Wow, what a whirlwind of a free agency period this has been for superstar shortstop Carlos Correa, now of the Minnesota Twins. The New York Mets were unable to reach an agreement with the 28-year-old shortstop after initially verbally agreeing to a 12-year, $315 million contract in the middle of the night in mid-December. The issue the Mets had, just like the San Francisco Giants before them, was a physical that flagged Correa’s right ankle after a 2014 surgery after an injury in the minor leagues in the Houston Astros organization.
So, after the Mets and Giants balked at the star shortstop, the Twins, Correa’s most recent team, officially announced they signed Correa to a six-year guaranteed deal.
What are some positives and negatives for New York that come from the aftermath of the Correa saga? Keep reading to find out.
The pros of the New York Mets and Carlos Correa being unable to reach an agreement
Now I know what you’re thinking, “There is no positive way to spin the Mets losing out on Correa.” There actually are some ways to view this ordeal in a positive manner for the Amazins. After all, Correa was a luxury the Mets really did not need. They still have Eduardo Escobar, who was raging hot in the latter part of the 2022 season (slashing .321/.385/.596 in his final 30 games of the campaign). And more importantly, New York employs one of the top third baseman prospects in all of baseball, Brett Baty. The lack of Correa on this Mets team gives New York the opportunity to see if Escobar can stay as hot as he was in September, and also to see if the Baty hype is real.
The cons of the New York Mets and Carlos Correa not striking a free agent agreement
As in the title of this article, it is now time to go over the negatives from the Correa saga, and what could have been for the Mets. If the Mets had signed Correa, he would have played third base, next to buddy Francisco Lindor. This would have absolutely given the Mets arguably the best left side of the infield in Major League Baseball. New York also could have used some more thump in their lineup, and the Twins shortstop could have helped New York here.
Overall, the Mets lose out on a superstar to couple with their own star shortstop Lindor, but it is certainly not the end of the world for the franchise.
For Mets fans (and MLB fans in general), just be glad this saga has finally come to an end. The Mets still have plenty of options to add some more pop to their lineup, potentially in Adam Duvall and/or Trey Mancini. Additionally, New York now has the opportunity to see what Baty can bring to the table, and Mets fans should be bursting with excitement for the next potential Mets third baseman.