Unserious Twins Turned Down 2nd Chance at Carlos Correa

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Photo: Julio Cortez - Associated Press

When the free agent signing period started on November 10, the Minnesota Twins were so determined to re-sign Carlos Correa that they put the rest of their offseason on hold. While other teams engaged with and signed free agents of all calibers, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine waited for Correa to make a decision on where he would play baseball for the next decade-plus.

All this while knowing their offer (10 years, $285 million), paled in comparison to that of big market teams like the San Francisco Giants. For the Twins, there was no plan B, even if they claimed otherwise. So when Correa eventually agreed to a 13-year, $350 million deal to continue and finish his career in the Bay Area, Falvine had nowhere to turn.

Sure, they told us that a rebuild was out of the question but their roster construction says different. They lack a legitimate ace pitcher and, without Correa in the lineup, an anchor in the middle of the order. Sure, there’s time to improve the team’s outlook for 2023 but it’ll cost prospects they can’t afford to lose.

Life is about 2nd chances…

But then… the $350 million mega-deal between the Giants and Carlos Correa fell through. San Francisco cancelled the introductory press conference and bailed on the deal hours later because of concerns over Correa’s surgically repaired ankle, which was operated on eight years ago and hasn’t been a problem since.

The Giants were not convinced. The team’s fear, according to people with knowledge of their assessment, concerned the long-term stability of his leg — and the potential for Correa to quickly lose the mobility that won him a Platinum Glove in 2021. Boras scoffed at that notion, citing the 10-year offer made this winter by the Minnesota Twins, for whom Correa played during the 2022 season. If a team familiar with his medical history was willing to offer Correa a decade-long contract, his reasoning went, how bad could the injury really be? — Jeff Passan (ESPN)

So Carlos’ agent, Scott Boras, picked up the phone from his Bay Area hotel room and called Derek Falvey. His client was back on the market and ready to be a Minnesota Twin once again. All that was needed to get the deal done was an increase from their original offer of 10 years, $285 million.

Twins say ‘thanks but no thanks” to Carlos Correa reunion

One more year at the same AAV might have gotten it done. Maybe they’d need to add two years. Either way, it was the perfect opportunity to make up for their underwhelming original offer and make waves that would splash across the MLB and send Twins’ fans into a frenzy about how far their favorite team could go having Carlos Correa cemented into their lineup for the next decade.

Instead, the Minnesota front office hesitated. Falvine refused to up their original offer of $285 million over 10 years and demanded details as to why Correa failed the Giants’ physical. Meanwhile, Steve Cohen and the New York Mets did exactly what the Twins should have. They pounced.

When he called again on Tuesday, Boras informed the Twins they’d need to improve upon their original offer. Team sources said the Twins wouldn’t increase their bid, nor would they hold further discussions until they had a better understanding of the medical concerns that reportedly caused Correa’s deal with the Giants to fall apart. With New York Mets owner Steve Cohen already showing interest, Boras quickly moved on from the Twins. Later that night, Correa agreed to his contract with the Mets. — Dan Hayes (The Athletic)

Same old Twins… again.

Cohen regretted losing out on Correa the first time around and wasn’t going to let it happen again. The Mets upped their offer from 12 years, $288 million to 13 years, $315 million. So now, the guy who could have saved the Twins’ future will play in the Big Apple.

Is it possible that the Mets would have outbid the Twins, even if Falvine had seriously re-engaged with Boras on Tuesday? Of course, Steve Cohen has proven that money and luxury taxes will not stop him from building the best roster in baseball.

But we’ll never know because, once again, the Minnesota Twins didn’t even try. If they were living with regret, after originally losing Correa, they didn’t show it this week. Instead, they showed their fanbase an unwillingness to invest in winning. Something we’ve become far too accustomed to with this franchise.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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