Good news: The Cardinals has just completed their deal that they have been waiting for so many years

Good news: The Cardinals has just completed their deal that they have been waiting for so many years

 

The shortstop and the Mets reached an agreement on a $315 million deal on December 21. He inked a $200 million contract with Minnesota three weeks later. What took place?

After an at-bat, Carlos Correa, dressed in a gray Twins uniform, holds a bat and grimaces.
On December 21, Carlos Correa and the Mets reached an agreement on a $315 million contract. Despite having signed new terms with Minnesota, he remains a free agent in theory.Give credit…Julio Cortez/Press Association

Following their 12-year, $315 million contract agreement with one of baseball’s best infielders, Carlos Correa, the Mets were widely regarded as the off-season winners on December 21. After winning 101 games in 2022, the Mets were hoping to complete the championship puzzle owned by team owner Steven A. Cohen by adding an all-around superstar.

The contract language that is frequently glossed over like the “terms and conditions” on a website stated that the Mets deal was “pending a physical examination,” which came after Correa’s 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants the previous week fell through.

But the 28-year-old shortstop Correa pulled out of that agreement three weeks later as well. He signed a six-year, $200 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, with whom he played last season, on Wednesday. The team announced the deal on Wednesday; information about it was verified by individuals familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Correa cleared Minnesota’s physical exam on Tuesday, allowing the deal to become official after a physical had delayed both of his previously agreed-upon deals.

According to Spotrac, Correa’s contract with the Giants would have been the second-biggest of this off-season. The third-largest would have been the one he and the Mets agreed upon.

However, following the teams’ physical examinations, both were delayed, with worries centered on his right leg’s long-term health. Correa chose to sign a contract with Minnesota that pays him significantly more each year but guarantees him much less money overall rather than reworking those deals.

Correa’s contract is less in total value than those signed this off-season by Trea Turner (11 years, $300 million with Philadelphia) and Xander Bogaerts (11 years, $280 million with San Diego). With this deal, Correa trails only Francisco Lindor of the Mets in terms of average salary among shortstops.

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Correa is an excellent defensive shortstop, a talent that the Mets would have largely wasted.Give credit…Associated Press/Craig Lassig
In what ways is his new contract unique?

According to the person familiar with the negotiations, Correa’s new contract with the Twins calls for him to be paid an average of $33,333,333 per season over six years, with the possibility of earning up to $245 million over seven if he meets certain benchmarks. The contract includes vesting options, including ones based on playing time and the player’s performance in regular season and postseason awards, to safeguard the team and possibly help the player.

Are these kinds of safeguards uncommon?
Not in a special way. Past clients of Boras included Ivan Rodriguez, J.D. Drew, and Magglio Ordóñez, who all signed contracts that paid their players competitive salaries but included provisions protecting the teams in the event of medical issues.

And what about the Twins?
Minnesota quietly announced the move by tweeting a picture of Correa wearing a Twins uniform along with the words “He’s Home.” On Twitter, Correa’s teammates have been rejoicing over the move. The team is scheduled to meet with the media on Wednesday afternoon to go over the contract.

Regarding Correa, he released the following statement on Instagram prior to his press conference:

How have the Mets responded?
Cohen made the unusual decision to speak at the signing before it was finished, something he probably regrets now.

On the day the deal came together, Cohen told Jon Heyman of The New York Post, “We needed one more thing, and this is it.” “This was a crucial point. This takes us to the next level.

Heyman subsequently revealed that on the day the Correa news broke, the Mets sold $1 million worth of tickets.

The Mets released a statement on Wednesday, not long after Minnesota declared the completion of their agreement with Correa: “We were unable to reach an agreement.” We send Carlos our best wishes.