Latest Carlos Correa rumors could be bad news for Dodgers

Former Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa has officially entered free agency, but the Los Angeles Dodgers may stray away from him.

Former Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa may have dug himself into a hole for his association with the 2017 Houston Astros, putting some strains on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pursuit of him.

Correa began his MLB career in Houston in 2015 and played there through the 2021 season. He helped the Astros win the World Series in 2017, and while that’s a great look for most players, it’s not for Correa as he won with a team that was later exposed for cheating their win in the championship.

While most teams could probably overlook that at this point for the talented shortstop, the Dodgers have a bit more of a personal tie to the situation as they lost the World Series to the Astros that season. Sure, Correa would probably be a great asset in Los Angeles, but the fans may not be so welcoming.

From a business standpoint, it could be risky to sign Correa. He’d be worth a lot of money as one of the best shortstops in the league, and bringing him in could drive some of the fanbase out, causing the franchise to lose out on money that’s needed for such a big signing.

It’s a tough decision between doing what’s best for the team’s success or maintaining a good relationship with fans. Luckily, there are a few other star shortstops on the free agency market to choose from.

The Dodgers have other options for star shortstops

The most obvious solution would be to try to convince Trea Turner to stay. However, that may not be as easy as planned. Turner has given uncertainty to the idea of staying in Los Angeles, expressing that he loved playing with the Dodgers but he’s considering other teams as well. There are rumors that he’d prefer an east coast team, which is understandable considering his time with the Washington Nationals.

Since re-signing Turner isn’t so seamless, it’s important to run after some other stars on the market. Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves is another solid option, as he’s another player who helped his team win a World Series, and he’d join his former teammate Freddie Freeman.

They could also go after Xander Bogaerts from the Boston Red Sox, who has helped Boston earn two World Series, led the league for shortstops in batting average this season and would be joining former teammate Mookie Betts.

Though it’s unfortunate that Los Angeles is probably losing Turner and is hesitant to go after Correa, it’s a good year to need a shortstop because there are so many stars available.