Rumors: Carlos Correa unlikely to sign with the Chicago Cubs

Earlier this offseason and just before the lockout was put in place at the beginning of December, the Chicago Cubs signed free agent starting Marcus Stroman to a three-year deal. Stroman was one of the best starting pitchers on the market. It was a sign that the Cubs were by no means rolling over in the 2022 season. That signing helped fuel the rumors that Carlos Correa could be target for the Cubs.

Correa is the best free agent on the market this offseason and the Cubs do have a need at shortstop and with their offense, in general. But despite Cubs fans singing Christmas carols about him, he is unlikely to sign there.

Carlos Correa is unlikely to sign with the Chicago Cubs

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on The Athletic’s Baseball Show podcast that the Chicago Cubs are unlikely to sign Correa for a few reasons.

Rosenthal thinks that the Cubs will want to sign a few players on the free agent market but they will want “shorter deals”

"“They’re going to go about it maybe a little bit differently: Sign some free agents to shorter deals and go about it in that way,” Rosenthal said on The Athletic’s Baseball Show podcast. Shorter deals, and that’s the key phrase here.“If indeed the Cubs are going to take that course, I don’t expect that they’re going to get Correa done. And I know fans are going to think, ‘Well maybe Correa will sign for shorter because this has lingered and now he’s going to be available, a lot of the bigger free agents have signed, it’s going to be a mad rush with all the free agents,’ but I don’t see that happening.”"

Rosenthal also thinks that despite the lockout, Correa will not accept a deal that has fewer than 10 years.

"“…I don’t see Carlos Correa having his price drop simply because there’s a lockout, simply because he did not sign before December 1 think he’s getting 10 years, I still think he’s getting $300 million-plus and I believe he still might get over Corey Seager.”"

So the Cubs, essentially, don’t want to put all their eggs in one basket. If they can get, for example, Trevor Story to play shortstop for them, they can sign two or three more players who are decent free agents for the same amount of money that they would give Correa.

For what it’s worth, Story told our sister site, Rox Pile, in August that he loves playing at Wrigley Field

“It’s been fun each time I’ve been here (at Wrigley Field)” Story told Rox Pile. “You just kind of feel a different atmosphere here and I think it’s cool. I think players like that.”

He also said that he “love(s) playing at Wrigley” and Wrigley is “a place you look forward to coming” to each season.

If the Cubs have interest in Story, there could be a fit and while the Cubs are interested in Correa and it is reciprocated, interest likely won’t be enough unless they offer 10-plus years to Correa when the lockout ends.