Fansided

MLB insider says Mets are reportedly trying to sign Carlos Correa

By Josh Hill

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after hitting a 2-run home run to left field in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 08, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Minnesota Twins defeated the New York Yankees 4-3. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after hitting a 2-run home run to left field in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 08, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Minnesota Twins defeated the New York Yankees 4-3. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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With Carlos Correa rumors swirling around the Twins and Giants, a third ‘surprise team’ has reportedly entered the equation. 

Buckle up, New York Mets fans, it appears Steve Cohen’s spending spree is not over and his splashiest signing is yet to come.

It’s been a rollercoaster winter for the Mets, who lost Jacob deGrom but somehow turned that into a win in free agency. Cohen took the $185 million that the Mets would have needed to spend to match the offer deGrom agreed to with the Texas Rangers and rebuild New York’s entire rotation.

While it seems like an insane coup in the moment, the spree didn’t quench Cohen’s thirst to spend his way to fixing his team and restoring hopes of fans. He has apparently set his sights on one of the biggest remaining fish in the free agent pond.

According to Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic, the Mets have surprisingly entered the Carlos Correa sweepstakes.

"“I’d say there’s some smoke,” one Mets person said. “I’m not sure how big the fire is, though.”"

As it stood, only the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants were serious contenders to sign Correa. In fact, the most surprising thing about the whole matter was the fact that the Twins — a team that never spends big and has long prided itself on being a small ball club — was the presumed front runner.

That all changes with the Mets entering the equation.

Carlos Correa rumors: Can New York Mets pull off a deal?

Minnesota may still be the leader in the clubhouse, but the price for Correa is likely about to go up with the deep pockets of Cohen getting involved. San Francisco is also reportedly hot for Correa to rectify losing out on top target Aaron Judge.

As for the Mets, polishing off its winter spending spree by landing Correa would without a doubt set things up for a run at a World Series. Even if Correa doesn’t end up in Queens, it’s hard to not marvel at what Cohen has managed to do in a situation where lesser owners might have panicked and overspent to keep a fan favorite like deGrom.

Rather than overpay for deGrom, here’s what Cohen did with that money:

  • Justin Verlander – 2 years/$86 million
  • Kodai Senga – 5 years/$75 million
  • Jose Quintana – 2 years/$26 million
  • Brandon Nimmo – 8 years/$162 million

Nimmo is the outlier there, but he could be compared directly to deGrom in the debate over which massive contract would Mets fans rather have seen the team spend on. The contracts for Verlander, Senga, and Quintana not only clock in at a few million more than what deGrom was paid by Texas but it also offsets his loss in the rotation and then some — including replacing him with a Cy Young winner.

Correa won’t come cheap, but his contract would circle back to the debate about what big contract Mets fans would want the team to spend on: deGrom or Correa?

Adding arguably the best shortstop that was on the market to the offseason haul would make this perhaps the best offseason the Mets have ever had.

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