MLB rumors: Twins ready to leave the table without Carlos Correa if they have to
By Mark Powell
The Minnesota Twins are reportedly ready to put their best offer forward with shortstop Carlos Correa, or pursue other options should he turn them down.
For the second offseason in a row, Carlos Correa’s negotiations are lagging. Only Correa and Dansby Swanson remain of the core shortstops which once were once the talk of the free-agent market, as Trea Turner signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for $300 million, and Xander Bogaerts inked with the Padres for $280 million.
This took two potential suitors out of play for someone like Carlos Correa, who had hoped for a chance at a long-term deal. Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, seems to think he’s worth his $300 million claim, though that could be proven untrue two years in a row.
Even in an offseason that has signaled a boon of spending for team owners, Correa struggles to receive his worth. The Twins aren’t biting, at least not yet.
Could the Twins really punt on Carlos Correa?
Minnesota general manager Thad Levine surely wants to re-sign Carlos Correa. It just has to come at the organization’s price point. In part due to the lockout, Correa waited until March 28 to ink his deal with the Twins last season. This year, he’s the third core shortstop — and best player remaining on the market — to sign as well.
At some point, Minnesota needs to hear back from their top offseason priority, or they risk not putting a productive team around him. The Giants and Cubs are two other potential suitors for Correa.
Along with Correa, the Twins have also flirted with the idea of trading 2022 batting champion Luis Arraez for some pitching depth. Carlos Rodon remains on the starting pitching market, along with several other mid-tier starters the Twins could use.
While Levine can be in more than one place at one time thanks to modern technology, signing Correa is their best option and requires that sort of attention, even if it means losing out on another player in the long run. It’s well within his right to take his time, but it could very well impact the Twins’ success next year and moving forward, even if he comes back.