All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa (29), who signed two contracts in the free agent (FA) market this season, but both were canceled due to physical examination problems, is expected to wear the Minnesota uniform again after all.
Local media including ESPN reported on the 11th (Korean time) that “Corea and Minnesota signed a 6-year contract.” Although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, ESPN reported that the deal is worth $200 million over six years, and that the contract could go up to $270 million depending on the vesting option.
Correa personally, the difficult transfer market has continued for the second year. Correa, who qualified as a free agent at the end of the 2021 season, was treated colder than expected by the market. In the end, with Minnesota, 2022, 3 years, $105.3 million, and a clause allowing opt-out after the 2022 season, he virtually chose free agency. Last year, he earned $35.1 million a year.
There were more twists and turns this year. He opted out as expected, and on December 13 last year, he broke a super-large contract with San Francisco for 13 years and a total of $ 350 million. However, this contract ultimately fell through. The joining press conference was delayed three hours ahead, and eventually a problem arose in the medical test. It was speculated that the metal plate inserted at the time of the ankle fracture in 2014 was the problem. 스포츠토토
Correa later signed a 12-year, $315 million contract with the New York Mets to become a $300 million player again. However, this time, there was a problem in the medical test, and the Mets were not sure about the overall physical condition, including the ankle. Negotiations with the New York Mets continued sluggishly. In the meantime, Minnesota approached Correa again, and eventually re-signed Correa.
Mets also guaranteed a total of 157.5 million dollars over six years in the renegotiation phase with Correa and bet on a vesting option. According to local media, the negotiations were carried out on the line of giving 210 million dollars for 8 years and 315 million dollars for 12 years as usual. However, Correa took Minnesota’s hand, which brought in much more money on a six-year basis.
As the physical examination stage still remains, it is too early to say for sure how the final contract will proceed. However, Minnesota is a team that has already used Correa for a year, so there is a possibility that it will be more flexible.
Correa, who was born in Puerto Rico and made his major league debut in Houston in 2015, is an All-Star shortstop with a batting average of 0.279, 155 home runs, 553 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.836 in 888 games over eight seasons. He won the Rookie Award in 2015, and also won the Gold Glove in 2021.
He also performed well last year, recording a batting average of 0.291, 22 home runs, 64 RBIs and an OPS of 0.834 in 136 games. Although the total amount is not as large as the contracts with San Francisco and the Mets, it is rather better in terms of the average annual amount ($33.33 million). Attention is focusing on whether he can reach a final agreement with Minnesota.