Carlos Correa and the Mets (yes, that's correct) agree on a 12-year, $315m deal

[radsoxfan]

Did you make anything of the anecdote about his "hard slide" in September, or is that pretty much a red herring?

I don't make too much of it, other than the idea that his ankle still bothers him sometimes.

These can be tricky complex injuries at the ankle, and often the fibula fracture is only a small part of the problem. Very unlikely the fracture itself 10 years later is the main issue.

He probably has some associated ligament tears, scarring, instability, and arthritis that's much worse than typical "wear and tear". Maybe no one will insure the contract and they are going to either shorten the deal or have some games played incentive-type language added to get it to the finish line.

 

[Marciano490]

View: https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/1606743587240165377?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

View: https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/1606744108529221633

I still don’t understand why they have bags instead of plates everywhere.

Is this like a Big Bags conspiracy thing? Because plates are undoubtedly safer right?

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I still don’t understand why they have bags instead of plates everywhere.

Is this like a Big Bags conspiracy thing? Because plates are undoubtedly safer right?

A plate would be a lot harder for a first baseman, who generally feels for the bag to make sure he's touching, while awaiting the throw. I don't know what he would do if there wasn't something with some texture.

 

[Murby]

A plate would be a lot harder for a first baseman, who generally feels for the bag to make sure he's touching, while awaiting the throw. I don't know what he would do if there wasn't something with some texture.

Moreover, folks going from first to second use the bag to complete pop-up slides. The pop-up helps protect the defensive player covering the bag and perhaps preparing to turn the double-play. Taking the bag away also would essentially force the runner to go in hands first, which likely leads to more hand/wrist injuries.

I’m not sure what a good solution is here. There are pluses and minuses to each option.

 

[edoug]

Cleats on a plate can be problematic as well. Every time you have to run hard to first could be dangerous.

 

[Marciano490]

This also feels like one of those - we sent a man to the moon problems. If not for inertia I’m sure there are a bunch of superior workable solutions, and the inertia is surprising because it seems like a low cost way to cut needless injuries.

 

[jbupstate]

Bags allow a 1B to stretch on throws and a touch point that keeps their foot out of the runners way. Way more injuries if runners are stepping / tripping over 1B foot.

Properly rounding a bag with left foot hitting the inside corner allows the right foot to cross over keeping speed.

As said above - no bag with cleats would be dangerous. Runners would take serious headers and over slides would lead to more spiking.

I’ve seen too many young players injured in wet conditions sliding on home plate.

No real point. I’m getting older.

 

[brandonchristensen]

I don’t understand why first base isn’t a double bag so the runner can go through in foul territory.

 

[Marciano490]

I don’t understand why first base isn’t a double bag so the runner can go through in foul territory.

Common misconception. Double bags are not in fact safer.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Common misconception. Double bags are not in fact safer.

Really? Because turning on them is more difficult?

Seems like it would cause less ankle stomps. What’s the data say and why?

 

[Marciano490]

It was a condom joke.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

It was a condom joke.

All the questions are still relevant though….

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

If this Mets deal falls through… Maybe offer 3/$121 for Correa? No opt outs. Beats Judge’s AAV but eliminates the long term risk. If insuring the contract is the problem, that might be the best he can hope for. That, or a medium term, much lower AAV deal in the Semien range. Looks like teams aren’t going to want to give him 10+ years or $200M+.

 

[Average Reds]

If this Mets deal falls through… Maybe offer 3/$121 for Correa? No opt outs. Beats Judge’s AAV but eliminates the long term risk. If insuring the contract is the problem, that might be the best he can hope for. That, or a medium term, much lower AAV deal in the Semien range. Looks like teams aren’t going to want to give him 10+ years or $200M+.

They’ll put minimal protections in the contract, but I think both the Mets and Correa/Boras are motivated to make this work.

 

[E5 Yaz]

They’ll put minimal protections in the contract, but I think both the Mets and Correa/Boras are motivated to make this work.

I agree ... but I'm rooting for chaos

 

[Average Reds]

Oh, I’m rooting for cataclysmic destruction. I just don’t think we’ll get it.

I do believe that the Mets front office is somewhat terrified of the deal, because they know that they are unlikely to get anything close to 12 years of production from Correa*. The problem with this is that their owner has different priorities and he writes the checks. Since the front office can’t fire the owner, my assumption is that the deal is almost certainly getting done.

*If he truly does have the kind of ankle arthritis described upthread, he’s living on borrowed time, in the sense that his ability to perform at an elite level will, at some point, degrade quickly.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

I don’t understand why first base isn’t a double bag so the runner can go through in foul territory.

Harder to judge a foul ball that hits the bag.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Harder to judge a foul ball that hits the bag.

Put chalk on it!

 

[brandonchristensen]

It was a condom joke.

It’s 99.9% effective.

 

[snowmanny]

They’ll put minimal protections in the contract, but I think both the Mets and Correa/Boras are motivated to make this work.

I agree ... but I'm rooting for chaos

Yeah me too but I’m sure they are negotiating and have it all under control.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Yeah me too but I’m sure they are negotiating and have it all under control.

View attachment 59370

Unless, of course, they 86 the entire contract

 

[OCD SS]

Thought I saw a few reports that it will be much harder for the Mets to get out of the contract without a grievance being filed based on Cohen’s public comments. The Giants wisely did not say anything, which was frustrating for their fans, but wasn’t actionable.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I still think the Mets and Correa will get something worked out. But if they don't, I will be very surprised if the Mets can't get out of an unsigned contract.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I still think the Mets and Correa will get something worked out. But if they don't, I will be very surprised if the Mets can't get out of an unsigned contract.

I’m beginning to think he’s going to start going super high salary year to year- $37-42M per season.

 

[Mantush]

Can’t they put in a similar clause to the John Lackey contract? They can go with a short, high AAV contract with injury provisions that kick in if he misses X games?

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Can’t they put in a similar clause to the John Lackey contract? They can go with a short, high AAV contract with injury provisions that kick in if he misses X games?

They can…. It’s a gamble now that they’d have to agree to. I’d be pissed at Boras but if he’s confident in his health he could make that whole contract up in 4 years before settling in for a lower paying 4-6 year deal up to retirement

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Presumably Mets can’t get insurance on the deal and that’s part of the risk profile here right? If indeed it is a degenerative injury that really impacts the later years of a 12 year deal

 

[E5 Yaz]

Jon Heyman, professional water carrier

The holdup, which was learned about Saturday, is believed to regard ankle surgery done in 2014, and a subsequent MRI.
Before the holiday momentarily interceded, the sides were discussing the value of an iffy MRI versus the “functionality” of the joint and Correa’s history of dependability — he’s missed only an average of 14 games the past three seasons, and according to agent Scott Boras has never received any related treatment since that 2014 surgery.

"The value of an iffy MRI" must have been worth a few Boras Bucks
https://nypost.com/2022/12/25/mets-carlos-correa-optimistic-deal-will-work-out-after-concerns/

 

[nattysez]

What's the point of carrying Boras's water if he refuses to let you quote him when the chips are down?

"The Mets and Correa’s camp have been said to be..."
"Word is that..."
"Correa is said to be..."
"Correa was said to be..."
"Much of the talk following..."

 

[E5 Yaz]

What's the point of carrying Boras's water if he refuses to let you quote him when the chips are down?

"The Mets and Correa’s camp have been said to be..."
"Word is that..."
"Correa is said to be..."
"Correa was said to be..."
"Much of the talk following..."

That Heyman "hiding" his source

 

[OCD SS]

I still think the Mets and Correa will get something worked out. But if they don't, I will be very surprised if the Mets can't get out of an unsigned contract.

I didn’t say anything about the Mets being forced to honor the contract, just that Boras’s camp might have grounds for a grievance (per other reports/ discussion). If that’s actually the case, it probably makes it more likely the sides work the details out.

 

[Marciano490]

Jon Heyman, professional water carrier



"The value of an iffy MRI" must have been worth a few Boras Bucks
https://nypost.com/2022/12/25/mets-carlos-correa-optimistic-deal-will-work-out-after-concerns/

It’s shitty writing. An “iffy MRI” also sounds like an inclusive mri that causes concern.

 

[E5 Yaz]

It’s shitty writing. An “iffy MRI” also sounds like an inclusive mri that causes concern.

either way it comes across and pro-Correa

 

[DeadlySplitter]

That is a nonsense article. As quoted, "the value of an iffy MRI" ... they take the damn MRI to try to gauge future performance. There's no comparison to make to past performance.

I honestly think Boras might be getting desperate here after reading that piece.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Common misconception. Double bags are not in fact safer.

What if the base runner is Catholic?

 

[Marciano490]

What if the base runner is Catholic?

Backdoor slider.

 

[GB5]

The Astros had him for years and had access to his Medicals abs despite excellent performance on the field made basically little to no effort to go long term with him.

SF needed him, but saw his Medicals,, knew they were going to get skewered in the court of public opinion for doing so, but still said adios.

The Mets we’re doing victory laps in public for grabbing him, they have exploded their payroll and are now closing in on one week without a resolution to the medical issue.

Can we fairly say that whatever the medical issue is it has been significantly flagged by three different organizations as severely troublesome, and there is a big time problem.
The Twins are the outlier here.

 

[Marciano490]

I don’t do this for a living, but if I’m about to give one dude $300 million and he has a hangnail or an impacted molar - I’m bringing in a team of experts.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I don’t do this for a living, but if I’m about to give one dude $300 million and he has a hangnail or an impacted molar - I’m bringing in a team of experts.

The argument I’ve heard that makes a lot of sense is that teams simply can’t insure the contract against such obvious risks. I assume if the Mets or Giants could, they’d sign him anyway.

 

[Van Everyman]

Jon Heyman, professional water carrier



"The value of an iffy MRI" must have been worth a few Boras Bucks
https://nypost.com/2022/12/25/mets-carlos-correa-optimistic-deal-will-work-out-after-concerns/

What's the point of carrying Boras's water if he refuses to let you quote him when the chips are down?

"The Mets and Correa’s camp have been said to be..."
"Word is that..."
"Correa is said to be..."
"Correa was said to be..."
"Much of the talk following..."

That Heyman "hiding" his source

Slightly OT, but is it just me or is there an increasing number of access journalists in sports? I’m sure there has always been some number of these guys kicking around. But between Heyman, Woj/Shams, Schefter and Rappaport, more and more sports reporters seem to be primarily just funneling “news” from a source to the headlines with zero filter, fact checking or additional reporting.

Is it social media and the need to be “first”? Is it leagues, teams and agents feeling a greater need to be controlling the flow of information? Sports beats used to be one of of the places great journalists cut their teeth. Is that changing?

 

[Marciano490]

Slightly OT, but is it just me or is there an increasing number of access journalists in sports? I’m sure there has always been some number of these guys kicking around. But between Heyman, Woj/Shams, Schefter and Rappaport, more and more sports reporters seem to be primarily just funneling “news” from a source to the headlines with zero filter, fact checking or additional reporting.

Is it social media and the need to be “first”? Is it leagues, teams and agents feeling a greater need to be controlling the flow of information? Sports beats used to be one of of the places great journalists cut their teeth. Is that changing?

Probably one of those things where every generation thinks the same problem has arisen anew. Access journalism was probably much more prevalent when they were hiding all sorts of sketchy stories for the players.

 

[jon abbey]

The Astros had him for years and had access to his Medicals abs despite excellent performance on the field made basically little to no effort to go long term with him.

SF needed him, but saw his Medicals,, knew they were going to get skewered in the court of public opinion for doing so, but still said adios.

The Mets we’re doing victory laps in public for grabbing him, they have exploded their payroll and are now closing in on one week without a resolution to the medical issue.

Can we fairly say that whatever the medical issue is it has been significantly flagged by three different organizations as severely troublesome, and there is a big time problem.
The Twins are the outlier here.

I wouldn’t put the Astros in there, they let Springer and Cole and Verlander go also, plus they had a pretty good replacement ready to go in Pena.

 

[E5 Yaz]

But the belief is Correa — whose strong preference is to play for the Mets — isn’t open to restructuring the length or financial terms of the contract. At least three teams have been in contact with Correa’s camp in recent days, but Correa remains committed for now to trying to finalize his deal with the Mets.

https://nypost.com/2022/12/26/mets-carlos-correa-mum-on-status-of-negotiations-after-holdup/

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I wouldn’t put the Astros in there, they let Springer and Cole and Verlander go also, plus they had a pretty good replacement ready to go in Pena.

I'd also be hesitant to categorize the Giants as saying "adios" to Correa. With the timing of that whole thing, it seems like it was Correa and Boras that walked away from the Giants first. Like the Giants saw the medicals and said "wait a minute, we want to discuss this" and Correa and Boras took that opportunity to run to the Mets. I don't think the Giants necessarily were ready to walk away entirely, nor do the Mets appear like they're ready to do that either.

I suspect that some of the blame for why it seems to be taking so long to resolve is the holidays more so than a dire concern or impassible disagreement over the old injury.

 

[Yaz4Ever]

https://nypost.com/2022/12/26/mets-carlos-correa-mum-on-status-of-negotiations-after-holdup/

I have to believe that we are one of those three teams. Landing him on a high AAV, short term deal instantly improves this team. IF that happens, I'll be back on the optimistic "it's not even Spring Training yet" bandwagon. Still a lot to do, let alone needing the NYM deal to fall apart, which I'm doubtful happens.

 

[SouthernBoSox]

All I can really think about in this situation is that Bloom needs to be giving the Mets an “out” situation with Devers.

Maybe they go for it, maybe not. But the combination of the Mets positional profile of top tier minor league talent and being set up to win it all in ‘23 make them a very obvious trading partner.

 

[trekfan55]

To a lesser extent this reminds me of the Sox signing Napoli. It was a done deal, but wait... it isn't a done deal. In this case there was not another team falling over themselves to swoop in so we had to be patient while they went through all the medicals and finalized the deal.

Steve Cohen was willing to spend the money, and agreed to the deal basically on the phone while on vacation. But now they must be careful.

The insurance coverage is also a big deal. It is my understanding that these big (and fully guaranteed) contracts are getting harder and harder to insure and teams are wary of executing them if any kind of red flag comes up.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Bloom needs to be giving the Mets an “out” situation with Devers.

This gives me a headache. There would have to be an enormous return. Enormous.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

The Astros had him for years and had access to his Medicals abs despite excellent performance on the field made basically little to no effort to go long term with him.

SF needed him, but saw his Medicals,, knew they were going to get skewered in the court of public opinion for doing so, but still said adios.

The Mets we’re doing victory laps in public for grabbing him, they have exploded their payroll and are now closing in on one week without a resolution to the medical issue.

Can we fairly say that whatever the medical issue is it has been significantly flagged by three different organizations as severely troublesome, and there is a big time problem.
The Twins are the outlier here.

The Twins are not really an outlier either---they had a three-year deal which was likely to be (and in fact ended up being) only a one-year deal. I suspect many teams are still willing to offer him that kind of deal - it's the 10+ year, 300 mil deal where we have a lot of evidence the market is not willing to take the risk on.

As you correctly note, acknowledging each team's specific thinking and (in Twins case) philosophical willingness surely differs, it seems that all four teams with access to his medicals (Astros, Mets, Giants, and Twins) have opted not to offer him the 10 year/300 mil kind of deal at least without significant protections...and the rest of the market including SS need big market teams (Boston, Dodgers) has also refused to get into that kind of agreement, for whatever set of reasons. It is hard not to conclude there's a major medical red flag here.

 

[BaseballJones]

I know it’s been mentioned and I’ve advocated for this before all this medical stuff came out but man if I’m the Sox I jump in and go huge on a three year deal. 3/135 or something like that. If it blows up it blows up but it’s only a three year commitment. But if Correa is healthy then he will only be like 30 or 31 (can’t remember his birthday) when that contract is over and will be able to (again, if he’s healthy) get another good sized deal then.

Maybe Correa sees that he can’t have the 10 year deal or whatever because of this medical issue and thinks ok let’s just do this in shorter chunks with much higher AAVs.

Worth a try anyway. For the Sox it would solve multiple problems at once: fills the hole at SS, fills the need for a good RH bat, and provides a bridge to Mayer.