Carlos Correa deal: All-Star shortstop passes Twins physical to complete six-year, $200M deal after Mets saga (2024)

Carlos Correa deal: All-Star shortstop passes Twins physical to complete six-year, $200M deal after Mets saga (1)

Correa's long, winding free agent road has led him back to where he ended the 2022 season

By R.J. Anderson

& Dayn Perry

3 min read

Carlos Correa deal: All-Star shortstop passes Twins physical to complete six-year, $200M deal after Mets saga (3)

The Minnesota Twins and free-agent infielder Carlos Correahave agreed to a six-year contract worth $200 million that includes a vesting option that could push the value to $270 million. The deal is the final twist in a month-long free agent saga for the star MLB infielder, who previously agreed to deals this winter with the Giants and Mets. The Twins deal was pending a physical -- no sure thing this winter so far as Correa is concerned -- but Correa passed the exam on Wednesday, allowing the Twins officially announce the signing.

This resolution in Minnesota -- where Correa also spent the 2022 season -- comes after a messy several weeks in which the Mets and Correareached a tentative agreement on a 12-year contract worth $315 million before the Mets hesitated over the shortstop's physical. It's believed that the Mets had concerns about Correa's right lower leg, which he had surgically repaired as a teenager. Correa's agreement with the Mets was preceded by his 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giantsthat fell apart over similar concerns. His agent, Scott Boras, elected to move on and solicit other offers after the Giants took too long to reopen negotiations.

He's Home. pic.twitter.com/P2sMnJFOY9

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 11, 2023

In subsequent negotiations with the Mets, the team's offer was reduced to six years, $157.5 million guaranteed with annual physicals, the New York Post reports. Here's a complete timeline of the Correa free agency saga.

It should be noted that Correa has not required a stay on the injured list because of his right leg since undergoing the operation as a minor-league player with the Houston Astros. The matter, then, is a predictive one instead of a prescriptive one. As for Correa's Twins physical, Jon Heyman reports that the portion of the exam concerning Correa's ankle has already been completed, which means the deal is likely to be approved from the medical standpoint.

Here's how the deal would break down:

Correa contract with Twins:

$8M signing bonus

$32M — 2023
$32M — 2024
$36M — 2025
$31.5M—2026
$30.5M—2027
$30M — 2028

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 10, 2023

Dan Hayes notes that the first $200 million is guaranteed and that option years will vest based on at-bat thresholds:

Once medicals are finalized, & Twins are said to be comfortable w/ what they've already seen, the first $200m of Carlos Correa's contract is guaranteed.

The final 4 years have vesting amounts at 575, 550, 525 & 502 ABs.
But even if it didn't vest, the Twins have team options.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) January 10, 2023

So were Carlos Correa not to reach 575 at-bats in 2029, it wouldn't mean he just becomes a free agent. The #MNTwins have a $25m club option. He could earn $20m in 2030, $15m in 2031 and $10m in 2032. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) January 10, 2023

Correa, 28, entered the offseason ranked by CBS Sports as the third-best free agent available this offseason. Here's what we wrote:

In the past, we've referenced Bill James' theory that it's better for a player's perception if they start hot rather than finish hot -- that way, James once reasoned, their statline looks better for longer. Correa may be evidence of the theory at work. He started slowly, homering just once in April and producing a depressed statline that lingered into the summertime, leading people to believe he was having a down year even as he picked up his play over the course of the summer. Check his Baseball-Reference page now that the leaves are falling and you'll notice that his OPS+ was higher in 2022 than 2021, a season good enough to earn him the top spot in our free-agent rankings last winter. Correa remains a very good player, in other words, and it shouldn't surprise anyone if this time around he gets his rate and term.

A two-time All-Star, Correa hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs across 136 games in 2022 for the Twins. For his career, he's batted .279/.357/.479 while providing good defense at shortstop. It's no wonder, then, how he's accumulated nearly 40 Wins Above Replacement, putting him on what amounts to a Hall of Fame track.

Correa re-entered the free agent market after exercising an opt-out in his contract with Minnesota. As for the physical, the more brief contract span and lower total payout may make Correa's Twins physical a bit less exacting than the ones he underwent with the Mets and Giants. However, if this offseason has taught us anything, it's that nothing is sure with Correa's next contract until ink is upon paper.

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Carlos Correa deal: All-Star shortstop passes Twins physical to complete six-year, $200M deal after Mets saga (2024)

FAQs

How much did the Mets offer Carlos Correa? ›

On Dec. 21, the Mets were declared by many as the winners of the off-season after they agreed to terms with Carlos Correa, one of the top infielders in baseball, on a 12-year, $315 million contract.

Why did Carlos Correa's deal fall through? ›

Correa's deal with the Mets fell apart for the same reason the star shortstop was forced to walk away from the Giants. The Mets saw the same issue in Correa's physical, a surgically repaired right ankle that may not hold up over the course of a long-term deal, and the two sides failed to work out a solution.

How much are the Twins paying Carlos Correa? ›

Carlos Correa signed a 6 year / $200,000,000 contract with the Minnesota Twins, including $200,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $33,333,333. In 2024, Correa will earn a base salary of $32,000,000 and a signing bonus of $4,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $33,333,333.

How many times has Carlos Correa been an All-Star? ›

Correa returned to Houston as one of the leaders of the Minnesota Twins, who faced the Astros in the best-of-five American League Division Series. Correa, a two-time All-Star, played in six ALDS, five AL Championship Series and three World Series with the Astros.

What did the Mets offer Correa? ›

After that deal fell through due to concerns over his physical, the Mets swooped in with a megadeal of their own, coming to terms with Correa on a 12-year, $315 million pact early on the morning of Dec. 21. One day later, Correa flew to New York to undergo a physical examination.

How did Minnesota Twins get Carlos Correa? ›

Carlos Correa agrees to 6-year deal to return to Twins after Mets contract falls through. Free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa agreed to a six-year, $200 million deal to return to the Minnesota Twins, the team confirmed Wednesday, ending an offseason saga in which deals with the Giants and Mets both fell through.

Why is Carlos Correa famous? ›

Correa established a new franchise record for most hits during his first ten games by batting 14. He went on to also break the franchise record for most hits through 15 career games with 20. Correa set a franchise record for most doubles during his first 20 games, batting 9.

Who owns the Mets? ›

Since 2020, the Mets have been owned by billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, who purchased the team for $2.4 billion. As of 2023, Forbes ranked the Mets as the sixth most valuable MLB team, valued at $2.9 billion.

What is Carlos Correa famous for? ›

He is a professional baseball player who currently plays as a shortstop for the Minnesota Twins in Major League Baseball (MLB). Correa began his MLB career with the Houston Astros in 2015, where he quickly established himself as one of the best young players in the league.

Who has the biggest contract in the MLB? ›

The Largest Contracts In MLB History
  • Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: 10 years, $700MM. Free agent contract signed December 2023. ...
  • t-3. ...
  • Francisco Lindor, Mets: 10 years, $341MM. ...
  • t-8. ...
  • Rafael Devers, Red Sox: 10 years, $313.5MM. ...
  • t-13. ...
  • Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: 11 years, $288,777,777. ...
  • Xander Bogaerts, Padres: 11 years, $280MM.
Dec 25, 2023

Who is Correa's wife? ›

What is Juan Soto's contract? ›

Juan Soto signed a 1 year , $31,000,000 contract with the New York Yankees, including $31,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $31,000,000. In 2024, Soto will earn a base salary of $31,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $31,000,000.

What ethnicity is Carlos Correa? ›

INJURIES
INFO
FromSanta Isabel, PRI
College--
Drafted2012 - Round 1 by HOU
NationalityPuerto Rico
4 more rows

Who has 21 All-Star appearances? ›

Aaron hit .314 with 27 home runs and 106 RBIs, in 1955. He was named to the NL All-Star roster for the first time; it was the first of a record 21 All-Star selections and first of a record 25 All-Star Game appearances. In 1956, Aaron hit .328 and captured the first of two NL batting titles.

Why did Correa leave Houston? ›

The shortstop spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros, winning a World Series championship in 2017. He did not find the long-term contract he was looking for last winter and chose instead to sign a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins that included multiple opt-outs.

Was Carlos Correa a Mets? ›

As the Giants wanted to renegotiate, Correa's agent, Scott Boras, reached out to other teams and reached an agreement with the New York Mets on a 12-year contract worth $315 million.

What happened to Carlos Correa's contract? ›

The New York Mets stepped in by agreeing to a 12-year, $315 million contract with Correa, but that deal also fell apart because the Mets expressed doubts about his physical as well. It was revealed the issue stemmed from an ankle injury Correa suffered in 2014 while playing in the minor leagues.

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