In a New York minute, everything can change. The Mets sent gigantic shockwaves through the baseball universe on Wednesday morning by unexpectedly agreeing to a 12-year, $315 million contract with free agent shortstop Carlos Correa, just a few hours after his original 13-year, $350 million contract agreement with the Giants fell apart due to medical concerns that arose during his physical regarding a past injury. The 28-year-old superstar, who was on the precipice of serving as San Francisco’s long-term franchise cornerstone, will instead take over as the Mets’ starting third baseman alongside fellow countryman Francisco Lindor to form one of the premier defensive infields in the entire game. New York’s loaded starting rotation that features veterans Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Kodai Senga, José Quintana and Carlos Carrasco should benefit tremendously from having two of the most accomplished defensive wizards in the game patrolling the left side of the infield.
Here’s an oversimplification: Not all offseasons are equal. We’ve never witnessed anything rivaling the exploits of Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has committed over $800 million in future salary this offseason, with Correa’s contract propelling New York’s expected payroll into the $380 million range. That figure doesn’t include luxury-tax payments, which are expected to exceed $100 million, and will nudge the Mets’ total financial commitments to nearly a half-billion for 2023.
Despite some of the concerns regarding his checkered injury history, Correa has managed to stay healthy each of the previous two seasons, batting .285/.366/.476 with 174 runs scored, 48 home runs and 156 RBI across 1,230 plate appearances over 284 games between the Astros and Twins. From a fantasy perspective, Correa’s lack of stolen bases limits his ceiling, but he’s one of the more reliable four-category fantasy contributors at the shortstop position. The talent pool is a bit less deep at the hot corner, which adds some additional roster flexibility for fantasy managers as well. His presence near the top of the Mets’ stacked lineup creates plenty of opportunities in the counting stats department as he’s in line for a few additional runs scored and RBI than initially forecasted in the Bay Area. There isn’t a massive difference from a park factors standpoint between Citi Field and Target Field, but he figures to see plenty of favorable pitches this year with Lindor and fearsome slugger Pete Alonso following him in New York’s batting order. There may be a bit of an adjustment period looming for Correa as he faces National League pitchers for the first time in his career, especially in the early stages of the 2023 season, but he should undoubtedly be selected as a borderline top-10 shortstop in fantasy drafts this spring.
MLB Quick Hits: Yankees re-signed OF Aaron Judge to a nine-year, $360 million contract … Cubs signed SS Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million contract … Yankees signed LHP Carlos Rodón to a six-year, $162 million contract … Cubs signed RHP Jameson Taillon to a four-year, $68 million contract … Angels signed INF Brandon Drury to a two-year, $17 million contract … Padres signed RHP Seth Lugo to a two-year, $15 million contract … Mets signed C Omar Narváez to a two-year, $15 million contract … Astros re-signed OF Michael Brantley to a one-year, $12 million contract … Yankees signed RHP Tommy Kahnle to a two-year, $11.5 million contract … Twins signed OF Joey Gallo to a one-year, $11 million contract … Tigers signed RHP Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract … Reds signed 1B/OF Wil Myers to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2024 and also signed C Curt Casali to a one-year, $3.25 million contract with a mutual option for 2024 … Padres signed INF Matt Carpenter to a one-year, $6 million contract … Pirates signed C Austin Hedges to a one-year, $5 million contract … Orioles signed RHP Mychal Givens to a one-year, $5 million contract with a $6 million mutual option for 2024 … Athletics signed RHP Drew Rucinski to a one-year, $3 million contract with a $5 million club option for 2024 … Braves signed OF Jordan Luplow to a one-year, $1.4 million contract … Mets signed INF Danny Mendick to a one-year, $1 million contract … Nationals re-signed RHP Erasmo Ramírez to a one-year contract … Trevor Bauer‘s initial 324-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy has been reduced to 194 games by an independent arbitrator … Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told reporters Wednesday that Oneil Cruz sustained a “relatively mild” left ankle injury while playing in the Dominican Winter League … Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that DJ LeMahieu will not require offseason surgery on his injured toe … According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletics, the Red Sox and free agent third baseman Justin Turner are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract … According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Cubs and free agent left-hander Drew Smyly are in agreement on a two-year contract … According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets and free agent right-hander Adam Ottavino are in agreement on a two-year, $14.5 million contract … According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com the Royals and free agent right-hander Jordan Lyles are in agreement on a two-year, $17 million contract … Orioles acquired C James McCann and cash from the Mets for a player to be named later … Pirates acquired OF Connor Joe from the Rockies for RHP Nick Garcia … Braves acquired 1B Lewin Díaz from the Orioles for cash … Tigers claimed C Mario Feliciano off waivers from the Brewers … Nationals claimed INF Jeter Downs off waivers from the Red Sox … White Sox acquired RHP Gregory Santos from the Giants for RHP Kade McClure … Padres signed INF Max Schrock to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Marlins signed INF/OF Garrett Hampson to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Cubs signed LHP Roenis Elías to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Angels signed INF Jake Lamb to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Red Sox signed INF Niko Goodrum to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Rangers signed INF/OF Joe McCarthy to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Guardians signed LHP Caleb Baragar and RHP Caleb Simpson to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training … Cubs signed Sergio Alcántara to a minor league contract … Athletics signed LHP Jake Fishman to a minor league contract … Royals signed RHP Mike Mayers to a minor league contract … Orioles signed RHP’s Eduard Bazardo, Kyle Dowdy and Wandisson Charles to minor league contracts … Pirates signed RHP Tyler Chatwood to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training and LHP’s Ángel Perdomo and Rob Zastryzny to minor league contracts … Padres signed 2B Tim Lopes and RHP Eric Hanhold to minor league contracts … Rockies signed RHP Matt Carasiti to a minor league contract … Mariners signed RHP Ryder Ryan to a minor league contract … Angels signed OF Luis Barrera and RHP Fernando Romero to minor league contracts … Twins designated OF Mark Contreras for assignment … Pirates designated INF Diego Castillo and RHP Nick Mears for assignment … Tigers designated OF Bligh Madris for assignment … Yankees designated LHP Lucas Luetge and RHP Junior Fernández for assignment … Reds designated INF Mike Moustakas for assignment … Nationals designated RHP’s Reed Garrett and Gerardo Carrillo for assignment … Angels designated RHP Oliver Ortega for assignment … Diamondbacks sent LHP Tyler Gilbert outright to Triple-A Reno … Phillies sent RHP Tayler Scott outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley … Athletics sent OF Cody Thomas outright to Triple-A Las Vegas … Angels sent LHP Kenny Rosenberg outright to Triple-A Salt Lake … Nationals sent SS Lucius Fox outright to Triple-A Rochester … Red Sox released 1B Eric Hosmer.
