Trade Rumor: Should the Twins Trade Carlos Correa?

[cHawk]

This past offseason, the Twins signed FA SS Carlos Correa to a 3-year/$105M deal, with player opt-outs after both the 2022 and 23 seasons.

According to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune, the Twins have not initiated any conversation about an extension for Correa. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Correa was interested in signing a long term deal with the Twins back in April.

It is decision time for the Twins. To trade Correa or not to trade Correa. If the Twins trade Correa, they could get a nice haul in return. If the Twins keep Correa, it could benefit them if they sign Correa to a long-term deal. However, they would also run the risk of losing Correa for nothing.

Would you trade Correa? Why or why not?

https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/.amp/twins/should-the-twins-trade-carlos-correa-or-risk-losing-him-for-nothing

View full trade rumor

[chpettit19]

[Nashvilletwin]

If he will commit to reup - no. I know, that’s a blinding statement of the obvious.

If he will not commit to reup, then the question gets more difficult. The analysis would seem to require weighing what players can be received in return vs. the combination of the probability the Twins can make it into the playoffs and past the first round plus the probability that he will reup (or sign a new deal) with us after the season. This comparison also needs to take into effect any other moves the Twins make at the deadline (which could impact the prospects for playoff success).

All things being equal, if a) he does not reup (seems likely), b) the Twins do not upgrade their pitching staff before the deadline (unclear) and c) the Twins can receive a solid return (not sure about this, but he is Carlos Correa - some contender must want him), I’d move him for sure. Sad, but in this scenario, playoff success is unlikely and the more important priority would be to build toward a better window in ‘23 and beyond. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

No. And it’s a dumb idea to even consider trading him. 

[Mike Sixel]

Stupid idea that's been discussed over and over for some reason. 

[ashbury]

It's not even a rumor.  The addition of that word to the title is misleading.

[CRF]

No way. 

[Musk21]

No.

[Old Twins Cap]

Yes, I would trade Correa, if and only if he does not commit to coming back to the Twins.

Look, it's business.  Not only would the Twins save in the range of $15M for the just under half the season they would be paying him, they would presumably get some pretty valuable pieces coming back.  As in young/controllable pitching.

We got shortstops up and down the system.  The Twins are going to wither and die on the vine this last half because they have inadequate pitching.  So, it's lose-lose-lose if they don't trade him.

But, I have to think, Correa signed in Minnesota for a reason, and whatever those reasons are, they are probably still operative.  He's a Boras client, who will try to maximize his value for sure, but in the final analysis the only sure way the Twins win this negotiation is to pull the trigger.

[Dman]

They can't and won't trade Correa without losing the clubhouse.  It isn't going to happen.  Also they are still in first place and even if they do fall back they will need him down the stretch in the battle for the division.

To be honest no one is going to pay what it would take to move him for two months of help and the possibility he walks.  It would practically take a miracle for them to trade him. It is so remote it hardly seems worth considering at all.

[rwilfong86]

Just.... no.

[Nine of twelve]

Trade him (or anyone else on the roster) if someone offers to overpay. Otherwise, don't. Simple.

Yours truly, Captain Obvious

[howeda7]

1 hour ago, Old Twins Cap said:

Yes, I would trade Correa, if and only if he does not commit to coming back to the Twins.

Look, it's business.  Not only would the Twins save in the range of $15M for the just under half the season they would be paying him, they would presumably get some pretty valuable pieces coming back.  As in young/controllable pitching.

We got shortstops up and down the system.  The Twins are going to wither and die on the vine this last half because they have inadequate pitching.  So, it's lose-lose-lose if they don't trade him.

But, I have to think, Correa signed in Minnesota for a reason, and whatever those reasons are, they are probably still operative.  He's a Boras client, who will try to maximize his value for sure, but in the final analysis the only sure way the Twins win this negotiation is to pull the trigger.

You severely under-estimate how badly this would go over with the non-diehard part of the fan base, which is 90% of it, and more importantly in the clubhouse.

 

You are literally telling your fan base to go $$%% themselves if you trade your star player while in 1st place. And you're telling every player on the roster to laugh in your face if you ever offer them a long-term contract.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Old Twins Cap said:

Yes, I would trade Correa, if and only if he does not commit to coming back to the Twins.

Look, it's business.  Not only would the Twins save in the range of $15M for the just under half the season they would be paying him, they would presumably get some pretty valuable pieces coming back.  As in young/controllable pitching.

We got shortstops up and down the system.  The Twins are going to wither and die on the vine this last half because they have inadequate pitching.  So, it's lose-lose-lose if they don't trade him.

But, I have to think, Correa signed in Minnesota for a reason, and whatever those reasons are, they are probably still operative.  He's a Boras client, who will try to maximize his value for sure, but in the final analysis the only sure way the Twins win this negotiation is to pull the trigger.

No, we wouldn't be getting much back if anything, especially if we expect the other team to take on the salary ... and then you want them to toss in 'pretty valuable pieces'? Seriously ... who are our trade partners and what do you expect to get in return? And why do we need to save on salary? Any savings in salary this year do not apply to next year. So, I just don't see it. Remember how we all thought we'd get a ton for Santana? The lesson in that is we should have ridden out Santana's contract and that's what we should do (imo) with Correa. We are better with him than without him.

First off, no non-contending team will want him or need him. Non-contenders aren't buyers, they are sellers. And they want controllable prospects in return, not a rental. 

Next, look at all the contenders ... which of them needs a SS? When you determine that, then apply what I first said ... if they are paying his salary for the remainder of the year, and only have Correa for a couple months, they are not giving us 'pretty valuable pieces' in return. You can dream of it all you want, but it's not happening.

Third, if we are contending ourselves, and we trade Correa, who plays SS? We have just made our team that much worse, and probably just took us from contending to, well, not contending.

Fourth, Correa is not obligated to tell the Twins his plans until after the season is over. Okay, maybe they can work out an extension and sign him long term. I'd be up for that, but no way is he telling us if he is going to opt in or out. But if the Twins approached him and said ... 'Tell us now what you intend or we're trading you' ... we would likely never sign another superstar player ever again. That is just a terrible way to treat a valuable employee.

Fifth, horrible, horrible thing to do to the fans and the clubhouse. Correa has had a big impact on the clubhouse and his teammates. Bad, bad, bad PR move and then some.

Lastly, supposedly, Correa said he liked playing in Minnesota. He seems to have an affection for his teammates her in MN. He and Bux make quite a pair. But ... I don't know if those are reasons for him to opt in to stay here and deny himself the opportunity to sign a long-term contract elsewhere. Part of me really hopes he stays, whatever the cost, but, that is a pipe dream.

[Doctor Gast]

We need to take full advantage of having Correa, to go all the way. Extention talks won't start until after the season. If we are stupid enough to trade him we won't get much for him.

[bunsen82]

It’s not horrible it’s all relative. Many want to say you are giving up on a season when the season is likely already lost. The whit Sox face the weakest completion from here on out and appear to be getting their act together. Whether we trade Correa or keep him for the rest of the year will likely make minimal difference. If someone offered an overpay consider it.  If it included a lessor short stop with another year of control it could be interesting. I am not willing to just say it’s not an option, however much of the fan base just wouldn’t understand it.

[Monkeypaws]

Division titles have some small merit, as do playoff appearances.

So hell no. CC has been a treat to watch as a Twin. Why throw the chance at the post season away, or months of watching this guy as our shortstop?

Assets are great, but all CC cost was money. I hope he decides to stay another year.

They could be a hot streak away from a World Series.

[insagt1]

Unless they could score some huge pitching improvement, no. As it is, the lineup isn't really working this year. And even Arraez is going thru his biggest slump --only 4 for his last 26, which has seen his outworldly BA slide to .338. Neither Correa or Buxton have reached the heights the Twins frankly expected. Buck has 23 dingers, but thats it., and his 'k' count is very concerning along with a BA and OBP substantially sub-par. Correa flirted briefly with .300 but July hasn't been particularly kind to him. Up and down the lineup, not too many Twins are enjoying great success at the plate, consistently. We are seeing glimmers from Miranda and finally Kirilloff and thank goodness for that.

Dumping Correa now would create chaos, since there really isn't a replacement for him. And the Twins are still very much in contention, even though they are definitely trending in the wrong direction at the moment.

[ICTwin25]

Trading Correa not only wont work out the way we hope for return of players, but it sets an ugly precedence on FA moving forward. He was a huge get and trading him after not even playing a full season is an ugly look. Plenty of other guys we can trade that would still generate a strong return

[USAFChief]

Interesting idea. I wonder why nobody has proposed it before.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 7/21/2022 at 6:28 PM, Squirrel said:

No, we wouldn't be getting much back if anything, especially if we expect the other team to take on the salary ... and then you want them to toss in 'pretty valuable pieces'? Seriously ... who are our trade partners and what do you expect to get in return? And why do we need to save on salary? Any savings in salary this year do not apply to next year. So, I just don't see it. Remember how we all thought we'd get a ton for Santana? The lesson in that is we should have ridden out Santana's contract and that's what we should do (imo) with Correa. We are better with him than without him.

First off, no non-contending team will want him or need him. Non-contenders aren't buyers, they are sellers. And they want controllable prospects in return, not a rental. 

Next, look at all the contenders ... which of them needs a SS? When you determine that, then apply what I first said ... if they are paying his salary for the remainder of the year, and only have Correa for a couple months, they are not giving us 'pretty valuable pieces' in return. You can dream of it all you want, but it's not happening.

Third, if we are contending ourselves, and we trade Correa, who plays SS? We have just made our team that much worse, and probably just took us from contending to, well, not contending.

Fourth, Correa is not obligated to tell the Twins his plans until after the season is over. Okay, maybe they can work out an extension and sign him long term. I'd be up for that, but no way is he telling us if he is going to opt in or out. But if the Twins approached him and said ... 'Tell us now what you intend or we're trading you' ... we would likely never sign another superstar player ever again. That is just a terrible way to treat a valuable employee.

Fifth, horrible, horrible thing to do to the fans and the clubhouse. Correa has had a big impact on the clubhouse and his teammates. Bad, bad, bad PR move and then some.

Lastly, supposedly, Correa said he liked playing in Minnesota. He seems to have an affection for his teammates her in MN. He and Bux make quite a pair. But ... I don't know if those are reasons for him to opt in to stay here and deny himself the opportunity to sign a long-term contract elsewhere. Part of me really hopes he stays, whatever the cost, but, that is a pipe dream.

Adding to this, he’s got two years left at current rate. 22/23 offseason will see another huge crop of free agent SS. Does Correa think he can get more on a long term deal this off-season, or next off-season (23/24)?

if it’s next, and he likes it in MN, there’s a chance he doesn’t opt out. With Royce going through surgery, what are the odds the Twins can pull off another Correa deal?

[AstrosTwins]

Trading Correa shouldn’t even be a consideration. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

On 7/21/2022 at 6:57 PM, Nine of twelve said:

Trade him (or anyone else on the roster) if someone offers to overpay. Otherwise, don't. Simple.

Yours truly, Captain Obvious

Dear Captain Obvious,

 

What does an overpay look like?

To quote Han Solo... "I don't know, i can imagine a lot."

 

Sincerely, Corporal Confused

[AstrosTwins]

20 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Adding to this, he’s got two years left at current rate. 22/23 offseason will see another huge crop of free agent SS. Does Correa think he can get more on a long term deal this off-season, or next off-season (23/24)?

if it’s next, and he likes it in MN, there’s a chance he doesn’t opt out. With Royce going through surgery, what are the odds the Twins can pull off another Correa deal?

I think, at least as I type this today, there is a very good chance Correa doesn’t opt out. While he’s having a good year, I don’t know that I see a team out there right now who would pay him $35M/year the next two years. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Should the Twins trade Brian Dozier, Eduardo Escobar, or Ryan Pressly.

Should the Twins trade Nick Gordon and Stephen Gonsalves for Gerrit Cole. Should the Twins trade Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach for Noah Syndergaard. Should the Twins trade Jose Berrios for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. Should the Twins trade Taylor Rogers for Chris Paddack and Emil Pagan.

The soothseers commenting in this thread seem to say, "No" to a Correa trade (and I agree, however ask me again on Sept. 9 when my hindsight kicks in)

[Number3]

This is like asking if the sun should be made to rise in the west tomorrow.  The insane deal that the Twins have given a slightly better than average player makes a trade impossible unless the Twins agreed to continue to pay the bulk of his contract. Correa has the Twins by their private parts and they have no say in the matter. Why even have a discussion about this? The other 29 GMs aren't dumb enough.

[strumdatjag]

On 7/21/2022 at 5:57 PM, Nine of twelve said:

Trade him (or anyone else on the roster) if someone offers to overpay. Otherwise, don't. Simple.

Yours truly, Captain Obvious

This is the most sensible position.   The Twins should not refuse to be the Dallas Cowboys trading Herschel Walker.  

[DJL44]

One more reason to be glad the trade deadline is nearly here. People will quit posting this idea soon. Or maybe they won't. Maybe every week for the rest of the season someone will make a "Should the Twins have made a Correa trade at the deadline?" post. Maybe we can re-hash the Delmon Young trade every week for the next forever too.

[Battle ur tail off]

What do you guys who want to trade him think you are going to bring back in a trade for basically 2 months of him? He isn't worth much with the contract that he has allowing him to opt out. 

You will bascially get a B level prospect for him and you will get a team and fan mutiny for trading him. I would bet my house that the FO hasn't even thought about dealing him. If they honestly do move him and it's for a guy that doesn't rate out as a surefire starting caliber MLB player, they should be fired right on the spot. 

[Battle ur tail off]

1 hour ago, Number3 said:

This is like asking if the sun should be made to rise in the west tomorrow.  The insane deal that the Twins have given a slightly better than average player makes a trade impossible unless the Twins agreed to continue to pay the bulk of his contract. Correa has the Twins by their private parts and they have no say in the matter. Why even have a discussion about this? The other 29 GMs aren't dumb enough.

Understand what kind of player this is before you talk like that. A SS that plays the gold glove caliber defense he does and also is a top of the order hitter is something that doesn't grow on trees. Slightly better than average? LOL come on now.