Giants checked back in on Carlos Correa, and the baseball itch is returning!
Spring Training is now just about 5-6 weeks away
The latest on the Mets and Carlos Correa… 🍎
January 1 - Associated Press, SF Chronicle
The Giants are among the teams that have checked back in with Scott Boras on Correa, but they will not pivot back to a new deal even if the Mets fail to complete their deal with him
December 29 - Daily News, New York Post
Mets owner and CEO Steve Cohen is upset with the leak about the team being concerned with Correa’s physical, and has made sure there’s only a small circle in the know about what’s currently happening
Other teams are being told that for now, it’s, “only a Mets game” with Correa. “I’d be surprised if he’s not [a Met],” one person said.
Both the Mets and Giants likely see post-traumatic arthritis in Correa’s ankle
December 28 - New York Post, SI, MLB Network
There are no other teams currently involved in Correa’s free agency (MLB Hot Stove said on-air by Jon Morosi)
The deal is seen at 51-49 at getting done
The issue with Correa’s leg won’t necessarily impact him over the next 3-5 years, rather towards the second half of the contract
The injury/surgery on Correa’s leg is at risk of becoming arthritic with time
That Correa hasn’t had any problems at all with his surgically repaired leg/ligament - aside from minor impact last season - suggests his leg is holding up well
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
December 24 - Mets share similar concerns as the Giants did over Carlos Correa's physical
December 21 - Mets and Carlos Correa agree to 12-year, $315 contract
Stories to read 🔗
An assessment on the state of affairs between the Mets and Correa
Mets and Correa/Boras have every reason to make this deal go through
Mets, Carlos Correa agree to 12-year, $315 million contract
It’s a new year, and that baseball itch is getting itchier… ✍🏻
This is always the time of year I get that itch for baseball again.
The holidays are over, we’ve flipped the calendar to 2023. It’s been about three months since the last pitch was thrown at Citi Field, which is actually less time than it usually is considering the Mets haven’t normally made the playoffs over the course of their history.
The start of the new year means pitchers and catchers are about six weeks away from reporting to the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The start of the new year also means it’s time to start planning your trips down to see the Mets and baseball in its purest form. My wife and I took care of that last night. We are pretty excited as we haven’t been to camp since 2019 due to COVID-19 and the lockout. That broke a 20 year tradition of mine of getting out of the cold and gray of New York for a few days into what I always feel is a childish world of mine with sun and palm trees draped over baseball in February and March. For me, it is the best time of year for baseball as nothing matters on the field, everyone is fresh with smiles on their faces as they work and prepare in front of the fans who - in most cases anyway - have flown from New York just to see them.
But we are most excited to get our daughter, Victoria, down to camp for the first time in her life. She has been bugging us to go, we had it all planned last year, but then the lockout screwed that up for us.
Normally, I’d start a countdown on social media but the Mets haven’t yet announced the actual date. But with the Super Bowl on February 12 and the World Baseball Classic coming in March, it’s safe to say pitchers and catchers will be reporting all around baseball between February 10 and February 13. Hopefully, the exact date is put out there by the club this week.
As someone who has gone as both a fan and a member of the media over the years, I’d strongly recommend experiencing spring training if you haven’t done so already, and go in February right before Grapefruit League games start, then be there for the intrasquad game and the first game or two of the spring schedule. All of the players are there at that point, you can be on the back fields in the morning watching them workout, get selfies and autographs, and actually spend time talking to players who are otherwise unavailable during the regular season.
The Mets have provided one of the most fan-friendly facilities in the country with pathways and viewing stations for every field, giving everyone an up close and personal experience during the morning workouts.
Then there are the games, which will begin with an intrasquad game February 24-ish, followed by the spring opener which offers two games - one against the Astros in West Palm Beach at 1 PM on February 25, and then the home opener against the Marlins at 6:10 PM at Clover Park.
What better way to kick baseball off in 2023 than with a day-night doubleheader spread across 51 miles?
Hot Stove 🔥
The Royals are looking to add more starting pitching (KC Star)
The Cubs and Eric Hosmer could be progressing towards an agreement (New York Post)
The Diamondbacks have guaranteed Evan Longoria $4 million on a one-year contract (New York Post)
Steve Chisek announced his retirement (Bourne Enterprise)
Marwin González is joining the Orix Buffaloes in Japan (Yahoo!)