Carlos Correa

If they are unable to retain Trea Turner, the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly have interest in pursuing shortstop Carlos Correa in free agency.

Regarding Correa, Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted that the Dodgers "love everything he brings" to the table and view him as a solid "1A" option if Turner signs elsewhere.

Heyman noted that while the Dodgers have interest in re-signing Turner, they believe he prefers to play closer to the east coast, which may make it difficult to compete with other parties rumored to be interested in him, such as the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

Last offseason, Correa was part of a stacked free-agent class for shortstops, but he waited to sign until after the lockout, which may have negatively impacted the contract he received.

He ultimately settled on a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, but the caveat was that he could choose to opt out after the first season.

Per MLB.com's Brian Murphy, Correa indicated at the end of the regular season that he planned to opt out, calling the decision "very simple."

The 28-year-old Correa is an eight-year MLB veteran who spent his first seven seasons with the Houston Astros before signing with the Twins.

Correa, who went No. 1 overall in the 2012 MLB draft, was a two-time All-Star in Houston and helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series.

In his one season with the Twins, Correa hit .291 with a .366 on-base percentage, both of which were the second-best marks of his career. He also clubbed 22 home runs, drove in 64 runners and scored 70 runs despite missing 26 games.

Along with Turner and Correa, shortstops Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson are set to hit the open market as well, meaning the Dodgers and other shortstop-needy teams will have no shortage of options.

At 111-51, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball this season by far, and they were heavily favored to win the World Series.

They were shocked by the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, though, leaving them to pick up the pieces and figure out the right mix for playoff success next season.

Since Correa is a career .272 hitter with 18 homers and 59 RBI in 79 career postseason games, he would seemingly be an ideal fit in L.A. if Turner is no longer an option.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is the hottest name on the 2022 free-agent market. He racked up an American League record 62 home runs this season and will be paid handsomely for his power in the not-too-distant future.

The 30-year-old will be free to sign with a new team five days after the World Series ends.

Just about any team would be happy to have Judge's services in 2023, and the Chicago Cubs are no exception.

According to David Kaplan of ESPN radio and NBC Sports Chicago, though, he is likely to be out of the Cubs' price range.

"Now, if you said to me Aaron Judge said, ‘I just wanna be a Cub or a White Sock and I'll take five years at—pick the number—$45 million,’ I think both teams would be in play," Kaplan told Miller and Condon of KXNO 1460 on Wednesday. "Certainly the Cubs would be in play. But I’m hearing Aaron Judge wants, like, nine years at $50 million."

If Judge wants something close to or beyond $50 million per year, he's likely to get it. The Yankees want him back and the Los Angeles Dodgers are also interested, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

The San Francisco Giants may ultimately outbid both New York and L.A, according to Randy Miller of NJ Advanced Media.

"The Giants have targeted Judge and are prepared to spend whatever it takes, a person with knowledge of the Giants’ thinking told NJ Advance Media after meeting with members of the franchise’s ownership group," he wrote.

If the Dodgers, Yankees and Giants—three franchises not shy about tossing around free-agent cash—are headlining the chase to sign Judge, the Cubs probably don't have a realistic shot.

However, this doesn't mean Chicago can't make a splash in free agency or get significantly better over the winter. According to Kaplan, the Cubs are very interested in adding longtime Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu to their rotation.

"Yeah, Cubs, José Abreu if the White Sox don’t bring him back, absolutely in play," he said. "I think they're looking for a short-term first baseman until they get something out of the system, whether that’s Matt Mervis or whoever."

While Abreu isn't going to scare opposing pitchers like Judge can, he would add a reliable bat to the lineup. He hit .304 with 75 RBI this past season and is a logical target if the White Sox are looking to move on.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, that may be the case.

"The White Sox loved having José Abreu the past nine years, and he has been nothing but a class act and valuable hitter, but they plan to part ways with him," he wrote last week. "Simply, they need to shake up their team."

Last month, Nightengale mentioned Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner as a Cubs target as well.

"Turner is expected to be the top free-agent target for the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, perhaps Atlanta, and yes, the Dodgers," he wrote.

The 29-year-old hit .298 with 21 homers and 100 RBI this past season. Theoretically, the Cubs could significantly upgrade their offense by adding both him and Abreu. Chicago may be able to do that at a lower cost than adding Judge alone.

According to Spotrac, Turner has an estimated market value of $33.6 million annually. The 35-year-old Abreu would be far cheaper, with an estimated market value of $9.1 million annually.

Perhaps not so coincidentally, that adds up to $42.7 million, just below the $45 million Kaplan mentioned as an agreeable price point for Judge.

And Turner is far from the only quality shortstop headed to market this year. Carlos Correa is likely to opt out, along with Xander Bogaerts. And 29-year-old Dansby Swanson is also slated to be a free agent.

Fans can and probably should expect Chicago to come away with one of these standout shortstops. Team president Jed Hoyer has committed to taking an aggressive approach to free agency.

"We'll be aggressive to try to fill those holes in the best way possible," he said, per Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago. " I think we can definitely compete next year, and we also want to create something lasting and special."

That effort to fill holes might also include a run at starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, according to Kaplan, and we can expect Chicago to target a few ancillary players as well.

The reality is that the Cubs, without a win in a playoff game since 2017, are already close. They showed a lot of promise down the stretch, finishing 39-31 over the final 70 games.

With a few new additions, they can make themselves a real threat in the National League, and they can do it without participating in the bidding war for Judge.

Carlos Correa has already stated his intention to become a free agent, but the Minnesota Twins intend to make a play to keep the two-time All-Star shortstop.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Twins "plan to bid" on Correa in free agency and "may stretch" to sign him.

Correa told Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día (h/t ESPN.com) on Oct. 13 he's going to exercise his opt-out clause to become a free agent.

"With the year that I have had, my health and my being at the best moment of my career at 28, that is the right decision," Correa said.

This will mark the second consecutive offseason that Correa will be on the open market. He was expected to land a long-term deal last winter, but he instead opted for a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins in March.

Minnesota structured the deal to provide Correa with an opt-out after each of the first two seasons. It will be interesting to see how the free-agent market for shortstops plays out this offseason.

Correa and Trea Turner are going to be available for every team to sign. Xander Bogaerts could join them if he declines his player option with the Boston Red Sox.

Heyman did note the Twins won't go to the same level for Correa as the Texas Rangers did when they signed Corey Seager to a 10-year, $325 million contract in December.

Correa had an excellent 2022 season in Minnesota. He hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 homers and 64 RBI in 136 games. The former American League Rookie of the Year has hit at least 20 homers with a .450 slugging percentage in six of the past eight seasons.

Injuries contributed to the Twins finishing a disappointing 78-84 and third place in the AL Central this season. Since winning back-to-back division titles in 2019 and 2020, they have gone 151-173 over the past two seasons combined.

Veteran shortstop Carlos Correa told El Nuevo Día newspaper (h/t ESPN) on Wednesday that he will opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Minnesota Twins and become a free agent.

The news comes as little surprise after ESPN's Buster Olney reported on May 18 that there was "an industry assumption" that Correa would opt out of his contract to become a free agent again if he ended the season on a high note.

The 28-year-old signed a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins as a free agent ahead of the 2022 campaign. He went on to have a solid first season in Minnesota, slashing .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI in 136 games.

However, the Twins finished third in the AL Central with a 78-84 record. They missed the playoffs in what was a disappointing season.

The 28-year-old was seeking a deal worth $330 million-$350 million in free agency before he signed with the Twins, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman. It's possible he'll be searching for the same type of long-term contract this time around.

Correa began his career with the Houston Astros, which selected him first overall in 2012. He made his MLB debut in 2015 and went on to win Rookie of the Year after slashing .279/.345/.512 with 22 home runs, 68 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 99 games.

The Puerto Rican went on to play seven seasons in Houston, earning two All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, Platinum Glove and 2017 World Series title.

One of his best seasons with the Astros came in 2017 when he hit .315/.391/.550 with 24 home runs, 84 RBI and two stolen bases in 109 games.

It's unclear which teams might be interested in adding Correa this winter.

The 2022 Major League Baseball season is coming to an end, and the wild-card series is set. While 12 teams will advance to the postseason, the rest of the league is now focused on the upcoming offseason and free agency.

While the fans would obviously rather be rooting their teams on in the playoffs, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the looming addition of free agency. Several high-impact players are set to hit the open market, including standout shortstops Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson.

For a while, Turner seemed like a safe bet to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, extension talks between player and team have not progressed:

"The Dodgers informed Turner shortly before the start of the year they wouldn’t make him a formal offer, and there haven’t been any discussions between the two sides about an extension since," Ardaya wrote last month.

The shortstop market could be further buoyed by Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts, who are both widely expected to opt out.

"I’m the product here, and if they want my product, they've just got to come get it," Correa said, per Max Weisman of the New York Post.

And the shortstop market will have plenty of buyers, Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently reported.

According to Heyman, the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins and the Dodgers could all be looking for a new shortstop this offseason.

Heyman doesn't believe that the New York Yankees will join the fracas.

"The Yankees are thought to be OK with Isiah Kiner-Falefa holding the spot for top prospect Anthony Volpe, unless they ultimately decide Volpe is better suited for second base," Heyman wrote.

New York, of course, will have a larger focus in free agency. Even if the big-spender Yankees are out of the shortstop market, that market is going to be wild. Several quality players will be available, but it appears that even more teams will be looking.

Aaron Judge

Outfielder and slugger Aaron Judge will naturally be the Yankee's primary focus this offseason—and he'll likely be at the center of the offseason buzz in general.

Judge made history on Tuesday when he hit his 62nd home run of the season. That broke a tie Judge held with Roger Maris for the most in Yankees' and American League history.

The playoffs are next for Judge and for New York, but free agency is right around the corner. The 30-year-old's latest achievement won't do anything to keep his price tag down.

Last month, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel polled 14 anonymous MLB executives about Judge's projected contract value. The average of predictions was 8.6 years and just below $320 million.

Not all of the execs predicted Judge returning to New York either. According to McDaniel, two picked the New York Mets, two said the Giants, and one guessed either the Giants or the Dodgers.

The Yankees, Mets and Dodgers may ultimately be the front-runners in the Judge sweepstakes.

"One front-office source scoffed at us listing the Giants as a favorable landing spot for Judge," CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson recently wrote.

The Yankees and Dodgers typically aren't afraid of a little offseason spending, and the Mets have recently become a similar buy-big franchise. It may feel like the Yankees can't afford to let their biggest superstar walk, but there will be no shortage of contract offers made.

Judge has been the biggest story in baseball throughout his record chase; expect him to continue dominating the news cycle well after the World Series has ended.