Two time All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins are finalizing a six-year, $200 million contract, pending a physical, after weeks of discussion to finalize a deal with the New York Mets broke down, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.
This free agency has been an absolute whirlwind for Correa. He originally agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on December 13th. The Giants raised concerns about Correa’s surgically repaired right leg, which caused him to reconsider his decision. He pivoted quickly and signed a 12-year, $315 million contract with the Mets. The Mets had similar concerns and flagged his physical as well. Any efforts to amend the deal fell apart. This lead to Correa reopening talks with other teams and now he is returning to Minnesota, where he signed after a wild offseason last year as well.
The deal includes a vesting option that can add another four years to the deal, making it a 10-year deal. the contract will become official if Correa passes a medical review, which is expected to begin Tuesday and continue through Wednesday, according to sources. The focus will continue to be on his lower right leg, which he broke in 2014 during a minor league game. Correa has not spent time on the injured list for a right-leg ailment in his whole entire big league career, but the Giants and the Mets medical staff had concerns about how the leg would age, thus never finalizing a contract with the star shortstop, who will remain a Minnesota Twin and help them fight for a American League Central title.
Willie Mays. Barry Bonds. Buster Posey. And after agreeing to terms last week with the San Francisco Giants on a historic 13-year, $350 million contract, Carlos Correa. The former Astro and Twin was set to join these superstars as all-time Giants when his career is finished if he continued to play at his elite caliber. This would have been the longest deal for an infielder in free agent history.
However, six days later, Correa will no longer be wearing orange and black in the Bay Area, but will be sporting orange and blue in Queens as he shocked the baseball community by signing a 12-year, $315 contract with the New York Mets late Tuesday evening.
Correa and the Giants had a new conference planned yesterday to announce the deal during the day Tuesday, but it was postponed due to an undisclosed medical concerned that arose during his physical. Even though there was the slight issue, people throughout the industry still believed the deal would be finalized and Correa would be playing for the Giants in 2023 and years to come.
The Mets were aggressively pursing Correa most of free agency before he decided to head to San Francisco. If his deal is finalized, since it is pending the completion of a physical, Correa will join his good friend and fellow Puerto Rican, Francisco Lindor in the infield. Lindor signed a 10-year. $341 million extension in April 2021. He will remain at shortstop and Correa will move to third base.
The main person to thank for this deal is Mets’ owner Steve Cohen. He has committed more than $800 million to free agents this offseason, such as Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Justin Verlander, and others. As of now, the Mets competitive balance payroll is in the neighborhood of $380 million, which is way over the fourth and final threshold of the luxury tax, meaning the Mets’ tax bill will be around $100 million next year.
Correa is a two-time All-Star, one-time Gold Glove Award winner and won a World Series in 2017 with the Houston Astros. He has battled injuries to his thumb, back and ribs from 2017 to 2019. During this three-year stretch, he only averaged 98 games per season, but was still dominant when he was on the field.
Correa was a free agent last offseason and could not find a suitor for a long-term deal. After he was unable to do so, he made big waves in baseball by signing a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins, which included multiple opt-outs, including the one that he exercised to become a 2022 free agent.
Now Correa will join the New York Mets, who are pursuing a championship once again after losing in the first round of the Wild Card in 2021. The Mets won 101 games last year and the Correa signing definitely makes them one of the favorites to win, not just he National League pennant but, the World Series.
The biggest question of baseball’s offseason has been answered. The reigning American League MVP and face of baseball, Aaron Judge, will remain in pinstripes after signing a massive nine-year, $360 million contract. MLB Network first reported that Judge would re-sign with the New York Yankees, while The Athletic first reported the terms of the agreement.
After turning down a shorter extension offer for only $213.5 million prior to the 2022 season, Judge recorded one of the best seasons in baseball history as he headed into free agency. He broke Roger Maris’ American League-record for home runs by bashing 62, leading baseball. Judge’s 121 RBIs led the American League as well while hitting .311/.425/.686. Turning down that extension is arguably going to be one of the best contract decisions in baseball history. A lot of people speculated Judge’s decision to decline the extension and test free agency, but it ended up working out in his favor as his MVP season has made him one of the most lucrative baseball players of all time, only behind Mike Trout and Mookie Betts for largest deal in terms of total dollars.
This is going to keep the irritable Yankees’ fan base, who have been chasing their first World Series ring 2009, content for the time being as Judge is a fan favorite. The team’s owner Hal Steinbrenner said that his goal was to make Aaron Judge a Yankee for life. Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman said the team’s priority in free agency was keeping Judge. The front office got it done for the Yanks.
“We’d love to have our player back,” Cashman said Monday. “We would love to continue to call him our player every step of the way as he follows what looks like — as long as nothing happens — a career path that will lead him to Cooperstown. I would like him to be in pinstripes every step of the way.”
Judge was deciding between staying with the New York Yankees or going the San Diego Padres or San Francisco Giants on the West coast.The 30-year-old outfielder, who was born in Linden, California, attended Linden High School and later Fresno State before being drafted by the Yankees with the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft. His connection to California prolonged his decision and made it more difficult for him. In the end, Judge decided to stay in the Bronx and continue pursuing a championship with the Yankees through the 2031 season.
As we are about a week and a half into the 2021 MLB season, recapping the offseason.
The National League had a lot of movement this offseason. Nolan Arenado getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals makes them strong contenders to win the division. The San Diego Padres continued their development by trading for two ace-quality pitchers, Blake Snell and Yu Darvish. the New York Mets finally got a superstar after they traded for Francisco Lindor and extended him to a 10-year, $341 million contract, and acquiring a solid starting pitcher in Carlos Carrasco as well. The Mets hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. We cannot forget about the reigning National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer joined Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2020 World Series champion.
In the American League, the Houston Astros lost their long-time outfielder George Springer after he signed a five-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto added shortstop Marcus Semien on a one-year deal The White Sox continued to bolster their pitching by trading for starter Lance Lynn and signing closer Liam Hendriks.
The league has been shaken up and this could have an effect on who wins the awards. Here are the predictions for the big awards in each league for the 2021 MLB Season.
Mookie Betts will join the great Frank Robinson as the only player to win the MVP in both leagues. Betts will lead the Dodgers to their ninth consecutive NL West Division title and win both a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove.
He is going to hit 30+ home runs and steal 30+ bases while contending for a batting title. He is a five-tool player and will put up very impressive numbers for Los Angeles. The reigning World Series champions are looking to repeat as champions and that is only going to happen if Betts performs like the MVP he is.
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (50) poses for a portrait during photo day on Thursday, Feb, 20 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mike Trout will win his fourth AL MVP. This year will be different though because the Angels will make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. This could be the year they finally put everything together and are able to be successful and win more games than usual.
Trout could lead the league in home runs and OPS easily. He is an on-base machine and will do much better with a full season of having another All-Star, Anthony Rendon, in the lineup. Trout’s numbers are going to be mind-boggling, and he will continue to add hardware to his collection.
Jacob deGrom might be the safest pick for this award, since he won in 2018 and 2019, finishing third in 2020. deGrom is the best pitcher in baseball and will have an ERA right around 2.00 this season while tossing 200+ innings and striking out over 200 batters.
His velocity is continuing to rise, and his team has continued to build and bring in more talent around him. He will bring home his third Cy Young in the last four seasons and continue his pursuit to Cooperstown.
The Chicago White Sox’s ace Lucas Giolito will win his first Cy Young this season. Giolito will be close to the lead for the most wins by a pitcher in the American League. He is beyond dominant and is capable of carrying a team and being able to go all the way and throw complete games, which is something fairly rare these days.
Giolito, 26, will strike out 200 batters at minimum without an issue, but he is looking to make 2021 his first 200-inning MLB season. He will help the White Sox win the 2021 AL Central Division. There are other strong candidates throughout the AL, but Giolito is going to put it all together this season and become one of the better pitchers in baseball.
Major League Baseball’s spring training took full effect last week as camps are now full with pitchers, catchers, and all position players. Spring training games will be beginning soon, which means we’re just a few, short rom the 2021 season. With the regular season around the corner, now is great time to speculate which teams improved the most heading into the 2021 season.
The offseason got off to a rather slow start, but teams kicked things into full gear as the calendar turned the last page of 2020. The league has seen some big signings and blockbuster trades Most of the league’s top free-agents have found places to call home.
Here are the three teams that improved the most prior to the 2021 season.
The New York Mets under New Ownership
Under the guidance of new principal owner Steve Cohen, the New York Mets completely changed their narrative this offseason. From lovable losers to a team that others should fear in free agency. Cohen and his staff made this clear with the offseason’s biggest blockbuster trade, acquiring superstar Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians
New York now has one of the deepest starting rotations in baseball on top of a young core of superstar talent. Lindor sits as the face of the franchise now while the Mets added some serious depth to the roster. The Mets may have missed out on Trevor Bauer and JT Realmuto, but this roster is drastically improved after bringing in names such as Trevor May, James McCann, Jonathan Villar, Albert Almora Jr., and Aaron Loup.
From a team that finished eight games under .500 and fourth in the NL East to a potential World Series candidate, the Mets are the most improved team heading into 2021.
The San Diego Padres are serious World Series contenders
The San Diego Padres began their serious aspirations for a World Series title back in 2019. Over the past two seasons, Fernando Tatis Jr. has emerged as a bonafide superstar while San Diego also brought in big names like Mike Clevinger and Manny Machado.
Despite the additional star power, the Padres fell short last season. San Diego finished six games back of the eventual-champion Dodgers. Instead of remaining with that roster construction, management went back to the drawing board. The Padres are now one of the biggest offseason spenders.
In December, San Diego brought in starting pitching help with Blake Snell and Yu Darvish. The team also solidified its bullpen with the addition of veteran Mark Melancon. Padres management didn’t shy away from improving its lineup and positional player depth. Japanese sensation Ha-Seong Kim was signed for depth behind Tatis Jr. and Machado while he’ll compete for a starting role at second base. Jurickson Profar was also re-signed.
San Diego’s biggest offseason splash came with the record-breaking 14-year, $340 million contract extension for Tatis Jr. The Padres now have a deep roster, from top to bottom, and will play meaningful baseball this October.
Toronto Blue Jays: inking their top target
The Toronto Blue Jays may have had greater aspirations heading into this offseason, but this team still earns a spot on this list. The Blue Jays signed their biggest free-agent target in George Springer. Adding Springer meant adding a superstar talent to rally the franchise around. Toronto also brought in Marcus Semien, another of the league’s top free agents, giving this franchise a number of different All-Star level talents.
Ken Giles did depart in free agency, however, the Blue Jays added a number of bullpen depth pieces in Kirby Yates, Tyler Chatwood, and David Phelps. While the franchise was unable to sure up its starting pitching behind Hyun-Jin Ryu, they did add Robbie Ray and Steven Matz. Both Ray and Matz could rally for successful seasons next year, as this pair both own at least one season with sub-3.50 ERAs.
Toronto’s improvement makes the AL East interesting behind both the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Boston Red Sox did not make this list, but they were also busy this offseason, and it should be a year of competitive baseball in the division.
The Philadelphia Phillies just locked up All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto to a five-year, $115.5 million contract. The two-time All-Star will be returning to the city of brotherly love.
Realmuto’s average salary on this new deal is $23.1 million per year, which is the highest ever for a catcher in Major League Baseball history. He is the first catcher to sign a contract worth over $100 million in free agency.
There have been catchers that have signed larger extensions, like Joe Mauer and his eight-year, $184 million extension with the Minnesota Twins in 2010, and Buster Posey nine-year, $167 million extension with the San Francisco Giants in 2013. Realmuto’s new deal surpassed Mauer’s previous record for highest average annual value at $23 million.
Realmuto, 29, has earned this deal. He patiently waited and he was paid handsomely, after declining the Phillies’ one-year qualifying offer. He is a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and won a Gold Glove. He is one of the best all-around catchers in the majors.
2018 is when things changed for Realmuto. He had a monster season for the Marlins and then generated a ton of trade interest, which ended up with him being sent to Philadelphia. This was the year of his first All-Star game.
Since 2018, Realmuto leads all MLB catchers in WAR (10.1), RBIs (189) and stolen bases (16) and is second best in slugging percentage and OPS. He has hit 57 home runs during that span, which ranks third among MLB catchers during that span. All stats are from baseballreference.com.
On the defensive side of the ball, he has 11 runs saved since the start of the 2019 season. This ranks fourth among catchers who have played more than 1,000 innings during that span.
In 2019, Realmuto batted .275 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs while earning his second consecutive All-Star selection in 2019, when he led the National League catching 43 runners stealing.
Realmuto is passionate about the Phillies’ organization. “I love this organization,” he said. “They’ve been great to me and my family since I showed up. From top to bottom, they’re good people and they care about baseball. That’s important to me.”
Now that the Phillies have Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, and JT Realmuto signed for the next four seasons. A new winning culture is trying to be built in Philadelphia, slowly, but surely.
Realmuto is a career .278 hitter has had an OPS. of .825 since 2018. Realmuto is the best catcher is the majors and is now one of the richest catchers in the league. This was a huge move for the Phillies, and this keeps them competitive in the race for the NL East.
