The Mets swoop in to sign Carlos Correa to a 12-year 315 million contract. The New York Mets will now own Carlos Correa. Towards the end of Tuesday night, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Mets and Correa had agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract. While the billionaire was in Hawaii, team owner Steve Cohen and Correa’s agent Scott Boras worked on the monumental contract for several hours, according to Heyman.
Correa, an All-Star shortstop who spent last season with the Minnesota Twins, is anticipated to move to third base since Francisco Lindor is the Mets’ shortstop. Given their close friendship, Correa and Lindor played third base for Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
According to FanGraphs, the big deal increases the Mets’ competitive balance tax payroll to an estimated $388.4 million and adds approximately $115.3 million in CBT payments. The Mets will invest roughly $503.7 million in players in 2023. Cohen, who benefits from his level of CBT penalties, isn’t interested.
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The San Francisco Giants, who had previously agreed to a 13-year, $350 million deal with Correa, postponed his scheduled opening press conference for the day, setting off a wild series of events that culminated in the rumored signing.
According to the Associated Press, a medical concern discovered during the physical led to the postponement of that press conference. The unknown is the precise nature of the medical concern. The Giants said in a statement on Wednesday that there was “a difference of opinion over the results of Carlos’ physical examination, even though we are prohibited from disclosing confidential medical information, as Scott Boras publicly stated.”
Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, told The Athletic that he gave the Giants “reasonable time” to finish the contract before looking at other organizations. “Every team has the right to review and assess things. The crucial point is that we provided the Giants with medical reports at the time. They still desired to sign the athlete and conduct negotiations with him, “said Boras.
Most MLB contracts, especially high-value free-agent agreements, are not signed until the player in question clears a physical exam administered by the signing team. If difficulties arise during that physical, the agreement may be revised, abandoned entirely, or carried out as intended. For instance, J.D. Martinez’s physical put off the signing of his five-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Before joining the Twins, Correa played for the Houston Astros and had back and neck issues. He has also experienced other health problems and injuries throughout his career. He missed time during the previous season due to COVID and a finger injury from being struck by a pitch. Again, it’s unclear what precisely the problem with his Giant’s physical is, so it might not be connected.
On a one-year deal worth $35.1 million with a two-year, $70.2 million insurance clause in case his performance tanked, or he sustained a catastrophic injury, Correa, who turned 28 in September, spent 2022 with the Twins. Correa broke his contract after the season when neither of those things occurred, and he made money this off-season.
The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets finished the season 101-61, but the Braves held the tiebreaker because they won the season series 10-9. As a result, they were given the NL East crown. In the most recent Wild Card Series, New York was defeated by the Padres in three games.