Carlos Correa

If the New York Yankees really want to send a message they are serious about getting over the hump in their quest to get back to the World Series, they need to make a significant push to sign Carlos Correa.

It's not 100 percent certain the Yankees have an interest in Correa, but ESPN's Buster Olney recently floated the possibility that something could be happening:

WHOA.

"The team I'm watching at the moment -- the Yankees. Because I'm definitely picking up a lot of vibes there that yeah they signed Aaron Judge to that $360 million deal, but they're working on something big." - @Buster_ESPN on Carlos Correa.

(via @WillardAndDibs)

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 9, 2022

Everything about the Yankees' offseason was, understandably, centered around re-signing Aaron Judge. They were able to accomplish their mission by getting the 2022 American League MVP to agree to a nine-year, $360 million deal, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

New York began the offseason by re-signing Anthony Rizzo to a two-year deal worth at least $40 million.

Even though the $400 million spent in free agency to bring back two key players sounds good, the Yankees are slightly worse on paper than they were when the 2022 season ended.

Jameson Taillon left the Bronx to accept a four-year, $68 million deal from the Chicago Cubs. Even though he wasn't a huge factor in the postseason, Gerrit Cole was their only starter who threw more innings than Taillon in 2022.

There are major holes in the lineup that still need to be filled. They received below-average offensive production at shortstop, left field and designated hitter.

Shortstop is the easiest position for the Yankees to upgrade because there are two All-Stars still available: Correa and Dansby Swanson.

There have been no rumblings about Swanson going to New York. Correa ending up in New York still feels like a long shot, but it really shouldn't at this point.

The biggest obstacle preventing the Yankees from pursuing Correa is the competitive balance tax. Hal Steinbrenner has been actively avoiding the tax for years.

Per Spotrac, the Yankees' tax payroll for 2023 is the second-highest in MLB at $221.2 million. The luxury-tax line for next season is $233 million.

Let's assume Correa signs a deal that pays him close to his 2022 salary with the Minnesota Twins ($35.1 million). It would bring the Yankees' payroll up to $256.3 million. They would be taxed 20 percent of their overage total as a first-time offender (roughly $7 million).

The Yankees have around $40 million coming off their luxury-tax payroll in 2024. The CBT jumps up to $237 million in 2024, so any potential penalty they might incur will only be a significant issue for one year.

If the Yankees can't afford a $7 million payment, the Steinbrenner family should sell the franchise.

Even ignoring the small financial penalty for the organization, the upgrade on the field is so significant to offset it.

Correa has been worth 10.6 FanGraphs' wins above replacement over the past two seasons combined. He has a .279/.357/.479 career slash line and averages 28 homers per 162 games played.

Yankees shortstops are projected to be worth a total of 3.7 fWAR in 2023. Anthony Volpe, their top prospect, is projected to be their top player at the position with a .240/.317/.420 slash line.

Volpe's pending arrival doesn't need to complicate things for the Yankees. They can move either him or Correa to third base, which would also allow manager Aaron Boone to bench Josh Donaldson.

Donaldson is 37 and looked his age last season with a .222/.308/.374 slash line.

The Yankees need to be all-in for the next few years while they still have Judge and Gerrit Cole in their prime. It doesn't do them any good to sit on their hands and hope Giancarlo Stanton and Luis Severino are going to stay healthy.

Carlos Correa's market is starting to take shape.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins are among the teams interested in the 28-year-old shortstop.

ESPN's Buster Olney said on 95.7 The Game's Willard & Dibs on Friday that the New York Yankees could be in play for the best remaining free agent because "they're working on something big" after getting a commitment from Aaron Judge.

Once Judge decided to re-sign with the Yankees, the Giants became the most logical fit for Correa. They had an offer on the table for the reigning American League MVP of around $360 million in total value, per Heyman.

If the Giants offered that much for Judge, why not make the same proposal to Correa?

While Correa isn't the same level of superstar as Judge, at least by name recognition, there's a strong argument he would be a better free-agent investment. He's two-and-a-half years younger than Judge, plays a more important defensive position and has played it at a high level for most of his career.

The Giants have fallen behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the National League West hierarchy. The Padres show no signs of slowing their spending, having signed Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million deal.

Correa alone wouldn't make the Giants a playoff contender, but he would help them close the gap on the top two teams in their division.

The Cubs have put themselves in an interesting spot, even after losing Willson Contreras to the St. Louis Cardinals. They've spent money the past two offseasons to bring in Marcus Stroman, Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon, but they lack high-ceiling players who can get them back into playoff contention in 2023.

Chicago has reportedly been heavily involved in the shortstop market this offseason. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported team brass met with Bogaerts earlier this month as well as Correa.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney reported Thursday the Cubs have a "particular focus" on Dansby Swanson.

The Twins are familiar with Correa after he played for them last season. He was a standout in their lineup with a .291/.366/.467 slash line and 22 homers in 136 games.

The AL Central is wide-open every year because none of the teams spend exorbitant amounts of money to sign players. The Cleveland Guardians won the division last season with 92 wins and appear to have a bright future, but their biggest addition has been Josh Bell.

The Chicago White Sox finished .500 and have lost José Abreu in free agency. Their only meaningful addition has been Mike Clevinger.

The Twins have a path to win the AL Central in 2023. If they can bring back Correa, that path becomes easier.

Having already secured a commitment from Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees may not be done making big moves this offseason.

Appearing on 95.7 The Game's Willard and Dibs, ESPN's Buster Olney said he's "definitely picking up a lot of vibes" the Yankees are "working on something big" when asked about the market for Carlos Correa.

On the other side, despite missing out on Judge, Olney noted the San Francisco Giants "haven't gotten too deeply" into talks with Correa about money.

Judge agreed to a nine-year, $360 million deal to remain with the Yankees on Wednesday, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Even though the Yankees made other moves earlier in the offseason, most notably re-signing Anthony Rizzo, retaining Judge was always going to be their top priority.

There are still several flaws on the Yankees roster that need to be addressed before the start of next season. They ranked in the bottom half of Major League Baseball in weighted on-base average at shortstop and left field in 2022.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit .261/.314/.327 as New York's primary starting shortstop last season.

Signing Correa would be a massive upgrade at the position for the Bronx Bombers. The two-time All-Star has a .279/.357/.479 slash line in 888 career games.

It's interesting Olney would throw out the Yankees as a potential landing spot for Correa. Many players on their team, including Judge, were very critical of the Houston Astros and their players in the wake of the cheating scandal during the 2017 season.

"I just don't think it holds any value with me. You cheated and you didn't earn it," Judge told reporters in February 2020. "It wasn't earned the way of playing the game right and fighting to the end. The biggest thing about competition is laying it all out on the line, and whoever's the better player, better person, comes out on top. And to know that another team had an advantage—nothing that you can really guard against—I just don't feel like that's earned."

Rosenthal reported earlier this week the Los Angeles Dodgers won't pursue Correa, despite having a need at shortstop after losing Trea Turner, "in part out of concern that a sizable portion of their fanbase would not welcome the move."

The 2017 Astros defeated the Yankees in the American League Championship Series and Dodgers in the World Series.

In the wake of Judge re-signing with the Yankees, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported the "consensus" around MLB is the Giants were favorites to sign Correa.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network reported the Giants had an offer to Judge believed to be around $360 million.

If the Giants were willing to offer Judge that much money, there's no reason they can't shift it to Correa. There's an argument he would be a better fit than Judge because he's two years younger (28) and plays a more important defensive position.

The Giants have already fallen far behind the Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the NL West. They need to do something big to regain relevance in their own division and become a playoff contender in 2023.

The San Francisco Giants have made shortstop Carlos Correa their "top priority" in free agency, and they are the front-runners to land the highly coveted player, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"The consensus around the industry is that the Giants are in the driver's seat for Correa, given their financial flexibility and need for a big name," Slusser reported.

The Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are also considered potential contenders to sign Correa.

Correa spent last season with the Twins, hitting .291 with 22 home runs and an .834 OPS. He played his first seven years with the Houston Astros, earning two All-Star selections, a Gold Glove award and a World Series title in 2017.

In 2021, the shortstop finished fifth in voting for the AL MVP award when he hit .279 with 26 home runs and 92 RBI.

After signing a three-year contract with opt-outs last offseason, Correa is now seeking a long-term deal this winter. Fellow shortstops Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts have already signed 11-year contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres, respectively.

Correa and Dansby Swanson are the two biggest hitters still available in free agency, putting pressure on teams to close a deal before the top options run out.

The Giants have been looking to make a splash this offseason with a big-name addition, as Maria Guardado of MLB.com reported in November. They were heavily involved in the sweepstakes for Aaron Judge and offered him a contract in the "neighborhood" of $360 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Judge, a Northern California native, instead decided to re-sign with the Yankees for the same amount of money.

The Giants are clearly willing to spend, but they have so far been unable to land a top free agent. Correa could change that and improve a roster that went 81-81 last season.

The Boston Red Sox have a huge hole to fill after losing star shortstop Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres. Fortunately, the team can pivot by pursuing one of the best free agents remaining on the market.

Carlos Correa, who spent the 2022 season with the Minnesota Twins after playing the first seven years of his major-league career with the Houston Astros, would be a more-than-suitable replacement for Bogaerts in Boston's infield. He also has a strong relationship with Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was Houston's bench coach during its World Series championship run in 2017.

The only way I’m okay with letting Xander Bogaerts walk in free agency if I’m the Red Sox is if I give Rafael Devers a blank check to sign and bring in Carlos Correa.

Make it happen. pic.twitter.com/rfm729PQsN

— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) December 8, 2022

You have to think the Red Sox will pivot to Carlos Correa, who is extremely close with Alex Cora. https://t.co/Cz5cXCWW2x

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 8, 2022

As one of the more popular names in this year's free-agent class, Correa won't have a shortage of suitors. The Red Sox will face a ton of competition for the 28-year-old, and the team's recent spending habits indicate it's not looking to break the bank.

Bogaerts left for San Diego for a reported $280 million deal over 11 years. The four-time All-Star was considered the face of the franchise, but Boston deemed him too expensive and let him walk. Correa, who is younger and a better defender than Bogaerts, will likely command a similar price or higher.

If the Red Sox are looking for a cheaper option, they could turn to Atlanta Braves free-agent shortstop Dansby Swanson. The 28-year-old is coming off a career year in which he earned his first trip to the All-Star Game and first Gold Glove Award. Boston could look to offer him a short-term deal with a high average annual value in order to address other holes on its roster.

After shoring up their bullpen by signing closer Kenley Jansen on Wednesday, the Red Sox still need to add a reliable starting pitcher to its rotation. The team could look to bring back veteran Nathan Eovaldi, who is a free agent after spending the last four-plus years in Boston, but there are more attractive options on the open market.

Carlos Rodón is the best pitcher available and can be the ace of Boston's staff, but the question remains as to how much the team is willing to spend. Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt are both dependable starters and would be strong additions to any rotation. Veterans like Corey Kluber and Noah Syndergaard would be cheaper, but riskier, players to target.

The Red Sox have finished last in the AL East twice in the last three years, so this offseason will be crucial to bucking that trend. Boston's front office would be wise to loosen the reins on spending in order to land a big-name player this year. If it doesn't, it runs the risk of further disappointing an already restless fan base.

Major League Baseball's offseason spending spree continued deep into the night on Wednesday with the San Diego Padres landing All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Bogaerts agreed to an 11-year, $280 million contract to join the Padres. The 30-year-old has a .292/.356/.458 slash line and 156 homers in 1,264 career games with the Boston Red Sox.

Trea Turner agreed to an 11-year deal worth $300 million with the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week, per Passan and Kiley McDaniel. This leaves Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson as the last two of the big four free-agent shortstops still available.

As Correa and Swanson wait out the market to find the deals they are looking for, here are the top potential landing spots for both players.

Minnesota Twins

The Twins already have a relationship with Correa after he spent last season playing for them. His decision to opt out leaves them with a huge hole at shortstop that must be filled if they want to be a playoff contender in 2023.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Twins still hope to bring Correa back. Aaron Gleeman and Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported team officials spoke with Swanson via video conference on Tuesday.

It's unclear how much money ownership will give the front office to spend, but Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune noted they could add $50 million in salaries this offseason and be right around the $125 million payroll they had in 2022.

Signing one of the premiere shortstops in baseball would certainly help the Twins' playoff hopes, but their roster is devoid of pitching talent right now. They didn't have one starter who reached 150 innings last season.

Joe Ryan and Dylan Bundy were the only pitchers who threw at least 120 innings. Hayes reported the Twins have dangled American League batting champion Luis Arraez in trade talks for a frontline starter.

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San Francisco Giants

The Giants came into this offseason with sky-high expectations. They were all-in on Aaron Judge with an offer around $360 million, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network.

Judge elected to remain with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract, per Rosenthal.

After Judge's decision came down, Rosenthal and Dennis Lin reported the Giants were expected to pursue one of the remaining free-agent shortstops.

San Francisco is currently in serious danger of falling to fourth in the NL West. The Los Angeles Dodgers will likely take a step back after losing Trea Turner and Tyler Anderson from a 111-win team, but they still have a wealth of talent to be one of the league's best teams.

The Padres are adding Bogaerts to a roster that already includes Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove. By the way, they will also be getting Fernando Tatis Jr. back from his 80-game suspension on April 20.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are likely a year away from being a strong playoff contender, but they were close to a .500 team after the All-Star break (34-36) with Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen making a very strong duo at the top of their starting rotation.

If the Giants don't want to remain in obscurity after their 81-81 record in 2022, they have to sign Correa or Swanson to fill their void at shortstop.

Chicago Cubs

Having already taken a flier on Cody Bellinger and upgraded their rotation with Jameson Taillon, the Cubs look like they are comfortable dipping into free-agent waters.

We still don't know just how deep the waters that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer wants to wade into are, but they were among the teams rumored to have interest in Turner before he agreed to sign with Philadelphia.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand threw out a scenario in which the Cubs might have signed Bogaerts and Swanson:

In this scenario, the Cubs would be taking a page out of the Rangers' book from last offseason, when Texas signed both Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Signing both Bogaerts and Swanson would likely hinge upon convincing Bogaerts to move to third base.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 6, 2022

That dream no longer exists, though Cubs fans could try talking themselves into just replacing the Bogaerts part of that scenario with Correa.

There is no reason for the Cubs not to be in on Correa and Swanson. They are a major franchise that has more than enough money to spend, despite what ownership might try to say publicly.

Even if the Cubs like Nico Hoerner, who had a solid season with a career-high 107 OPS+, they can shift him to second base to make room for Correa or Swanson.

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Boston Red Sox

I have no idea what to do with the Red Sox at this point. They are very good at telling reporters they were in on virtually every major free agent but couldn't get a deal done for whatever reason.

Passan reported Boston did agree to a five-year deal with Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida. But the news was overshadowed for Red Sox fans with the loss of Bogaerts. There's also the ongoing uncertainty of Rafael Devers' contract negotiations.

It would make all the sense in the world for the Red Sox to sign one of Correa or Swanson to play shortstop. They are both younger and better defensive players than Bogaerts. They need to do something after finishing last in the AL East two times in the past three seasons.

The Philadelphia Phillies were the first team to make a major move in the shortstop market this offseason when they agreed to an 11-year, $300 million deal with Trea Turner, per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, but the Chicago Cubs may not be far behind.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the National League Central team sees Dansby Swanson as "their most realistic target at shortstop, assuming they don't go big for [Carlos] Correa."

He notably called the idea of signing both Swanson and Xander Bogaerts "far-fetched" after Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Cubs could go that route and ask the latter to switch to third base.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network also called Swanson the "most likely" shortstop for the Cubs, although Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports reported the team is "well down the road with Correa."

Chicago's interest in Correa is nothing new.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the team "jumped into the Correa sweepstakes" last offseason before he signed with the Minnesota Twins, and he would be a major addition for a club looking to return to competitiveness after two consecutive losing seasons.

Correa's resume includes a World Series crown, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and two All-Star selections, and he could be the new face of a team that has lost Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Willson Contreras, among others, in recent years.

The team has already been aggressive this offseason by adding Cody Bellinger on a one-year, $17.5 million deal, per Passan, and pitcher Jameson Taillon on a four-year, $68 million deal, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

Yet it needs more star power and could be counting on the shortstop market to provide it.

Swanson is more than just a consolation prize, though, considering he is coming off a season that saw him win a Gold Glove and make his first All-Star Game. He slashed .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI for the Atlanta Braves in 2022 and helped lead them to a World Series title the previous season.

Chicago would likely respond to signing Swanson or Correa by moving Nico Hoerner off shortstop and bolstering the middle infield defense as it looks to build a contender as soon as next season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers need a shortstop after losing Trea Turner in free agency to the Philadelphia Phillies, but Carlos Correa reportedly isn't a replacement option.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that one reason is the team's concern that the fanbase wouldn't welcome the move because Correa played on (and fiercely defended) the 2017 Houston Astros, who were caught orchestrating an illegal sign-stealing scheme after taking down the Dodgers in that year's World Series.

"The Dodgers are not pursuing shortstop Carlos Correa in part out of concern that a sizable portion of their fan base would not welcome the move. Correa was the most outspoken member of the 2017 Astros club that stole signs illegally during the postseason, and beat the Dodgers in a seven-game World Series."

Correa left Houston for the Minnesota Twins in free agency last offseason and hit .291 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI.

Rosenthal noted that's not the only reason L.A. may be reluctant to deal with Correa or any other big-name free agent, though, citing the uncertainty of how much back pay they will owe suspended starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, who signed a three-year, $102 million contract before the 2021 season.

"As the Dodgers wait to learn whether Major League Baseball will uphold Trevor Bauer’s two-year suspension for violating the league’s policy on sexual assault and domestic violence, club officials are uncertain how much back pay, if any, they will owe the pitcher," Rosenthal wrote.

Bauer is appealing that decision, and he will lose $60 million in salary if he loses. If he wins and gets his suspension overturned or cut down, then L.A. will have to pay.

"The Dodgers as a third-time luxury-tax offender would be assessed penalties on top of his salary," Rosenthal wrote. "As noted by the Los Angeles Times, the team’s total payout could exceed $100 million."

That's not an insignificant amount even for a team that had an MLB-high payroll that was north of $270 million last year.

Ultimately, Correa will get paid. Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with Philadelphia, and Correa could be in the neighborhood of that deal as well.

"It's going to take a seven-, eight- or nine-year deal for $265 to $300 million. Maybe more," Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News reported on the Mackey & Judd radio show (h/t Joe Nelson of Bring Me The Sports).

Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted Correa would sign a 10-year, $327 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.

He won't have a shortage of suitors with money to burn. The Twins reportedly want him back, per Rosenthal, and the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres could be in the mix. Those NL West teams reportedly offered Aaron Judge $360 million and $400 million contracts, respectively, before the American League MVP returned to the New York Yankees.

Correa played seven seasons in Houston before joining the Twins. His resume includes two All-Star Game appearances, the AL Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove in 2021.

The San Francisco Giants might have missed out on Aaron Judge, but they still have plenty of chances to make this a consequential offseason.

Judge is returning to the New York Yankees after agreeing to a nine-year, $360 million contract, per multiple reports.

After failing to reel in the biggest fish on the market, the Giants seem poised to look toward one of the best shortstops available.

The next step for the Giants is to dive into the shortstop market, with Carlos Correa at the top of their list. They've pushed hard for another starting pitcher in recent days and still want one more outfielder.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) December 7, 2022

The dominos will start toppling now that Judge had made his decision. Giants will pivot to the shortstop market and cause action there. Red Sox have slow-played their hand on Bogaerts so far. Will ownership now step up? No doors have closed.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) December 7, 2022

Trea Turner is off the board after reportedly agreeing to an 11-year, $300 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, but that still leaves Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

Correa is not only the best of the three, but he would also carry the most symbolism for San Francisco.

The Giants targeted Bryce Harper before he landed in Philadelphia. They were linked last offseason with Marcus Semien, who signed with the Texas Rangers. If they're unable to seal the deal with both Judge and Correa, then it would further the perception the franchise simply isn't a marquee destination for free agents.

Losing out on Judge stings, but adding a two-time All-Star who hit 22 home runs with a .291/.366/.467 slash line in 2022 would be a great consolation prize.

Bogaerts, meanwhile, has been one of the most consistent shortstops in baseball over the last few years. Since 2018, he has an .880 OPS and a 133 OPS+, per Baseball Reference. His 22.4 WAR over that span also ranks fourth at the position on FanGraphs.

San Francisco agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million deal with Mitch Haniger, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Assuming the front office is still looking for another outfielder, it could look toward Andrew Benintendi or Brandon Nimmo.

Benintendi set career highs in batting average (.304) and on-base percentage (.373) in 2022, explaining to The Athletic's Eno Sarris and Zach Buchanan how he changed his approach at the plate.

"My approach right now is realizing I’m not going to hit 35 homers," he said. "It’s getting on base, be a tough out, see pitches, use the whole field. This year, it’s finally come together."

Nimmo would offer more power—16 homers in 2022 and a .441 career slugging percentage—but he has made 100-plus appearances just twice since becoming a full-time regular in 2017.

Benintendi might be the safer of the two options, albeit with a lower ceiling.

Looking to the pitching staff, the Giants need to replace their ace, with NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic reporting they "do not expect" to re-sign Carlos Rodón.

Although Rodón remains unsigned, the starter market is quickly drying up. Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Bassitt are two of the best still available, and neither projects as a true No. 1 option. Corey Kluber, likewise, bounced back nicely in 2021 and 2022 but will be 37 in April.

Noah Syndergaard is a bit of a buyer beware signing, too. The 2016 All-Star had a 3.94 ERA with the Phillies and Los Angeles Angels but averaged just 6.3 strikeouts per nine innings in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery.

Sean Manaea would give the Giants another lefty in the rotation, and you can reasonably assume his 4.96 ERA in 2022—a full run higher than his ERA in six years with the Oakland Athletics (3.86) was a bit of an outlier.

Whatever happens with the Giants from here, one thing is clear from their pursuit of Judge: Ownership gave the front office the green light to spend.