4 Shortstop Options for the 2023 Twins

[Greglw3]

I believe that the Twins will sign Correa t a long term contract and that they can’t afford not to. It’s similar in importance for them to sign Correa to a long term contract as it was with Buxton last offseason.

Correa is a franchise player. For those of us who remember, it would be akin to letting Lyman Bostock walk after the 1977 season.

Correa likes it here and has expressed an openness to negotiate a long term contract with the Twins. They Twins must extend him and in doing so, they will have a vastly greater chance of winning playoff games and advancing to the World Series and winning it.

[MTV]

Honestly I doubt Correa will opt out of his contract, unless he can really start clicking in the last 100 Games of the season he’ll return to his short-term contract. If he does move however I think the Twins should sign a more short-term SS, as I do think Lewis will be able to play there for a while. I see Didi Gregorious, Dansby Swanson, and Miguel Rojas as 3 solid options. Gregorious is the least likely, as his lackluster defense and decent offense isn’t enough. Dansby offers a lot of power with a low OBP and very good defense, he’ll be cheaper but not free by any means. He’s consistent and the Twins could use a player like him. As for Rojas, he’s got a year of control and wouldn’t be hard to acquire, with a higher Average and ability to play 3rd/1st. If the Twins somehow to want to offer a Mega Contract, I see them chasing Turner or Correa for the long-haul.

[RaoulDuke]

I have really enjoyed watching Correa, he appears to be a really good leader in clubhouse as well as currently being an elite player.  This along with his playoff success make him something this team has not had since before Mauer/ Morneau. 

7-8 year superstar deals are scary period, but Correa is on the very young end of players hitting free agency even with this "1 year" deal he is on.  He will be 28 when he opts out and signs a new deal, so you are probably buying his 28-36 years.  

His bat shouldn't decline anytime soon and his defense isn't super based around speed so he should be the same good shortstop for a couple years then slowly decline into ok shortstop then great 3rd baseman.

I think they should sign him.  This is the Buxton/ Correa prime window opening.  Push your chips in when you have the chance to hit big, best CF/ SS combo in the mlb is a hell of a place to start.  Add in a pitching pipeline starting to produce young controllable arms and you have a real chance at contending. 

[TopGunn#22]

I'm with Greglw3 on this.  Correa is a franchise player.  The kind of guy a team should build around.  I know Pena is doing well for the Astros, but franchise SS's just aren't the type of player a team should just let walk.  If the goal is to win a World Series then the Twins need to sign him long term. 

Buxton is a superstar talent who the team feels can't play more than 100 games in a season.  The Twins signed him to a contract that protects them as well as Buxton.  In other words, it's "affordable."  If there is ONE position I'd be willing to shell out $30 million a year it would be for a SS who is the league's Platinum Gold Glove winner and who has a proven record of Post-Season Heroics.  Correa is THAT GUY.  

A team with Correa, Buxton, Polanco, Kirilloff, Larnach, Royce Lewis and Arraez as it offensive/defensive core with the young pitching coming up SHOULD be able to compete for 5-10 years.  When you have a franchise player like Buxton, who may or may not be in the lineup on any given day, you need a true superstar like Correa to provide that leadership and stability every day.  I'll still take whatever Buxton can give me.  But I want and need Correa to be the foundation everything is built on.  I say we take full advantage of Houston's "mistake."  

[Major League Ready]

23 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Sign Correa long term, move Royce to another position. In the SSS this year, it seemed pretty clear that Royce was the third best SS behind both Correa and Palacios

What position are you going to move him to?  We have two 3B prospects (Miranda / Steer) with equivalent offensive potential and CES fits at 3B as well if he is able to cut down the errors.  We have all kinds of 2B.  Moving him to the OF diminishes the value of his bat.  Plus Larnach has been better than we hoped for defensively.  So, where would you suggest they play him?  Do you trade Kepler, play Larnach is right and Lewis in LF?