right – it was never real. It’s disappointing, for sure. But it’s not a giant setback. The Mets were going to be a better team with a healthy Correa. But they’re still an excellent team with all of the other moves they made in the offseason and with Eduardo Escobar back at the hot corner.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this is how twice now the Mets have refused to be bullied into signing a Scott Boras client over perceived negative findings in a physical. First, it was refusing to sign Kumar Rocker after they used their first-round pick to sign him and now Correa. Only time will tell if the Mets were correct or not to step aside from either player. Perhaps this will be further ammunition against those who think Boras has some mystical power over teams.
Yeah..this is a tough one to take but maybe the Giants won’t be so pissed off at us now after losing out to the Twins. There isn’t any star-power available in the free agent market now but I like Escobar. He will be a free agent himself after this year and will be playing for another contract.
Hold your horses. This Twins deal will also apart and Correa will sign with the Yomiuri Giants.
Correa goes from $ 350 million with the Giants to $ 315 million with the Mets and not $ 200 million with the Twins. That sure is a huge difference.
I bet the Mets will now pivot to trades.
In a way I am glad they held their ground. I give them a lot of credit for that.
Buyer beware. It is the Mets and the Giants right also to back off from deal. 315 and 350 million dollars would be devastating to lose and cripple the luxury tax or the bottom line in profits. It was disappointing but prudent and cautious. Cohen did not cave in . Now he has 315 million dollars earmarked for future free agents.
So Escobar will be the third baseman. Now Baty, Mauricio and Vientos has an avenue at third base. Escobar will not be second baseman or a primary DH. Vientos has an opportunity to beat Ruf out the right handed DH and backup first baseman.
There is more opportunities and at bats for Alvarez as a DH. Even without Correa are still an excellent team.
Buyer beware is right. He has never hit 30 home runs or driven in 100 runs. In seven full years he has played more than 140 games twice. That’s not good. After all of this, he settles for 200 million. I’d rather invest the $ 315 million in Ohtani. I really think Correa is overated. Sure je could have made a difference for us for a few years, but odds and history say he will get hurt and the last seven or eight years could have been an albatross.
Looks like the Mets verbally agreed to 315 million knowing full well that they would try to get away with half of that.
Cohen isn’t worth 15 billion because he is stupid. He us cunning and shrewd. I don’t think the Mets are done yet with moves.
More relieved than disappointed. Correa is a very good player and would have made the 2023 team better for sure, but I’m not sure he is the MVP caliber player that commands $300 million. And that’s before long term health concerns.
The Mets currently have the highest payroll of all time, along with the highest luxury tax of all time. They are quite good, but may be the 3rd best team in their division right now. They can and likely will improve the roster, with less financial commitment. Another high leverage arm in the pen and a legit OF4 would be prudent.
The Mets did everything this off season but snag an impact bat to add to their lineup. As I recall our hopes were to get improvement at the plate from the DH and catcher positions and we did that. No, not an established star, but more potential adding an Alvarez and Vientos from the right side, believing that a Vogelbach will continue to provide some continued power, how ever slow footed, from the left, adding Narvaez and dumping McCann. If we get the Escobar who finished out last season, we could be a devestating at the plate as we should be on the mound. So goodbye Carlos, hope you are happy playing for the not going to win Twins, who we’re desperate to give something to their fans. And bravo for playing hardball with Boras who clearly did not want to put any clauses in the contract to help allay the Mets fears of down the road injuries to that repaired leg.
Are we a better team than last season when we won 101 games? Yes. Will the changes we made propel us deeper into the playoffs? Hope so. Do we think Cohen is done wheeling and dealing? Doubt it. Especially now that he can bank the $26 million in salary plus the $23 million in luxury tax. That’s nearly $50 million back in the piggy bank. Hey Ohtani – tired of playing for the losing Angels or perhaps is Mike Trout ready to switch coasts? Let the games begin.
I’m thinking that they’ll use some $$ to bolster the bench and pen by signing possibly Duval and Chafin. And, I agree, with others to give Alvarez, Mauricio, Vientos and Baty chances.
Next off season, NY is looking at Machado and/or Ohtani! Escobar and Canha will be gone.
There was a way to restructure the deal – but ultimately it relied on the willingness to believe (hope?) that Correa would live up to the contract beyond 4-5 years.
Not spending the money now sets up a very interesting trade deadline.