Adam Ottavino is officially back, and an assessment of the state of affairs between the Mets and Carlos Correa
Adam Ottavino is officially back, and an assessment of the state of affairs between the Mets and Carlos Correa
The two sides continue to talk and try to work through the snag with Carlos Correa's physical
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
The Mets officially announced their new two-year contract with Adam Ottavino - he can opt-out after the 2023 season (official release)
The Mets designated William Woods for assignment - he was a waiver claim from the Braves earlier in the off-season
The latest on the Mets and Carlos Correa… 🍎
Last week, the Mets and Carlos Correa agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract. However, after undergoing a physical on Thursday and Friday, the Mets raised similar concerns to that of the San Francisco Giants over Correa’s leg, who originally agreed with Correa on a 13-year, $350 million contract the week before.
In 2014, Correa broke his fibula and sustained ligament damage close to his ankle, requiring surgery to remedy. Correa has never missed any time due to the injury in the major leagues. Correa has missed only 42 of a possible 384 games since the start of the 2020 season, much of which came in 2022 after being placed on the COVID-19 injured list midyear.
Both Mets owner and CEO Steve Cohen and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, are on record discussing the contract, with both instances taking place before Correa took a physical with the Mets.
Should the deal be completed, Correa will join the Mets as their new regular third baseman.
December 27 - SNY
The Mets and representatives for Correa were working again on Tuesday to come to a revised agreement, but no details on progress have been offered to the public at this time
December 26 - New York Post
Correa is committed to finalizing this deal with the Mets, although he isn’t open to restructuring the length and financial terms of the contract
It is unclear whether or not discussions have resumed following a break on Christmas
There is a, “55 percent” chance a deal will be completed between Correa and the Mets
The Mets were well aware of the findings from the Giants’ doctors after he took his physical with the Giants
Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, and the Mets could try to work language into the contract which would protect the club financially if Correa were to miss an extended period of time due to an injury specific to his fibula
December 25 - New York Post
The two sides are trying to work through the issues found on Correa’s medicals
The Mets and Correa’s camp remain optimistic a deal can be completed
The two sides were discussing the MRI results compared to the functionality of the joint along with Correa’s recent history of dependability
Other teams have checked in on Correa since his deal with the Mets hit a snag, but both sides are, “motivated” to work through the issues
Gluing the Carlos Correa popsicle sticks together… 🖋
It’s been dragged out for sure. And yes, it’s hard to assess where things stand between the two sides here because nobody is talking, which is perhaps the strategy both sides should’ve employed originally and before Correa took his physical and especially after the Giants flagged him on their physical. The, “55 percent” figure Mr. Puma of the New York Post was given is, well, whatever.
But if I’m reading the tea leaves properly and hearing everything correctly, both sides have pretty much everything to lose if this deal falls apart, and Correa certainly has more to lose than the Mets.
For the player, let’s just say if there was really another decade-long contract offer out there somewhere after he’s had two physicals flagged with the same concerns from two different clubs, Scott Boras would have (and should have) jumped on that deal by now and wrapped this up. I can’t imagine there’s any team out there who would be (or should be) willing to make that kind of offer to Correa now. And honestly, if there is, why isn’t Boras pivoting or at least using it as leverage to push his terms of the deal forward? Sure, there’s some vague buzz about several teams contacting Boras on Correa again, but what does that mean in all of this if not to try and pressure the Mets? Perhaps Boras and Correa know this is the last chance for any kind of long-term contract which is why they’re sticking around.
For the Mets, sure they hold all the leverage, probably because they know what I just discussed, and unquestionably have a better sense of what Correa’s market looks currently looks like. And yeah, they have a roster which is a little better than it was last year on paper. So, they can run with that and sell that to the public.
But, their owner, Mr. Cohen, is on record confirming this agreement. He is on record stating without Correa, this team is only a little better than it was last year. He’s on record about procuring this last piece in Correa, implying he puts them over the top.
Imagine having to go in front of the media and let the air out of that balloon?
The Mets don’t need to stymie their momentum of what has been a magnificent and unprecedented off-season with such a huge roadblock. They don’t need to bring this team to camp knowing what could have been. All of this stuff matters to the people and players in the organization, no matter what they say in public.
And the Mets certainly cannot walk away from this deal. They have no reason to. There’s nowhere else for them to turn to, either. If this deal fizzles, it will be because Scott Boras walked, and again, unless another decade-long contract comes their way, there’s no reason for their side to do that, either.
As such, making sure Correa is in Port St. Lucie come February is now paramount.
Stories to read 🔗
Hot Stove 🔥
The Braves announced a new six-year, $73 million extension with newly acquired Sean Murphy (official release)
The Rangers agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with Nathan Eovaldi with a $20 million option for 2025 (official release)
Former met Rich Hill is getting a one-year, $8 million deal from the Pirates (ESPN)