One of the most interesting free agent signings that will happen once the Major League Baseball lockout ends involves shortstop Carlos Correa. There have been plenty of rumors connecting Correa to the New York Yankees, but is that where he will actually end up for the 2022 season and beyond?
Correa is one of the most coveted free agents available this offseason, and the former Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star is rumored to be on the target list for several MLB teams. However, with Correa reportedly turning down a 10-year, $275 million offer from the Detroit Tigers and Correa hiring agent Scott Boras, who has negotiated some of the massive deals handed out before the lockout began, the price for his services will not be cheap.
One team that could, in theory, afford to bring Correa on board is the New York Yankees, a team that has been rumored to be in the hunt for Correa even before the Houston Astros lost the World Series in six games to the Atlanta Braves.
A timeline of the rumors connecting the New York Yankees and Carlos Correa
October 20: Detailing where various MLB free agent shortstops might land, ESPN’s Buster Olney lists the Yankees as a possible destination for Correa after polling 11 MLB evaluators (subscription required).
November 9: Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports that the Yankees are having conversations with then-Correa agent Jon Rosen.
According to sources #Yankees are in conversation with agents for both Corey Seager and Carlos Correa #Confirmed
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) November 10, 2021
November 30: In an article for The Athletic (subscription required), Ken Rosenthal details that, while the Yankees want a new shortstop, Correa is viewed “with contempt” because of his connection with the Astros and the sign-stealing scandal from the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
December 1: Houston television reporter Mark Berman confirms that the Yankees are among the teams who have been in contact with Correa’s agent. He also brings up a contract offer from Houston that was rejected by Correa.
According to MLB sources the agent for free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa has heard from the @Yankees, @RedSox, @Dodgers, @Cubs and @Braves and was offered five years/$160 million by the Astros last month.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) December 2, 2021
December 2: Olney appears on a Houston radio station and says the Yankees may spend money in other places rather than focus on Correa.
ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney told The Wheelhouse that he thinks the #Yankees are saving their money for an Aaron Judge extension instead of signing Carlos Correa... @ESPN975 pic.twitter.com/gvxclcpbNv
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) December 2, 2021
December 16: After being very conservative with spending before the lockout, Olney reports (subscription required) that the Yankees might revisit conversations with both Correa and fellow free agent shortstop Trevor Story.
January 7: SNY downplays the possibility of Correa coming to the Yankees, saying New York may chase a trade with Oakland for Matt Olson instead.
How realistic is a Matt Olson trade for the Yankees?
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 7, 2022
"The Yankees seem more likely to make a trade with the A's than sign Carlos Correa. The only way I imagine them doing the latter is if Correa’s market sinks to the $200 million range." (via @martinonyc) https://t.co/KxaUT8V3kM pic.twitter.com/E8wTZadbAC
While the rumors seem to have cooled as the lockout rolls along, look for talk of Correa and the Yankees to heat back up once an end to the lockout appears close.