Lol. Mets Owner Steve Cohen Gets Petty on Twitter about Carlos Correa

[John Bonnes]

The Twins' pursuit of Carlos Correa continues today with growing evidence that Correa’s agreement with the Mets is in trouble. The latest? Mets’ owner Steve Cohen took to Twitter to “like” Mets fans' tweets expressing their indifference to Correa joining the Mets.

Image courtesy of Brad Perner -USA TODAY Sports

The ongoing Mets negotiations with Carlos Corea and the agreed upon 12-year, $315M deal have dragged on for weeks after the Mets expressed concerns about Correa’s surgically repaired right leg. But there has always been optimism from both sides that a dea would get done because Cohen tends to get what he wants. And Cohen wanted Correa.

His attitude might have changed. 

Cohen is not active on Twitter; his last tweet was back in November. Before today, the last tweet he liked was a Mets fan espousing signing Carlos Correa almost a month ago. But today he found a few that he liked that have a little different slant.

“Met fans? Don’t panic. In the event this isn’t a ploy remember, the Mets have options in either Escobar or a young gun in Baty. I want Carlos, but he needs the Mets more than they need him. Plus his options are shrinking. Stay the course. #lgm #nymets #MetsTwitter”

That was posted by @Adrian16010, discussing a story about how the Mets had grown “very frustrated” with the weeks-long negotiations they’ve had with Correa’s agent, Scott Boras. But Cohen wasn’t done. He also liked this one:

“We are already a better team than we were this time last year. Remember... We won 101 games last year. That's because of the commitment Steve Cohen has made to the team and fans. Whether the Correa deal works out not, it's great to have an owner willing to do anything to win!” - @BruceGamsey

This isn’t the only evidence that the chances of the Mets and Correa reaching an agreement could be fading. The aforementioned SNY’s story by Andy Martino yesterday claimed that a Mets source said the team was very frustrated and considering walking away. Later yesterday, Jim Bowden insisted that the Twins have again become a legitimate candidate on MLB Network Radio. 

 

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[h2oface]

Are the Twins the only team that looks past all the red flags instead of seeing them for what they are?

[JDubs]

It would be just about the most Minnesota thing ever to get the best free agent in franchise history largely because everyone else decided they don't want him.

[AceWrigley]

Send Kent Hrbek to visit Carlos. He can sit on him until he agrees to sign a Twins contract. Just ask Frank Viola.

[nicksaviking]

While certainly jealous, I didn’t begrudge the Mets and their new owner and his crazy spending.

This is totally unacceptable and unprofessional though. The Mets KNEW the Giants had medical concerns and still offered that deal. Now they want to renegotiate? Fine, they can ask, but spare us the dramatics. They have zero right to be indignant and passive aggressive. 
 

And if they think passive aggressiveness is going to get the job done, ha, good luck! Upper Midwesterners are the kings of passive aggressiveness. You’re playing on our turf now.

[DocBauer]

Pure speculation on my part, but it almost feels as though the Mets are looking for an "out" at this point, or are pushing Boras and Correa to walk away.

It's still not hard to imagine another team swooping in for a somewhat similar type of deal and grabbing Correa. I'm of the opinion the Twins HAVE been talking to Boras and not simply making a courtesy call to wish everyone a Happy New Year. No clue whatsoever if the original offer is on the table, slightly amended, or more than slightly amended. But I think there has been real conversation about a possible deal.

Again, I'm just speculating/spitballing here, but I'm thinking 8-10yrs with a bump the first 3-4yrs in AAV to keep the total $ close to their original offer, an opt out after 3 or 4 years for Correa to bet on himself, and then slowly decreasing $ values per year to decrease payroll "burden" if/as Correa begins to slide in the later years.

This accomplishes more than a few items :

1] The Twins get a prime player for his prime years, even if he opts out at some point. A prime player who has been healthy the past few years, and was to close out 2022.

2] Correa and Boras both save face with a high $ and year deal with guaranteed $ over the entire contract. And, as mentioned, Correa gets to bet on himself and opt out in about 4yrs, showing everyone he's still fine, and look for another deal at 32yo.

3] Despite the fact that team incomes and payrolls will continue to rise over the next few years...and a $20M ish AAV by then will be the equivalent of about $14-15M now...the Twins payroll is better "protected" for any decline at that point to allow greater flexibility for signings and extensions and the such.

NOT SAYING this is going to happen. But I CAN see it happening as it makes sense and I see the Mets deal just falling apart at this time.

[CRF]

I honestly don't care who he signs with anymore. I just would like it to be over. I'm tired of the whole mess. 

[mikelink45]

Okay - sign Correa, but be realistic - two major teams with lots of resources backed off.  I know our attitude is that we can fix everyone and our records that....well it is an attitude.  But let's not be stupid - five years.  A team like the Mets or Giants can live with sunk costs, we cannot.  The leverage should be ours.  Not to rub Correa's nose in it, but the original offer should no longer be in place. 

[mikelink45]

News flash - Boras says - I have another team that will spend more. 

Cohen says, go to them, bring their best offer, we will tweak it and you will have your contract.

The Twins tried, but come in second again.

[se7799]

3 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Okay - sign Correa, but be realistic - two major teams with lots of resources backed off.  I know our attitude is that we can fix everyone and our records that....well it is an attitude.  But let's not be stupid - five years.  A team like the Mets or Giants can live with sunk costs, we cannot.  The leverage should be ours.  Not to rub Correa's nose in it, but the original offer should no longer be in place. 

Here's my thing.  We signed Donaldson to what a 120 million starting at age 34 or 35...not sure exact age but it was definitely past his prime years.  This is our chance to sign a better player at age 27.  That gives us AT  least 8 years before he would be the age of what Donaldson was.  Think about that.  Also spend money on a star..or pay 3 different underperfoming old veterans every year for 10 million each.  No thanks!  Sign Archer, Bundy, and whoever for totally of 30 million.  OR sign Correa for 35 million a year?

[RJA]

This may be a soap opera, but if the Twins sign Correa they are a much better baseball team, both offensively and defensively, and they have a natural leader. 

[HerbieFan]

I don't get why so many are of the "I'm sick of it/don't care where he signs/etc".  People...he is one of the best players in all of baseball.  I know there's fear of effectiveness/health at the end of the deal, but if the Twins can add him I don't see any reason not to be just as excited as we were when they snagged him last spring.  Let's say sign him for 8 years/$240 million and then he's "Carlos Correa" and is an all-star SS for the next five years.  Front load the contract so he gets $35mil for the first five years and give him $20-25mil the last three.  Maybe you have to move him to 3B for the rest of the deal.  Five years from now that 20-25 mil won't be near the albatross it would be now.  

[MickeyRuth]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

While certainly jealous, I didn’t begrudge the Mets and their new owner and his crazy spending.

This is totally unacceptable and unprofessional though. The Mets KNEW the Giants had medical concerns and still offered that deal. Now they want to renegotiate? Fine, they can ask, but spare us the dramatics. They have zero right to be indignant and passive aggressive. 
 

And if they think passive aggressiveness is going to get the job done, ha, good luck! Upper Midwesterners are the kings of passive aggressiveness. You’re playing on our turf now.

I dont think entering into a passive aggressive battle with someone worth 18B is the smartest thing to do but sure… 

[darwin22]

2 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

Send Kent Hrbek to visit Carlos. He can sit on him until he agrees to sign a Twins contract. Just ask Frank Viola.

If Hrbek is unavailable for this (ice fishing), I'm sure Matt "cheeseburger" LuCroy could fill in.

[Whitey333]

I don't understand this continues infatuation with Correa.  Two major league teams have major concerns about his leg.  Concerns big enough that they haven't signed him.  Do the Twins have special doctors that are smarter than the doctors in San Francisco and New York?   I doubt it.  One only needs to look at the long injury list the Twins have.  Twins need more than Correa to be serious contenders.  IMO this can only work if payroll increases enough to improve the many areas on the team that need it.  Otherwise all you have is a boring team with a losing record playing boring baseball.  Like many I am sick of the whole Carlos Correa soap box.  It needs to end.

[jorgenswest]

The injury risks provides the opportunity for a mid/small market team to sign an elite player. I would take the risk. 

[mnfireman]

Go with the original 10/$285, but no opt-outs/player options. After 5 years, vesting/team options and/or performance based incentives could increase contract value, something along the lines of Buxton's.

[PatPfund]

Offer Correa $35 million a year for two years and he can opt out after next season (which essentially allows him a do-over on this year's opt out). It would be the highest AAV offer he's seen, and allow him to bet again on himself if he wants to opt out after 2023. 

Carlos gets another short-term answer, the Twins get an impact bat (having let more cost-effective ones at other positions) that can play (for now) great defense. I doubt he takes the offer, but the Twins will at least have put the best offer (in AAV) on the table.

If he walks, I'm fine with that, because in three years he will likely be starting the downside of his career. Shortstops don't generally age well; at Correa's age Andrelton Simmons was the best SS glove in the game, at 32 he may be headed out of baseball. Troy Tulowitzki had his last season above 1 WAR at 31, and was out of baseball three injury-wrecked seasons later. Nomar Garciaparra was fabulous. Until he turned 29; over the next 5 years he accumulated a total of about 3 WAR (or less than a game better than Replacement per year, and two were below Replacement (and he was out of baseball at 35). Sure, there are taller SS examples with longer careers like Ripken and Jeter, but Correa's probably already missed more games that either (possibly both combined), and he has that plate in his leg.

My guess is that his leg is healthy short term, but the book on a bolted together bone gets statistically grim in the 30s (and as the Strib or Athletic pointed out, the bat doesn't really play for that money without the elite SS defense). If he goes long term someone else should make that mistake.

(Also, the assumption that salaries will always rise is pretty dicey given baseball's falling ratings and aging fan-base. That will have serious media revenue bite in the coming years.)

[roger]

I continue to be concerned with what the dollars will mean when we need to extend Miranda, Royce, Lee, AK, Larnach and Rodriguez beginning in four or five years.  For that reason I am fine waiting for Lewis to be our shortstop sometime this summer.

On the other hand, it isn’t smart of Mr. Cohen to disrespect a young Latin man.  Certainly not if he really wants him playing for the Mets.

[PseudoSABR]

21 minutes ago, roger said:

I continue to be concerned with what the dollars will mean when we need to extend Miranda, Royce, Lee, AK, Larnach and Rodriguez beginning in four or five years.  

I appreciate your forward thinking; but I'm not sure any one of those players will even be worth extending.  And Correa hedges against the lack of internal player development.

[Boswell]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

And if they think passive aggressiveness is going to get the job done, ha, good luck! Upper Midwesterners are the kings of passive aggressiveness. You’re playing on our turf now.

My response to “Correamas” continues to be: No Jucy Lucys for you!

On the other hand, Twins Daily readers could reach out to Matt’s Bar and see if $1000 would cover a lifetime supply of those tasty burgers for Mr. Correa in the event of a 2023 contract.  I’ll pony up $100 if anyone else would like to match me!  Great cross-branding opportunity to get our guy a “Platinum Card” at a real Minnesota institution.  
 

Who needs Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and whatnot anyway?

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, se7799 said:

Here's my thing.  We signed Donaldson to what a 120 million starting at age 34 or 35...not sure exact age but it was definitely past his prime years.  This is our chance to sign a better player at age 27.  That gives us AT  least 8 years before he would be the age of what Donaldson was.  Think about that.  Also spend money on a star..or pay 3 different underperfoming old veterans every year for 10 million each.  No thanks!  Sign Archer, Bundy, and whoever for totally of 30 million.  OR sign Correa for 35 million a year?

Are the people with SF and NY stupid?  Are their medical staffs incompetent.  Yes sign Correa, but stop the multiple years.

[PseudoSABR]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

The injury risks provides the opportunity for a mid/small market team to sign an elite player. I would take the risk. 

This.  Without the injury concern the Twins would hardly be in the running. 

[h2oface]

Even the Albatrosses are trying to warn the Twins!!!

[sweetmusicviola16]

23 minutes ago, PseudoSABR said:

I appreciate your forward thinking; but I'm not sure any one of those players will even be worth extending.  And Correa hedges against the lack of internal player development.

We've head that old argument for forever. Since Target opened 13 calendar years ago we've resigned Mauer, Dobnak, Polanco, Kepler, Sano and Buxton to long term contracts. Who am I missing? So few are signed, so few are worth resigning. It's a silly argument and well overused.

[h2oface]

27 minutes ago, Boswell said:

My response to “Correamas” continues to be: No Jucy Lucys for you!

On the other hand, Twins Daily readers could reach out to Matt’s Bar and see if $1000 would cover a lifetime supply of those tasty burgers for Mr. Correa in the event of a 2023 contract.  I’ll pony up $100 if anyone else would like to match me!  Great cross-branding opportunity to get our guy a “Platinum Card” at a real Minnesota institution.  
 

Who needs Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and whatnot anyway?

It looks like he can be had by shopping at the Thrift Store now. But well used. Only good for a couple more years......

[h2oface]

4 hours ago, se7799 said:

Here's my thing.  We signed Donaldson to what a 120 million starting at age 34 or 35...not sure exact age but it was definitely past his prime years.  This is our chance to sign a better player at age 27.  That gives us AT  least 8 years before he would be the age of what Donaldson was.  Think about that.  Also spend money on a star..or pay 3 different underperfoming old veterans every year for 10 million each.  No thanks!  Sign Archer, Bundy, and whoever for totally of 30 million.  OR sign Correa for 35 million a year?

Just as a point of intereset, not even close to 120 million. Donaldson signed a 4 year $92 million gauranteed at 34. 

[dxpavelka]

Relax boys & girls.  Cohen liked those tweets cuz they're about kissing his ass.

[Nashvilletwin]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Upper Midwesterners are the kings of passive aggressiveness

Hilarious. So true. Minnesotans are #1 in PA.

[Paul Walerius]

2 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

I don't understand this continues infatuation with Correa.  Two major league teams have major concerns about his leg.  Concerns big enough that they haven't signed him.  Do the Twins have special doctors that are smarter than the doctors in San Francisco and New York?   I doubt it.  One only needs to look at the long injury list the Twins have.  Twins need more than Correa to be serious contenders.  IMO this can only work if payroll increases enough to improve the many areas on the team that need it.  Otherwise all you have is a boring team with a losing record playing boring baseball.  Like many I am sick of the whole Carlos Correa soap box.  It needs to end.

The Twins were winning the division by a mile until the injuries stacked too high.   If Correa does end up here you would think that could continue.    Are they a WS contender with Correa, my guesses are not yet, but they are not boring...IMO.