What Does Carlos Correa's Return Mean for the 2023 Twins?

Acquire McCutchen or someone similar  and they’ll have an awesome lineup against LHP. 

C Vázquez

1B Miranda

2B Polanco 

SS Correa

3B Farmer

LF McCutchen/Garlick/random vet

CF Buxton

RF Gallo

DH, I’m not sure. Could put Celestino in LF and McCutchen at DH. Or one of the lefties. Or Arraez but I like giving his knees a rest against LHP. 

People will question this...because we're Minnesota sports fans.  I don't care.  I don't care about anything other than IT'S CARLOS FREAKING CORREA!!!!!!!!!

One player - even one as good as CC does not make a team as we found out in 2022. BUT - the health Gods have to be on our side this year don't they?  After last year being the experiment of getting injured to possibly never return - it HAS to be better right?

A nice blend of vets and young guys sound like a way to win if we can stay healthy.

BUT - we still have about $15M more to spend right?  A right handed OF bat would be great.  Anyone looking for a corner left hand bat we can trade for a right hand bat perhaps?  Give them Kepler and get someone who can be the next Garlick at a higher level.

NEXT STOP: WACHA!!!!!!!

The big difference last year wasn't the players it was the health management. Hopefully Pararesta can influence management to change their way to focus on keeping our players fresh & healthy throughout the season & into the post season. Some of it was bad luck but I predict that will change. 

Our BP and catching are much better. With Correa & Buxton up the middle it provides great structure to work from. Get a front line SP & we're set.

It’s a start. Now fix the outfield, add a first baseman and a quality starter and maybe , just maybe they can compete for the division. 

5 minutes ago, Unwinder said:

NEXT STOP: WACHA!!!!!!!

I'll Wacha

Since I do not buy in to Gallo, the retention of Correa keeps the status quo, but Vazquez is actually the person who moves us up a notch.  No more Sanchez and Jeffers can work on getting better.  The team is in a better situation.  I like Miranda at third, Kiriloff at 1st with Arraez, Larhach or Wallner at DH - quit looking at has beens.  We need to move forward and this can make a difference.  Now the biggest need is for Maeda and Mahle to reach the levels that were projected.  The team is feeling better if we can pull all these things together and if they are willing to pull the Gallo plug if he does not work out. 

We didn't "collapse" last season because of Correa. The injuries and the pitching, were the reason. Think of where we'd have been last year without CC.

Great. And good deal too. I think now the priority will be to build a good bullpen around Duran.  Some right hand hitting outfielder too, and some starting pitching depth?

36 minutes ago, HerbieFan said:

People will question this...because we're Minnesota sports fans.  I don't care.  I don't care about anything other than IT'S CARLOS FREAKING CORREA!!!!!!!!!

This is exactly what I am feeling today. Thanks Herbie.

22 minutes ago, CRF said:

We didn't "collapse" last season because of Correa. The injuries and the pitching, were the reason. Think of where we'd have been last year without CC.

Absolutely correct. Carlos was producing even when his team-mates were not. He is a fighter. 

I'm with you on most of this---6 yrs is a respectable contract length, not the ridiculous 10-12.  He does a lot to gel the core of the team and make the Latin players feel more at home in the TC's.

However, I am not following you here:

Correa completely changes the outlook of the current roster, especially considering the Twins are much deeper in pitching talent than they were on Opening Day in 2022. 

??

If you mean several injured pitchers coming back from substantial medical procedures that we are HOPING will be OK on the mound...........I guess I can follow your reasoning.

I still feel health is what will make the Twins better this season, but also addition by subtraction is in play here. In two ways. 

1. Sano and Sanchez are gone. Gallo is here, yes, but that's one .200 high strikeout player, not two. Plus Gallo can be an upgrade in getting on base and defensively if he rebounds at all.

2. Correa's return means the Twins don't lose his bat and glove, which is crucial. It means that Farmer is infield depth and might even allow them to move an IF via trade. But, really, not losing him means that they didn't downgrade.

Looking forward to your Podcast on this, Nash.

Correa Signing fills a huge hole at Shortstop and gives the team another potent right handed bat which are in short supply on this team.  With Correa they can now mix and match the future infield  With right handed bats Miranda, Lewis, Correa. Polanco\Lee, Martin or go more lefty with Gordon, Correa, Arraez, Jullien, Lee\Polanco.  Some of those players can also mix and match in the outfield.  Correa makes this team stronger while the young guys earn their way up.  if the pitching holds up this signing might have saved the season.  Still need good health and bounce backs from the younger players but the Twins are in much better shape now than before the signing.  Oh and only having that high AAV for 6 years helps down the road as well.  This deal is about as good as we could have hoped for.

First move should be to renovate the clubhouse.  Padded walls everywhere and get some of those airport moving walkways for the halls and tunnels. 

This is why you wait until the offseason is over to criticize the FO. And there is probably more to come.

55 minutes ago, raindog said:

Acquire McCutchen or someone similar  and they’ll have an awesome lineup against LHP. 

C Vázquez

1B Miranda

2B Polanco 

SS Correa

3B Farmer

LF McCutchen/Garlick/random vet

CF Buxton

RF Gallo

DH, I’m not sure. Could put Celestino in LF and McCutchen at DH. Or one of the lefties. Or Arraez but I like giving his knees a rest against LHP. 

Acquire McCutchen…….against lefties, he’s in Right Field. We also have 8 other RH bats to start if desired!!

Garlick in LF

Buxton in CF

Farmer at 3B

Miranda at 1B

Vazquez at DH

Jeffers at C

Correa at SS

Polanco at 2B

Hopefully, Celestino is not an option for the line-up.

I admit,  I am surprised.  But what else?  Are we all in?  If we are there has to be more.

Are there opt outs?

So hype

32 minutes ago, GeorgiaBaller said:

I'm with you on most of this---6 yrs is a respectable contract length, not the ridiculous 10-12.  He does a lot to gel the core of the team and make the Latin players feel more at home in the TC's.

However, I am not following you here:

Correa completely changes the outlook of the current roster, especially considering the Twins are much deeper in pitching talent than they were on Opening Day in 2022. 

??

If you mean several injured pitchers coming back from substantial medical procedures that we are HOPING will be OK on the mound...........I guess I can follow your reasoning.

 

Replacing Archer & Bundy with Mahle & Maeda is a definite upgrade, injuries or no. Having Varland & Woods Richardson at the next options up with them already having some MLB experience and success is also an improvement. The rotation is deeper and better than at the start of last season. There's a good argument to make that the bullpen is better positioned as well; Lopez is more talented than some of the pitchers we were running out last season, Duran is proven now, and Pagan is pushed way down the depth charts. I'm not ready to say we have the bullpen locked yet, but it's in at least as good a position as opening day last year, arguably better.

Correa is just such an upgrade at SS over Farmer. (who is a nice enough player, but much better suited to a utility role)

The Twins are much better on January 10th than they were on January 9th.

I see some trades coming with this signing...we'll see.

Correa on the team means less angst about shortstop and allows the players like Lee, Lewis, Martin, and Julien to hit/earn their way into the lineup instead of being given a slot. Still, health is needed as everyone has pointed out. 

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Since I do not buy in to Gallo, the retention of Correa keeps the status quo, but Vazquez is actually the person who moves us up a notch.  No more Sanchez and Jeffers can work on getting better.  The team is in a better situation.  I like Miranda at third, Kiriloff at 1st with Arraez, Larhach or Wallner at DH - quit looking at has beens.  We need to move forward and this can make a difference.  Now the biggest need is for Maeda and Mahle to reach the levels that were projected.  The team is feeling better if we can pull all these things together and if they are willing to pull the Gallo plug if he does not work out. 

Its not status quo when you consider a bunch of home grown kids age 22-26 that are now a year older, wiser and uninjured. Status quo was 1st place in the central by 5-8 games in June 2022. 

2 hours ago, Russ said:

I admit,  I am surprised.  But what else?  Are we all in?  If we are there has to be more.

Are there opt outs?

We have C4 for 6 years barring a trade. 7-10 in the option years if he is indeed the energizer bunny. 

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

Replacing Archer & Bundy with Mahle & Maeda is a definite upgrade, injuries or no. Having Varland & Woods Richardson at the next options up with them already having some MLB experience and success is also an improvement. The rotation is deeper and better than at the start of last season. There's a good argument to make that the bullpen is better positioned as well; Lopez is more talented than some of the pitchers we were running out last season, Duran is proven now, and Pagan is pushed way down the depth charts. I'm not ready to say we have the bullpen locked yet, but it's in at least as good a position as opening day last year, arguably better.

Correa is just such an upgrade at SS over Farmer. (who is a nice enough player, but much better suited to a utility role)

Chris Paddack is also in the mix when he returns from Tommy John surgery sometime during the year.   Still, I would like the Twins to acquire an ace.   The squeamish here will balk at Trevor Bauer, but he has the upside to boost this rotation.  Admit this at least, Twins Daily will be a more interesting place to visit if he is added.  
Trevor Bauer is nowhere near the number of second chances that the Twins gave to Steve Howe!!!!