Twins meeting with Correa and willing to offer 10 year deal with multiple opt outs

I can't see Correa signing until Judge signs but it sounds like the Giants have the money for Judge or Correa maybe even both if they want to stretch the payroll.  Hopefully he likes Minnesota enough to work out a deal but the odds still feel long to me.  I can't say I love the 10 year high AAV deals for players as they turn on the team faster than you would like but it would be nice to have short solved for the next five to 6 years.  At least the Twins are actually in this one.

How does a 10 year deal with a no trade clause and multiple opt-outs make any sense for the Twins. If Correa does really well, every few years he can go back and demand more money elsewhere. If he lays an egg and starts hitting in the low .200s, we are bound to pay him 30+ million per year. He is already only a borderline great player. He could easily go either way. 

17 minutes ago, Muppet said:

How does a 10 year deal with a no trade clause and multiple opt-outs make any sense for the Twins. If Correa does really well, every few years he can go back and demand more money elsewhere. If he lays an egg and starts hitting in the low .200s, we are bound to pay him 30+ million per year. He is already only a borderline great player. He could easily go either way. 

There's no reason to believe he'll fall off a cliff like that anytime soon unless you're really worried about his back. I don't think it's as much of a coin toss as you're making it out to be. He is a decorated professional for a reason. In his first 8 years he was a 129 OPS+ hitter. He will start to drop off once he starts to approach and eclipse his mid 30s, but he's in the middle of his prime now, and with how money is trending in baseball at the end of the 10 years what we're paying him won't be nearly as massive as it seems today. You throw in intangibles like leadership, clubhouse presence, etc.. I think he's worth the splash. More so than any other FA not named Aaron Judge. 

I also personally feel like this FO NEEDS to prove to the fanbase they're willing to go for it and not live in mediocrity forever, or commit to a rebuild. I'm begging for a Correa resigning at this point.

2 hours ago, Dman said:

At least the Twins are actually in this one.

Not trying to nitpick your comment at all by highlighting your closing remark, because I 100% agree.  However, in many ways, I would rather they be out on him if they lose him because I just don't want to be crushed again.  This signing to me is about so much more than the player.  It is Kirby Puckett in 1992 all over again.  If that comparison seems off, let me explain.  

Puckett was being courted by the Phillies and Red Sox in the offseason of 1991-92.  And while I don't expect Correa to sign for a hometown discount when he's only been here for one season, I like the idea that the Twins will compete in this market when they absolutely have to -- and keep their own.  Because all we've been spoon fed since that off-season is that the Twins cannot compete with the large market teams.  And while that may be true, I like to think that baseball is not so broken that the best players will always sign elsewhere (even if THAT is true). 

I loved Johan Santana in his prime.  I hated always hearing that he was the next Yankees ace.  So to me, this signing would be more than Correa - who, admittedly I am also very high on. 

Anyone else actually encouraged by the 11 year $300M deal Trea Turner just signed?  Not necessarily the length, but the annual salary?   I expected a higher per season. 

21 minutes ago, TeJayDubz said:

There's no reason to believe he'll fall off a cliff like that anytime soon unless you're really worried about his back. I don't think it's as much of a coin toss as you're making it out to be. He is a decorated professional for a reason. In his first 8 years he was a 129 OPS+ hitter. He will start to drop off once he starts to approach and eclipse his mid 30s, but he's in the middle of his prime now, and with how money is trending in baseball at the end of the 10 years what we're paying him won't be nearly as massive as it seems today. You throw in intangibles like leadership, clubhouse presence, etc.. I think he's worth the splash. More so than any other FA not named Aaron Judge. 

 

I also personally feel like this FO NEEDS to prove to the fanbase they're willing to go for it and not live in mediocrity forever, or commit to a rebuild. I'm begging for a Correa resigning at this point.

Yeah, falling off the cliff isn't inevitable. I'm just worried that if he keeps it up, he'll just jettison the Twins for a better deal in 2-3 years. If he DOES start to drop off, we're stuck with him. Don't get me wrong. He's a great player and I hope he stays with the Twins... but I do think he's a tad overrated, but still a great player. 

41 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I'll preface this by saying I really don't like the 10 year + no trade bit either.  But, this team does need a SS.  There's no real in-house option that is healthy at the moment.  And if Lewis does come back, he's still not an established player.  There are still questions (though, he passed the eye test to me).  And just because he's got a no trade, that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be willing to waive it.  Obviously there is risk there though.  He's entering what should be his prime years, so if you're going to spend the money, it's probably the best fit and situation in which to do it.

I guess the best case scenario is that we sign him for tons of money, he has 4-5 great years here, then leaves for the Yankees and starts to go south... We get his best years, then the Yankees get stuck with the ginormous salary of an overpaid has-been. 

Kind of surprised there is this much movement this early in Free Agency.  Past years it seemed like it took forever for the first domino to fall.

24 minutes ago, bap3141 said:

Anyone else actually encouraged by the 11 year $300M deal Trea Turner just signed?  Not necessarily the length, but the annual salary?   I expected a higher per season. 

I don't know; No muss, no fuss. What if he's looking at it as a "one and done" situation? Retire at 40 and never need to work again. Not that he couldn't do that with 7/225, but it's not 'hamstringing' a team either. Bet it's nice to have it done and out of the way.

1 hour ago, wsnydes said:

I'll preface this by saying I really don't like the 10 year + no trade bit either.  But, this team does need a SS.  There's no real in-house option that is healthy at the moment.  And if Lewis does come back, he's still not an established player.  There are still questions (though, he passed the eye test to me).  And just because he's got a no trade, that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be willing to waive it.  Obviously there is risk there though.  He's entering what should be his prime years, so if you're going to spend the money, it's probably the best fit and situation in which to do it.

"At the moment" is the most important phrase here. Our three best non-pitcher prospects are all shortstops, This is only a position of weakness for a few months or perhaps one season if at least one of them pans out.

Are we really that all-in on 2023 that we want to commit debilitating (for future years' budgets) money for this year? If last season showed us anything it is that this team is NOT a Carlos Correa away from being a contender.

1 hour ago, bap3141 said:

Not trying to nitpick your comment at all by highlighting your closing remark, because I 100% agree.  However, in many ways, I would rather they be out on him if they lose him because I just don't want to be crushed again.  This signing to me is about so much more than the player.  It is Kirby Puckett in 1992 all over again.  If that comparison seems off, let me explain.  

 

Puckett was being courted by the Phillies and Red Sox in the offseason of 1991-92.  And while I don't expect Correa to sign for a hometown discount when he's only been here for one season, I like the idea that the Twins will compete in this market when they absolutely have to -- and keep their own.  Because all we've been spoon fed since that off-season is that the Twins cannot compete with the large market teams.  And while that may be true, I like to think that baseball is not so broken that the best players will always sign elsewhere (even if THAT is true). 

 

I loved Johan Santana in his prime.  I hated always hearing that he was the next Yankees ace.  So to me, this signing would be more than Correa - who I admittedly I am also very high. 

 

 

 

On thing to note about Kirby, is that was back when no top stars left, because the league had the wink wink we will not outbid you for your star and keep the salaries low.  That is why there was the 95 strike because teams were not offering much to big name FA.  Sure some would jump ship around then, Bonds, who went to his home town, or guys at ends of careers when other teams were done with them. 

This is a top guy in a market where guys keep moving.  

Just saw Turner signed 11 year 300 mil.  Wonder how that will affect Correa.  Turner took more years less per year, but Correa is considered better.  No details yet on if any opt outs. 

1 hour ago, Muppet said:

How does a 10 year deal with a no trade clause and multiple opt-outs make any sense for the Twins. If Correa does really well, every few years he can go back and demand more money elsewhere. If he lays an egg and starts hitting in the low .200s, we are bound to pay him 30+ million per year. He is already only a borderline great player. He could easily go either way. 

I agree, it is very player friendly, which is why it shows they are serious about bringing him back.  If he walks away it is not because we did not offer him a player friendly deal, unless the money is low.  No rumors on what the money offers have been.  

Borras loves to hold out and watch the market start to develop, so he can use the lack of supply to increase the bidding.  Turner just took a deal, taking a top SS of the market.  Sure it decreases teams bidding on Correa, but now the teams left know there is one less pivot open. 

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Boras has maybe the three biggest free agents left in Correa, Bogaerts and Rodon. My guess is that nothing will come together during the Winter Meetings, but with how the big time pitchers are flying off the board now, I doubt Boras would waste his time and dally around with a façade of a meeting. It's most likely all legit.

Let's "Nike" the deal. Just do it. 

I expect Bogaert to be next.

18 minutes ago, Trov said:

On thing to note about Kirby, is that was back when no top stars left, because the league had the wink wink we will not outbid you for your star and keep the salaries low.  That is why there was the 95 strike because teams were not offering much to big name FA.  Sure some would jump ship around then, Bonds, who went to his home town, or guys at ends of careers when other teams were done with them. 

This is a top guy in a market where guys keep moving.  

The Red Sox did offer more to Kirby than the Twins and the Phillies were very interested.  Bonds and Maddux also signed that off-season with different teams and the Yankees were in on both -- until the 11th hour with Bonds.

I know things were a little different back then but we did see a lot of movement of big names starting in the early 1990's - Strawberry, Bonilla, Bonds, Maddux, Gaetti (ha!), Murray, etc.  I do agree that Correa is a top guy on a market where players are constantly moving -- which is why I really like the idea of signing Correa, as much as the player itself.  I just want to see this team lock up a big name to show that it can be done.  And Correa is the right guy to do it with, in my opinion.