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  • Mets Also Have Medical Concerns about Carlos Correa

    John Bonnes

    By John Bonnes

    The calendar says it's Christmas Eve, but for the Twins, it's Groundhog Day.

    Image courtesy of © Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Stop me if you've heard this before - but Carlos Correa 's new team has concerns about his physical. This morning Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes reported that the Mets, who agreed to a $315M 12-year deal with Correa earlier this week, have medical concerns about Correa.

    Can this open the door for the Twins? Rosenthal reports that the two parties are trying to work through the news. But that news also means the agreement is in question. 

    The Mets only have that agreement because a similar drama played out earlier this week between Correa and the San Francisco Giants, who had a 13-year, $350M deal with Correa. On the day the Giants were officially scheduled to introduce Correa to their fans, they delayed the press conference due to medical concerns. As a result of those concerns, the deal fell apart, and Correa signed with the Mets later that same night. 

    Those medical concerns surrounded Correa's right leg, which has a plate due to surgery on a broken fibula in 2014 when he was a minor leaguer with the Astros. It has never landed him on the Injured List in his major league career, but there are concerns it will reduce his lateral mobility as he ages. That becomes increasingly important when signing someone for 12 years of hundreds of millions of guaranteed money.

    The Twins pursued Correa before his deal with the Giants and reportedly were also interested after that deal fell apart, but declined to raise their final offer to him, which was $285M over ten years. They also wanted to learn more about the medical concerns raised by the Giants. The Twins, however, likely have a different perspective on Correa's health, as he played 136 games for them just last year. 

    As a result of his exceptional play and the leadership he showed to their team, the Twins pursued him for the last several months and seemed to be one of the finalists for his services. But they lost him - and then lost him again. We'll see if the third time is the charm. 

    John cofounded Twins Daily and co-hosts the Gleeman and the Geek podcast. 
    Follow John Bonnes on Twitter: @TwinsGeek

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    Posted by Heezy1323,

    Here's my $0.02: (I have no insider info)

    I think the most likely scenario is that Correa fell into the Twins lap quickly last year, and everyone recognized it was most likely a 1 year arrangement. So the level of due diligence required by the medical staff is lower. Imaging of all prior nicks/bruises isn't necessary in that case.

    This time around given the commitment of 10+ years, teams were being more diligent and likely getting new imaging of any body part that had ever been treated for an injury (surgically or not). 

    My guess is that the imaging of his ankle shows some early arthritis related to the ankle fracture that was fixed 8 years ago. This is something that is essentially impossible to "fix" in the traditional sense. And it may be mild enough at this point in time that it isn't causing him any significant symptoms (hence no issue made of it last offseason). But imaging can still show some early signs of arthritis, even before a person has symptoms. My guess is that the Giants docs saw this, and said something to the effect of, "This ankle has some early arthritis. This is something that generally is going to get worse over time, at a rate that is impossible to know. As it worsens, it is likely to affect Correa's ability to perform quick movements and may require a position change. Worst case scenario, it could be progress more rapidly and be a significant hindrance to him playing at an effective level."

    There are certainly other possible explanations. This is the one that seems to fit the circumstances best as I think about it. 

    Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays all. 

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    RJA

    RJA 2,214

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I can't see Cohen allowing Correa to get away regardless of the medical issue.  They will strike a bargain of some kind to get him to NY.  Cohen wants to win, period.  It must be that he aggravated the fibula repair in some way this year.  But, he certainly didn't close the year looking like he was bothered by it as he closed strong.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    4 minutes ago, RJA said:

    I can't see Cohen allowing Correa to get away regardless of the medical issue.  They will strike a bargain of some kind to get him to NY.  Cohen wants to win, period.  It must be that he aggravated the fibula repair in some way this year.  But, he certainly didn't close the year looking like he was bothered by it as he closed strong.

     

    They didn't sign Rocker. They let DeGromm go. He's a free spender, but do we know he ignores medical advice? I have no idea at this point. I'm guessing a three year deal for 105....

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    RJA

    RJA 2,214

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    • Posted

    22 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

     

    They didn't sign Rocker. They let DeGromm go. He's a free spender, but do we know he ignores medical advice? I have no idea at this point. I'm guessing a three year deal for 105....

    I agree the contract will have to be adjusted, but I just can't see him letting him go given his behavior in the past 12 months.  He replaced deGrom with someone arguably better, or at least as good, and I think he is all in on this year.  Plus, they are playing Correa at third and I suspect they think that might protect him a bit from reinjury.  Boy, this off season has been interesting and we are only at Christmas.

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

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    • Posted

    ***Disclaimer- nutty conspiracy theory post alert****

    Is it possible, the other big market clubs with entrenched owners reached out to Cohen and said he had to knock this crap off? That they all had a good thing going and his actions may end up provoking unwanted changes? Like greater broadcast revenue sharing?

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

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    • Posted

    1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

    ***Disclaimer- nutty conspiracy theory post alert****

    Is it possible, the other big market clubs with entrenched owners reached out to Cohen and said he had to knock this crap off? That they all had a good thing going and his actions may end up provoking unwanted changes? Like greater broadcast revenue sharing?

    100%

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    jmlease1

    jmlease1 6,071

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    • Posted

    I don't know that I would rule out going for Correa. But I'd be awfully skeptical if Boras refused to let the Twins investigate the issue while demanding they raise their offer to Mets levels. "No, no...trust me!" That doesn't work when you're talking this kind of money. 

    It is a little wild that it's playing out like this. Correa was taking a significant haircut to bail on the Giants (or did the Giants bail on him?) to go to the Mets. If the Mets are now grouching about his medicals...what does that really mean?

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    DocBauer

    DocBauer 14,431

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    • Posted

    Guess it's time to post in this OP as well as the other, LOL.

    Let's say the Mets just go for it, even with an adjusted offer. No problem. Probably what ends up happening. But let's say they cut the years and the $ amount, or even want to include some sort of team option.

    Circle back to the Twins in this scenario. The Twins would have every right to A) want a physical and all pertinent information, and B) considering amending their original offer. Now, amending said offer only goes so far as I doubt the Mets would just low ball Correa. 

    But let's say the Mets drop to around 10 and $290. And even if the Twins have some concerns, they still have an opportunity to add someone special...playing the odds...that's going to probably be pretty good for at least the first half of the deal. They MIGHT still go 10yrs, but front load a bit more, and maybe drop their offer $10-20M, theoretically, and still offer an opt out after 4yrs. 

    The $ are still very close. Correa still has the ability to bet on himself in 4yrs at only age 31. Further, instead of moving to 3B, he still plays SS. Don't think I've heard anyone bring up the difference, for Correa, of still playing SS vs moving to 3B. 

    There's way too many moving parts here. And I can easily see him sticking with an adjusted offer from the Mets. But if the Twins are willing to take a bit of a risk...that might never cause an issue...they might "steal" a top ML SS for the next 4-6-7yrs for their original offer, or a slightly amended version. And Correa, and his family, might just prefer Minnesota vs NY and allow him to continue at SS for very close $, but with the option to still bet on himself in 4yrs.

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    Brandon

    Brandon 2,195

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    • Posted

    I think the other owners chimed in and said something to him along the lines of we will make sure no one goes above a certain spending amount in the next CBA if your going to spend like this.  Also the Mets are probably thinking about 12 years down the road or even 8 or 9 and wondering how Correa will hold up.  I think Correa can play another 10 years but I bet the last 3 won’t be all star caliber play.  

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    Kal Lis

    Kal Lis 52

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    • Posted

    "concerns it will reduce his lateral mobility as he ages. "

    Baseball Reference has Correa listed at 6'4, 220; he will likely lose lateral mobility even if he had not had the injury in 2014. Further, he likely will be moving to third in 5 years not matter what. There are not a ton of 33 year old major league shortstops. Also, I can't remember who reported it, but  a few scouts believe he has a couple of 40 home run seasons in him. If that's the case, first base isn't a bad option. Finally, he played well in the games after the slide that shook him up a bit. 

    It seems as if the original offer is still  a risk worth taking.

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    Nashvilletwin

    Nashvilletwin 2,097

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    • Posted

    3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

    ***Disclaimer- nutty conspiracy theory post alert****

    Is it possible, the other big market clubs with entrenched owners reached out to Cohen and said he had to knock this crap off? That they all had a good thing going and his actions may end up provoking unwanted changes? Like greater broadcast revenue sharing?

    I don’t think this totally crazy. Lots of rumours that the other owners are mad because he’s making such a joke of the luxury tax.  Plenty of talk among fans and owners that the Correa signing was bad for the league. 

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    LewFordLives

    LewFordLives 830

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    • Posted

    3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

    ***Disclaimer- nutty conspiracy theory post alert****

    Is it possible, the other big market clubs with entrenched owners reached out to Cohen and said he had to knock this crap off? That they all had a good thing going and his actions may end up provoking unwanted changes? Like greater broadcast revenue sharing?

    Maybe, although if Cohen is not dissuaded by a 90 percent luxery tax I doubt he gives a damn what the Steinbrenner's think. Rich people are weird.

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

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    • Posted

    9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

    He may just end up in a Twins uniform again… And all of their leverage is gone if New York also bows out. Correa at a discount and reduced years is an ideal situation for the Twins. 

    If they do it at a discount, they’d have to fire their team doctors right? They’d basically be saying that last year the Twins doctors were incapable of detecting what the Giants and Mets doctors did.

     

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    Vanimal46

    Vanimal46 28,724

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    • Posted

    28 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

    If they do it at a discount, they’d have to fire their team doctors right? They’d basically be saying that last year the Twins doctors were incapable of detecting what the Giants and Mets doctors did.

     

    Not necessarily. From what I’m gathering, both teams are concerned about his ability to stay healthy and effective long term into his late 30s. The risk is not as significant on a shorter term deal. 

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