Baseball

Carlos Correa will have to learn a new position with the New York Mets, but the two-time All-Star's agent has no concerns about his ability to thrive.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Scott Boras said Correa thinks he can "seize" third base and that he will be able to "get a little bit stronger."

News of Correa's deal with the Mets sent shock waves throughout the baseball world. The 28-year-old originally agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on Dec. 13.

The Giants scheduled a press conference for Tuesday to officially announce the contract, but it was postponed shortly before the 2 p.m. ET start time because of concerns over Correa's physical.

The Mets acted quickly to give Correa a deal that isn't far off what he would have received from the Giants. He agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract in the early morning hours Wednesday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, the issue involved an ankle injury Correa suffered in the minors during the 2014 season that required surgery to repair a fractured right fibula and a ligament.

Adding Correa to the Mets roster meant a position change because Francisco Lindor is entrenched as the shortstop.

This will be the second time Correa and Lindor will have been teammates. They were on the Puerto Rican team that finished second in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Lindor was the starting shortstop, with Correa handling third base.

As Boras alluded to, moving to the hot corner could help Correa's offensive game. He can add muscle because he doesn't have to be as fast at third base as he does at shortstop.

A more potent offensive version of Correa is a dangerous proposition for the rest of the National League. He is a .279/.357/.479 career hitter and has hit at least 20 homers in six of his eight seasons.

In addition to Correa, New York brought in Justin Verlander, José Quintana, Kodai Senga, Adam Ottavino and David Robertson and re-signed Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz.

The Mets are looking for a stronger finish next season after their 101-win 2022 campaign ended with a loss to the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series.

The New York Yankees could look at the trade market to continue to upgrade their roster after making their big moves in free agency.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Yankees are among the teams that have contacted the Pittsburgh Pirates to discuss a trade for Bryan Reynolds.

Morosi noted the Yankees could be at a disadvantage in trade talks for Reynolds because they don't have a lot of high-quality starting pitching in their system, and the Pirates prefer starters if they deal the 27-year-old outfielder.

With the Pirates mired in a perpetual state of rebuilding, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Dec. 3 that Reynolds requested a trade.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, the Pirates offered Reynolds a contract extension that would have made him the highest-paid player in team history.

It's not a high bar to clear. Ke'Bryan Hayes' eight-year, $70 million extension signed in April is the richest deal the Pirates have ever given out, and it pales in comparison to how much money players have commanded in free agency this offseason

Hayes signed his extension when he was five years away from free agency. Reynolds is under team control for three more years before hitting free agency after the 2025 season.

The Pirates said in a statement that Reynolds' trade request will have "zero impact" on their decision-making process and that they "look forward to him having a great season for the Pirates."

Using MLB.com's rankings for the 2022 season, the Yankees' top seven prospects are all position players. Right-hander Will Warren is the top pitcher in the system, but he faces questions about his viability as a starter because of the quality of his secondary stuff.

The Yankees addressed two big problems in free agency. They retained reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge by signing him to a nine-year, $360 million contract, and they added Carlos Rodón to their starting rotation on a six-year, $162 million deal.

Outfield depth is still a question mark in the Bronx. Harrison Bader is a good defensive center fielder, but he only hit .250/.294/.356 in 86 games between the Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals in 2022.

Reynolds has become one of the best offensive center fielders in baseball since making his MLB debut in 2019. He ranks fifth among players at the position in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (12.5) over the past four seasons. Mike Trout, George Springer, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Starling Marte are the only players ahead of him.

In 493 career games, Reynolds owns a .281/.361/.481 slash line with 74 homers and 239 RBI.

After losing out on star shortstop Carlos Correa, the San Francisco Giants are left to scour the open market for free agents who can improve their roster.

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have "some interest" in veteran outfielder Michael Conforto, who hasn't played since the 2021 season.

The Giants had reached an agreement with Correa on a 13-year, $350 million deal, which would have tied Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper for the longest contract in MLB history. However, Correa's agent told Jon Heyman of the New York Post that San Francisco had a "difference of opinion" regarding Correa's physical examination.

The hesitation from the Giants opened the door for Boras to engage in negotiations with the New York Mets, and Correa was signed to a $12-year, $315 million contract overnight. Slusser noted that Conforto is also represented by Boras.

Conforto underwent surgery on his shoulder in April and decided to sit out the 2022 season with hopes of returning in 2023. The 29-year-old played the first seven years of his career with the Mets after making his major-league debut in 2015. He rejected a qualifying offer from New York after the 2021 season.

The last time Conforto was on the field, he put up some of the worst numbers of his career. In 2021, he hit .232/.344/.384 with 14 home runs and 55 RBI in 125 games.

The Giants aren't alone in their interest in Conforto. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported on Monday that the Mets, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays were all pursuing the veteran outfielder.

The offseason of Steve Cohen continued with a stunning turn of events Wednesday when Carlos Correa agreed to a deal with the New York Mets.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Correa hammered out a 12-year, $315 million contract with the Mets after his pact with the San Francisco Giants fell through.

Correa and the Giants were set to announce his 13-year, $350 million deal Tuesday, but Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reported the team postponed the press conference less than three hours before its 11 a.m. local time start.

Per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, the Giants postponed the press conference because of a "medical concern" that arose from Correa's physical.

Heyman noted Correa will play third base, as Francisco Lindor is entrenched as the Mets' starting shortstop.

There were rumblings that Cohen was trying to get in on Correa before he agreed to a deal with the Giants.

Speaking to Heyman on Dec. 17, the Mets owner said he was told by Correa's agent, Scott Boras, they were "already down the road" with San Francisco by the time the Mets tried to get in on the two-time All-Star.

"We thought maybe he might fall to us," Cohen said.

After the Mets stole Correa from San Francisco, Cohen told Heyman he thought the team needed "one more thing" to help it win a World Series.

"This was important … This puts us over the top," he said. "This is a good team. I hope it's a good team!"

While it's not unheard of for an agreement to fall through because of a medical concern, the Mets' swooping in to get Correa at the eleventh hour speaks to how committed Cohen is in his attempt to bring a championship to Queens.

Assuming Correa's deal gets finalized, the Mets will come out of this offseason with arguably the best position player and starting pitcher (Justin Verlander) on the free-agent market. They also added Japanese star Kodai Senga and re-signed Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Mets are projected to pay a total of $495 million between payroll ($384 million) and luxury-tax payments ($111) in 2023.

The 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers previously held the record for highest payroll in MLB history at $291 million.

Adding Correa to a lineup that includes Lindor, Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Jeff McNeil has the potential to give the Mets the best offense in MLB.

Carlos Correa's introductory press conference with the San Francisco Giants was postponed after a "medical concern arose" regarding his physical, according to a report from Ronald Blum of the Associated Press.

Per Blum, "One person confirmed that Tuesday's conference to welcome Correa was put on hold because the sides were awaiting the results of testing. A second person said that a medical issue was flagged during Correa's physical."

Correa, 28, signed a massive 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants on Dec. 13, one of the biggest moves of the MLB offseason.

He was one of many prominent players to take advantage of free agency; Trea Turner joined the Philadelphia Phillies, Justin Verlander signed with the New York Mets, Xander Bogaerts went to the San Diego Padres and Jacob deGrom inked with the Texas Rangers.

While Correa's talent is unmistakable, injuries have been an issue throughout his career, as he's only played 150 or more games in a regular season once. The fact that the press conference that was set for 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday was canceled will only add greater concern to the proceedings.

I’m told that whatever was or not flagged during his physical, Carlos Correa does *not* have a back issue.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) December 20, 2022

When healthy, Correa has been excellent throughout his career. The two-time All-Star, one-time champion and 2015 AL Rookie of the Year hit .291 with 22 homers, 64 RBI, 70 runs and a .834 OPS across 136 games in his lone season with the Minnesota Twins last year. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros.

For San Francisco, Correa was just about the best consolation prize imaginable after failing to lure Aaron Judge away from the New York Yankees, who grew up as a fan of the Giants. Judge chose to remain in the Big Apple on a massive nine-year, $360 million deal.

But the Giants, looking to bolster their lineup, appeared to have locked down Correa, signed slugger Mitch Haniger and retained Joc Pederson. Now, the Correa addition is in some question.

Time is running out for the Boston Red Sox to extend the contract of Rafael Devers.

The third baseman, who is set to become a free agent after the 2023 campaign, "will not entertain negotiations with the Red Sox during the season," and an extension would need to be agreed upon by the end of spring training, sources told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

The Red Sox begin spring training in February and the team's final preseason game is on March 28. They open the regular season on March 30 against the Baltimore Orioles.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom recently expressed the team's desire to retain Devers in an interview with ESPN's Joon Lee:

"We will probably, I think, go beyond reason to try to get this done. Hopefully we can get this done. There are always going to be limitations, like people can just put something plain out of reach. Some people love to bet on themselves and I hope he hits 63 homers if he does that."

While Bloom has continued to reiterate the club's desire to keep Devers in Boston beyond 2023, actions speak louder than words, and the two sides are currently "galaxies apart" in negotiations, Lee reported.

The situation with Devers has become all too familiar in Boston, with the most recent example being the departure of star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who signed with the San Diego Padres this winter.

The Red Sox made Bogaerts a laughable offer during spring training that would have made his contract worth $90 million over four years. The offer was viewed as a "slap in the face" and he went on to play the entire 2022 season without negotiating a contract before signing an 11-year, $280 million deal with the Padres.

If the same thing happens to Devers, he would be the latest homegrown star to depart the Red Sox organization over the lack of a respectable contract, joining Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2020 before signing a 12-year, $365 million deal.

Devers, 26, has spent his entire six-year career in Boston and helped the club capture the 2018 World Series title. He has emerged as one of the best third basemen in baseball over the last two seasons, earning two All-Star Game selections and a Silver Slugger award in 2021.

Devers had an impressive 2022 campaign despite the Red Sox finishing last in the AL East with a 78-84 record. He slashed .295/.358/.521 with 27 home runs and 88 RBI in 141 games.

The Dominican native is reportedly seeking a contract extension in the neighborhood of $300 million. For a player who has hit 139 home runs and drove in 455 runs over his six-year career, the investment would be worth it for Boston.

But if Bloom fails to make a deal happen, the Red Sox fan base will be left scratching their heads once again.

The San Diego Padres agreed to a deal with free-agent utility man Matt Carpenter on Tuesday, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.

It's a one-year contract with a 2024 player option. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic provided the financial details:

Carpenter is guaranteed $12M and could earn a maximum of $21M over two years if he exercises player option and all of his salary escalators and incentives are earned. https://t.co/wZrJ1NTDCy

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 20, 2022

Carpenter is expected to play first base, left field, right field and designated hitter and possibly backup at second and third base as well, per Cassavell.

The 37-year-old enjoyed a renaissance season last year thanks to 15 home runs and 37 RBI in just 47 games last season for the New York Yankees. The three-time All-Star hit .305 and posted a 1.138 OPS as well.

It was a shocking turnaround after Carpenter hit just .176 (.605 OPS) with seven home runs and 45 RBI in 180 games for the St. Louis Cardinals over the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

He signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers in March but did not make the major league roster. Carpenter hit .275 with six home runs in 21 games for the Triple-A Round Rock Express before the Yankees signed him to a major league contract in May.

Carpenter tirelessly worked to remake his swing, making multiple stops across the United States in hopes of doing so, per Rosenthal.

He got the job done and helped the Yankees win the American League East crown en route to a 99-win season.

Unfortunately, Carpenter's regular season was cut short after he suffered a broken left foot fouling off a pitch Aug. 8. He was able to return for the playoffs, though.

Carpenter is going from one contender to another as he joins a Padres squad that reached the National League Championship Series last season after upsetting the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.

His inclusion on the roster helps keep the Padres in contention for the pennant, especially after the team added Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts in free agency.

The New York Mets have showed interest in a potential trade for Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Heyman noted "many" other teams also like the reliever.

Michael Mayer of Metsmerized first reported the Mets contacted the White Sox about Hendriks.

The 32-year-old has spent the last two years in Chicago, posting a 2.66 ERA with 198 strikeouts in 128.2 innings and 75 total saves in this span.

Hendriks was even better during his previous two years with the Oakland Athletics, producing a 1.79 ERA, 0.897 WHIP and 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings across 99 appearances.

Not only does he have three All-Star selections over the last four years, but he's also received votes for Cy Young and MVP in this span.

It makes him a highly sought-after player despite a $14.33 million contract for 2023 and a $15 million club option in 2024 that automatically vests with a trade, per Spotrac.

The Mets have already shown money is not a problem this offseason while signing Edwin Diaz, Justin Verlander, Brandon Nimmo, Kodai Senga and more. The team currently has the highest payroll in the majors for 2023 at $282 million.

Adding Henriks would put the team another step toward contention while creating one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Diaz was the NL Hoffman Reliever Award last season after finishing with a 1.31 ERA and an incredible 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He will likely remain the team's closer after signing a five-year, $102 million contract in the offseason.

New York also added David Robertson, Brooks Raley and Elieser Hernandez this offseason to fill different roles in a mostly remade bullpen.

Hendriks could fill the eighth-inning role as part of a dominant back of the rotation for the Mets.

Of course, the interest around the league ensures this type of deal likely won't come cheap. New York has avoided trading its top prospects like Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio, but the team might need to be more aggressive to land a proven player like Hendriks.

Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander credited owner Steve Cohen at his introductory press conference for his decision to leave the Houston Astros for the New York Mets.

"I took a leap of faith, and here we are a few weeks later, and I think that leap of faith has paid off," Verlander told reporters Tuesday. "Ultimately, some of those pieces aren't cheap."

Verlander responded with one word, "Steve," when asked what convinced him to join the Mets, who were in the market for a big-name pitcher after losing two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom in free agency to the Texas Rangers.

The Mets rebounded nicely by adding Verlander, who inked a two-year, $86.7 million contract.

Per Danny Abriano of SNY, Verlander said he had a "lovely conversation" with Cohen and got a "positive vibe for what his vision of this franchise is, and that he wants to make this franchise amazing."

He also added that conversations with general manager Billy Eppler and manager Buck Showalter convinced him that everyone is on the same page regarding turning the Mets into a championship-caliber team.

"To follow that up, speaking with Billy and the rest of the staff -- Buck (Showalter) -- they all share that same vision and passion to do whatever is necessary to make this a championship-caliber organization again. And really, that's what it came down to for me was wanting to be a part of this vision moving forward. And obviously this organization took a gigantic step forward last year, had a great season. I think it's only going to continue in the right direction."

Cohen has backed up that sentiment by going on offseason spending sprees since he bought the team in late 2020. This year, he's committed $476.7 million to seven free agents, per Blum, including $162 million to retain Brandon Nimmo and $75 million to add Japanese starting pitcher Kodai Senga.

They join a Mets team that won 101 games last year but fell to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series.

Cohen is clearly pulling out all the stops, to the point where the team is projected to have a $360 million luxury-tax payroll in 2023, per Blum.

Ultimately, Cohen isn't afraid to spend hundreds of millions to get the Mets their first World Series championship since 1986, and that has led to Verlander joining a stacked roster.

The Baltimore Orioles outperformed preseason predictions in 2022, finishing above .500 with a 83-79 record, and if their approach to this offseason is any indication, the club appears poised to lean heavier on the formula that got them there.

The O's are reportedly listening to trade offers for Jorge Mateo, the talented utility player with an ability to fill in at shortstop, second base or in the outfield, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Mondays are lame. Jorge Mateo’s defense is not.pic.twitter.com/pa6NbzLtxD

— Birds Watcher (@BirdsWatcherFS) December 19, 2022

His plate discipline was nearly nonexistent in 2022, when he struck out a staggering 147 times. What he does offer potential suitors is the athleticism that allowed him to tally a career-high 35 stolen bases this past season. That the 27-year-old is an above-average defender and really shined in that area only enhances his appeal to clubs.

Mateo is the latest in a long line of players the Orioles have brought on board for little, given a platform to showcase their ability and then entertain offers based on the potential shown in Baltimore.

Elsewhere in Major League Baseball's free-agency period, the Birds have remained fairly quiet. They signed versatile defender Adam Frazier, formerly of the Pirates, Padres and Mariners, and brought Mychal Givens back into the fold two years after trading him to Colorado.

After trading Mychal Givens in 2020, Mike Elias said the reliever would be "an Oriole for life."

Now Givens is back in orange and black. https://t.co/PyzgPRqLkg pic.twitter.com/Dx20Dvj59o

— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) December 20, 2022

Neither of those acquisitions broke the bank nor filled a hole on the team's roster. The Orioles resisted the urge to jump at any of the top-tier free agents available this offseason, with their only real link being to pitcher Carlos Rodón, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. That connection fell apart when it became clear that the eventual Yankee signee wanted a longer-term contract and would get a monster deal from one of the more prominent free-agency wheeler and dealers.

And why wouldn't they?

The Orioles bounced back from one of their worst seasons ever in 2021 in one year, thanks to the emergence of 2019 draft picks Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson.

Your Most Valuable Oriole is of course...Adley Rutschman

The former #1 pick has wasted no time becoming the savior of the franchise. After not debuting until May 21, he still leads the team in both walks and doubles. The O's are 59-47 when he starts and 23-31 when he doesn't. pic.twitter.com/jgXAfzZwpL

— Rose Mountkatzle (@NaturallyKatz11) October 4, 2022

Cedric Mullins, a 2015 draft pick by the organization, went on to win the Silver Slugger Award in 2021 and gained a spot on the AL All-Star squad. He finished ninth in MVP voting.

Rougned Odor followed a different path to Baltimore, having played the majority of his career in Texas before a stop with the Yankees. He enjoyed his best batting average (.207) since 2018 last season.

Manager Brandon Hyde has put his players in a position to play winning baseball, and the front office resisted the urge to take a risk on a high-priced free agent and potentially ruin the chemistry that made the O's one of the most intriguing watches of the year.

Whether they can replicate the magic of last season in a division with a Yankees team that appears much improved and a dangerous Toronto Blue Jays squad remains to be seen.

The team knows what it is, understands what it wants to be and does not appear to be interested in jeopardizing that, even with "big fish" free agents available. If 2022 taught Hyde and general manager Mike Elias anything, they are heading in the right direction.