The San Francisco Giants gave Carlos Correa $350 million to bring his talents to the Bay Area, and the late-night Twitter reactions were gold.
MLB offseason action never sleeps, and therefore neither do the folks who pay attention to it.
Thus was the case on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning when the San Francisco Giants reached a deal to sign free agent shortstop Carlos Correa. Something was going to happen with Correa, as it felt like push was coming to shove in terms of rumors turning into reality. All throughout the day, reports were being pushed that both the Giants and Minnesota Twins were competing to sign Correa, with the New York Mets surprisingly throwing their hat in the ring at the 11th hour.
For all of the drama, San Francisco turned out to be the final destination for Correa and the price was steeply paid. Correa agreed to a $350 million deal that stretches over the next 13 seasons, meaning he’s effectively planning on spending the remainder of his carer with the Giants. Correa will be 41-years-old when his contract expires, and the likelihood he ends up honoring the deal seems high.
As part of the deal, Correa has no opt-out and a full no trade clause. This means he and the Giants will have to mutually agree upon an exit strategy should things reach that point.
As for the more immediate, Correa’s deal sent shockwaves throughout baseball. Regardless of the hour at which the deal was struck, folks woke right up on Twitter and came charging in with their reactions to the monster late-night deal:
I will be 58 years old when Carlos Correa is not being paid by the Giants. That's how old Marisa Tomei and Keanu Reeves are. I'm fine. All of this is fine. They're great. I'm great.
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) December 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/M_Hanny17/status/1602890803906457600
🎵Will you still need me, will you still feed me
— Harry Pavlidis, one dog and no parodies. (@harrypav) December 14, 2022
When Correa's contract ends 🎵
Correa willingly subjecting himself to 8-9 games a year in Dodger Stadium is certainly a career choice
— Mike Ensminger Fan Account (@laplanck) December 14, 2022
Carlos Correa said pic.twitter.com/9u4ggL3Ba8
— JKC (@joekingcole) December 14, 2022
Carlos Correa as a Giant is going to overtake Manny Machado in Dodger Stadium boos. Might make him the most hated player among Dodgers fans in history.
— Blake (@ByBlakeWilliams) December 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/jeffeisenband/status/1602890004795097090
Carlos Correa turned down $275 million from the Detroit Tigers last offseason.
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) December 14, 2022
He will now make $350 million with the SF Giants.
Another bet on yourself success story.
The loudest boos I’ve ever heard in person were this year when the Twins and Correa came to LA. I can’t imagine what it’s gonna sound like when he comes back in black and orange.
— Coach Trev (@trevorplouffe) December 14, 2022
Congratulations to Carlos Correa for getting enough money to afford a decent townhouse in San Francisco.
— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) December 14, 2022
For what it’s worth, as much as the Giants are getting dragged for the length of the contract handed to Correa, it’s a deal that could age very well given the direction salaries are headed.
The length of some of these deals are absurd, but paying $28 million for a third baseman in 2035 will seem much less insane as average salaries continue to rise
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) December 14, 2022
Now whether 41-year-old Carlos Correa is worth that? Whole other question https://t.co/E2I6OhKiPC
Of course, it’s worth noting that monster contracts like this almost never end up going the distance. Whether it’s Albert Pujols and the Angles or Robinson Cano and the Mariners, the list of big contracts in baseball that didn’t end up getting completely served out is long.
Time will tell if Correa can buck the trend, but a decade is a long time to experience ups and downs.