Twins To Sign Carlos Correa

[Nashvilletwin]

I knew I liked Falvey/FO and the Pohlads. Patience is a wonderful virtue and I wish I had more of it.

Perfect length deal money be damned. Congrats to the organization.

Now we are better. Much better.

Now we are committed to compete.

With that type of investment, maybe more to follow? Could be….

I am impressed and pleased and excited for baseball again. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

4 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

I’m just surprised that no other team offered more than $35mm for one year. 

If you look at the teams, though, it is hard to find one that is both good enough to want him for just one year (not Baltimore, for example), but also not yet set at shortstop and/or at their budget. A team like the Yankees would want to spread out that salary hit over a few years.

[umterp23]

3 year opt out deal works for both parties.  For Correa, prove I'm the best at the position to get another look each year on more money, etc.etc.etc.  For Twins, great move in that you are allowing some youth at the SS position to work on are they the guy for the future at that spot.  Good move to allow Lewis/Martin to work in the system for another year, takes some pressure off but it also generates some pressure knowing you may get that chance to be the guy 1 year from now.  Downside is Correa gets hurt (can't control what-ifs) misses some time, doesn't opt out because health is a concern.  Then we get him for another year to roll the dice all over again. 

STARTING PITCHING has to be the key moving forward in the next couple of days.  Monday, team could be totally different again

 

[LewFordLives]

5 hours ago, a-wan said:

I don't care what you Eeyores will say, even as an essentially one year deal isn't bad. Does make you wonder why another team wouldn't do this though.

That what shocks me about this. Are you telling me the Astros, Yankees, and half a dozen other legit playoff contenders wouldn't do this deal?

[wabene]

1 hour ago, h2oface said:

 Does this mean it's not cool to boo him anymore because he wears a different uniform?

Every silver lining has a cloud, sometimes apparently a dark dark cloud. Give it a rest bro. 

[Vanimal46]

This is excellent news to wake up to. Let’s go!!

[Game7-91]

Very creative. I would love to see these types if deals standardized, high AAV's, generous opt-outs, would create roster churn every year but great fun for fans, and allows for Twins et. al. to sign a Big Boy once in awhile. Sure, Boras wants his full cut next year, so what. This was a perfect storm and Twins did not fail to take advantage. Good on ownership to accept the (limited) risk but big $$, and FO to make it work. It's a Twins type of deal that actually makes sense. Just stunned Boras and Correa worked it out with Twins.......what's next, world peace? Always hope?

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Can’t believe it. Biggest signing in how long? So excited I decided to revive this account 

[Nashvilletwin]

20 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

I was one of those we did not like the last trade (and in a vacuum it was a poor trade - it made the lineup worse). And as days went on, things looked more bleak. Last night as it was reported that we likely were not favored to get Story and before this news posted, I commented that I had always supported Falvey and the FO and thought the Pohlads were great owners. But that I was not excited about this year’s team.

I clearly needed more patience and underestimated the commitment and the plan. I was wrong to not trust that another plan was in the works.

So yes, I am one of those posters who needs to say I was wrong about doubting the plan and was too impatient in my condemnation of the last trade (to the extent the last trade was a requirement for this move - which I will assume it was).

As for this move, I’m both ecstatic and surprised by the deal itself and length of the deal - the press was talking up to 8 by $25/30MM. It’s the perfect length deal at three years on so many fronts. 

With Correa at SS, Urshela/Miranda at 3B, Polanco at 2B and Kiriloff/Sano at 1B with Arraez and Gordon in the utility roles, the Twins infield is in good shape. It’s likely we will carry three catchers and Sanchez (sorry, but I still think he has no place on the team) will DH more than I originally thought and on those days Sano will play first and Kiriloff LF.

I apologize to my fellow TDers for jumping the gun on my condemnation of the last trade and not having the patience to let the off-season plan take a more final form. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

17 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

That what shocks me about this. Are you telling me the Astros, Yankees, and half a dozen other legit playoff contenders wouldn't do this deal?

Look around -- there are a lot of teams already set at SS. And a team like the Yankees generally wants to spread out the salary hit over multiple years.

The Astros are a surprise, though. It would have pushed their payroll even higher than it's ever been, but their rumored offer earlier was 5/160. This deal is similar. Maybe Correa already considered that bridge burned?

But hey, even for 1 year, the Twins can have some fun as the rebound boyfriend!

[Original_JB]

4 minutes ago, Game7-91 said:

Very creative. I would love to see these types if deals standardized, high AAV's, generous opt-outs, would create roster churn every year but great fun for fans, and allows for Twins et. al. to sign a Big Boy once in awhile. Sure, Boras wants his full cut next year, so what. This was a perfect storm and Twins did not fail to take advantage. Good on ownership to accept the (limited) risk but big $$, and FO to make it work. It's a Twins type of deal that actually makes sense. Just stunned Boras and Correa worked it out with Twins.......what's next, world peace? Always hope?

This is actually perfect for Boras. He's got big money guaranteed for the next 3 years, with the ability to shop his client literally the entire time he is playing for us. 

[Vanimal46]

 

Sorry for doubting you Falvey and Levine! Now let’s get Montas and we’re cooking with gas!!

[TopGunn#22]

Oh. My. God.  This is FAN-TAS-TIC !!!  What a bolt of LIGHTENING !  I have to admit, I was getting nervous when the Giants and Red Sox were sniffing around Story.  And for the Twins FO to have pulled this off.  Unbelievable !!  The best headline was about the Yankees desperately wanting Correa, and then making a trade that essentially set the Twins up to steal him from them.  Now, lets go out and get Montas and get ready to battle it out in the A.L. Central.  I don't miss Isaiah Kiner-Falefa anymore !!  I tip my hat to the twins Front Office.

[mikelink45]

I am in shock - a really good shock.  This is amazing.  What a move.  Can he pitch too?

[jmlease1]

It would have been nice to not have the opt-out after year 1, but when you have the opportunity to sign a player of this talent you have to do it. And while everyone is predicting that Correa will opt-out after year one (and it is fairly likely) you never know with these things. He could decide that he likes it here or that the money isn't going to be better (or the teams that might have it aren't where he wants to go) and stick around for a second year. You don't know for sure and with the talent wave we have coming through, this could be an attractive place for him to play. The odds are he'll opt-out after one year, but it's not a guarantee.

But the Twins are well-positioned to manage that one way or the other. Now we don't have to push Martin or Lewis up too fast and they can get a normal development year. Urshela doesn't have to be stretched as an every day SS and can slide into a utility role. It's good use of our money, but doesn't keep us from being able to lock up our young players down the line or add more pitching.

[yeahyabetcha]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

There are two catchers here. Remove one of them and insert Arraez as DH.

1. Arraez

2. Buxton

3. Polanco

4. Correa

5. Kiriloff

6. Sano

7. Kepler

8. Urshela

9. Sanchez/Jeffers

They likely see a lefty opening day, so I would leave Arraez and Kepler on the bench.  DH is Sanchez, Rooker in right field?

[Vanimal46]

 

[prouster]

2 hours ago, Original_JB said:

It's a one year rental. The opt outs essentially say so. I hate it. Now we have a top (cheater) player who will be 'advertising' for his next job/team before he even steps on the field with us. Yeah, that's a great feeling, So now the Twins will be on pins and needles sorting out their SS position the next few years. Is he staying, is he going? Do we need to rewrite the contract? What do you do with Martin, Lewis? Expendable? But then when Correa leaves after a year? I hate this move.

God level take. Never change, Twins fans. 

[wavedog]

Wow!  Correa was my dream choice for FA signing but never thought we could pull that off.  Kudos to the FO for pulling it off.  Our right-side of the infield suddenly looks tons better with Correa and Urshela.    

[Hheimer]

2 hours ago, AKTwins said:

Here is my guess on the line-up as things stand:

1. Buxton

2. Polanco 

3. Correa

4. Sanchez

5. Kepler

6. Sano

7. Gio

8. LF- Kiriloff or Larnach

9. Jeffers

Thoughts?

 

Until Keplar proves his bat is back I would move him to 8th in the batting order. While switching Gio and and Sano as well. 

[LastOnePicked]

Waking up, rubbing my eyes, and checking to see if last night's dream was real. It was.

Here's what I like about it:

It's not a killer commitment, and it's fair for the team and fair for the player. It's kinda like giving a superstar who would otherwise never come here a "trial size" with a coupon to come back for a few more seasons.

Player opt-out years aren't bad in my eyes. It usually just means that they had an MVP-like season. Or, they hated the culture here, too, and that tells us something important as well.

It signals that we are a player in the FA market. True, there were other, maybe better, ways to show this, but it still kinda keeps the team on the map.

It signals a commitment to payroll. You have to spend money wisely, but you also have to spend money to make money. This signing will get me to Target Field in 2022. Others probably feel the same.

Yes, this move could still leave us short of contention. Yes, there are others moves to make. But I wanted this FO to do something likely significantly WAR positive for the 2022 season, and they did. Tip of the cap to them.

[Riverbrian]

6 hours ago, Brandon said:

Well this gives us the top 2 picks from the 2012 draft.  Since we picked 2nd we knew we’d get 1.  But why not get both to play here.

The #3 pick that year was Zunino... Let's go get him!!! 

[Nashvilletwin]

Going into this season, my assumption was the Twins were going to transition into opening a new window starting in ‘23.  Lots of young talent on the mound and in the field needing time to season.

This deal is perfect in that it provides upside for this year, but improves the rebuild plan if desired.

Hear me out. If Correa is having a great year but the Twins aren’t competing and Correa looks like he will opt out, the Twins move him at the deadline for several additional pieces that accelerate the opening of the new window.  Essentially the FO could be paying about $20MM to get several cheaper, controllable pieces for the future. That’s actually a good alternative if Correa will be leaving. Btw, it also pretty much guarantees that Correa, if he wants to, will be playing for a contender this year if it’s not the Twins. Not much downside for either party here. 

Brilliant move. 

[TopGunn#22]

I see the lineup like this:

Vs a LHP                                  Vs a RHP

Miranda  LF                             Buxton  CF

Buxton  CF                               Polanco  2B

Polonco  2B                             Kiriloff   1B

Correa   SS                              Correa    SS

Sano  1B                                   Kepler    RF

Kiriloff  RF                              Sano        DH

Sanchez  DH                           Gio           3B

Gio  3B                                    Miranda  LF

Jeffers  C                                Jeffers    C

I have a LOT of faith that Kiriloff will be exciting this year.  Kepler is a Wildcard.  With no shift (or "limited" shifts) will he be an everyday player ?  And I have a LOT of faith in Miranda.  Make him the LF'er right now.  He can move around as the season progresses.  Arraez goes to Oakland with some young arms to get Montas (and maybe even Manaea).

[Rosterman]

Wow! How the trade market can supplement the free agent market.

 

The Twins essentially traded Donaldson (and his salary relief) + Garver and Rortvedt for Correa, Sanchez, Urshela and a pitching prospect. 

 

Somehow they managed to grab a shortstop that interested the Yankees and flip him to the Yankees, to get them to eat the Donaldson contract, and also in the process eliminated the Yankees from the #1 free agent hunt.

 

Good work, front office.

 

It is soemthing a mid-level team like the Twins have to do. WHen you overpay, overpay short-term, or even just for a one off like this.

 

Hopefully a trade of our over abundance of rotation arm prospects is still in the works with Oakland.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

If you look at the teams, though, it is hard to find one that is both good enough to want him for just one year (not Baltimore, for example), but also not yet set at shortstop and/or at their budget. A team like the Yankees would want to spread out that salary hit over a few years.

I'm thinking it's possible that the addition of the Donaldson money probably knocked the Yankees out of a possible 1 year high AAV for Correa. Might have knocked them out of Freeman as well. 

Who knows... but the Yankees have a budget that they try to adhere to just like everybody else. ?

[lukeduke1980]

Very bizarre.  The opt-outs make it feel like a rental, though at least you're not giving up prospects for the rental.  Its a needle moving move for sure.  I hope enough pitching is found to make years 2 & 3 worth considering .

[gunnarthor]

I am stunned. 

[jorgenswest]

This is the Jack Morris deal on steroids. I like how that one worked out.

[nicksaviking]

This is disorienting.

This is also a great deal, even if it turns out to be one year. It shows the fans they team is willing to go out of their comfort zone, and it shows future top end free agents MN is a legit destination. Never hurts to get on Scott Boras’ good side either. His top clients tend to funnel toward a clique of teams.