Is there another team in on Carlos Correa? And what will the 2023 Mets bench look like?
Another day without official word on Carlos Correa, a look at the Mets bench, and a former Mets executive switches boroughs
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
The Twins have reportedly re-entered the bidding for Carlos Correa (Heyman)
The Mets are in search of a back-up outfielder (Sports Illustrated)
Former Mets GM Omar Minaya was hired as an advisor in the Yankees baseball operations department (official release)
Correa Watch: Day 17 🚨
On December 21st, the Mets and Carlos Correa reportedly agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract. However, after undergoing a physical later that week, the Mets raised similar concerns to that of the Giants over Correa’s leg. San Francisco had originally agreed with Correa on a 13-year, $350 million contract the week prior.
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.
January 5 - SNY, New York Post
Scott Boras is in contact with at least one other team for Correa, including the Twins who originally offered a 10-year, $285 million contract for him to return to Minnesota
Many of the conversations and dialogue taking place between the Mets and Carlos Correa’s camp are between lawyers, but they are progressing towards a resolution
The two sides could finalize their revised contract by the end of the week
The basic terms of the deal - 12 years, $315 million - are unlikely to change much
The Mets are intent on reducing their risk in the deal which would include language that protects them against an injury to his surgically repaired leg/ankle, which could make a part of the $315 million less than fully guaranteed
January 4 - SNY
The Mets’ deal with Correa is “going to get done,” per Britt Ghiroli
January 3 - The Athletic
The Mets are expected to get a deal done with Correa, potentially by the end of the week, and it will likely be a dramatically different looking contract
New York has the leverage, but they still want Correa to be happy with the deal both sides eventually agree to
January 2 - New York Post
Talks are expected to resume again between the Mets and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, following a lull over the holidays
There is still a good chance both sides come to an agreement
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
What will the Mets bench look like in 2023?✍🏻
With the Carlos Correa saga nearing the completion of its third week (and not necessarily a completion of any kind), it’s beginning to hold up some of the other orders of business the Mets would undoubtedly like to address heading into spring training.
For instance, as mentioned yesterday, an Eduardo Escobar trade is very much a possibility so long as the Correa deal does reach the finish line for the Mets. New York would love to acquire another outfielder to bring a different skillset to the bench and it’s certainly possible that both of those ideas could work together.
Speaking of the bench…
I think we’re all happy and confident in the everyday lineup the Mets have assembled but depth with any team is imperative, and it’s a good time to examine where New York really is currently when it comes to its reserves.
Let’s begin with two guys who played a ton for this team last season and did an outstanding job: Tomas Nido and Luis Guillorme.
Nido has a well-deserved reputation of being a tremendous defensive catcher and somebody pitchers enjoy working with. He developed a palpable rapport with Max Scherzer during the lockout last winter that noticeably carried into the season. And Scherzer was far from the only pitcher that preferred having him behind the plate. Nido is unlikely to be an offensive force, but his .239/.276/.324 was plenty good enough to supplant James McCann as the Mets’ starting catcher coming down the stretch.
The Mets are obviously hoping uber prospect Francisco Álvarez takes the reigns behind plate sooner rather than later, but in the meantime, you have to figure Nido will continue to get opportunities, even with the addition of Omar Narváez.
Then there’s Guillorme, who became an indispensable of this club in 2022, and the team really missed him down the stretch while he was recovering from a groin injury.
The native Venezuelan is a Gold Glove caliber infielder wherever you put him on the field, and made tantalizing plays for the Mets at all of second base, shortstop, and third base a year ago. In fact, coming down the stretch New York began playing Jeff McNeil in left field a lot to essentially open up a starting spot for Guillorme at second base in an effort to strengthen their defense up the middle.
Power is clearly not Guillorme’s game, as he’s hit only four big league homers in over 600 at-bats, but he’s a pesky line-to-line contact hitter that works pitchers and is difficult to strike out, and he’s carved out quite a role for himself in Queens.
Beyond these two guys, though, The Mets bench as very much up in the air. Daniel Vogelbach is at least slated to begin the year as the team’s semi-regular DH, but the veteran slugger did little to inspire a ton of confidence following his arrival last July and is limited to facing only right-handed pitchers. The Correa situation could come into play here as well, because there’s a legitimate case to be made about not trading Escobar if/when the Correa deal becomes official, and instead keeping him with the intention of letting him be the DH.
Speaking of DH…
Darin Ruf was brought here last summer to replace JD Davis as New York’s right-handed DH platoon partner, and while he’d been a productive offensive piece in the past, Ruf couldn’t hit water if he jumped out of a boat in Queens.
To be frank, his 66 at-bat sample size with the Mets was so bad that I just don’t see any possible way to justify having him on the roster in 2023.
New York’s need for another outfielder to add to their bench mob is fairly obvious when you consider that if the season started today, their primary reserve outfielder would be their starting second baseman. Names like Jurickson Profar and Adam Duvall have been mentioned as potential free agent fits, but the situation is fluid because if the Mets do attempt to trade Escobar, it could open up several other avenues to acquire an outfielder.
The other question the Mets have to answer is what happens with their top young players. Bringing in Narváez gives them the flexibility to give Álvarez more seasoning in Triple-A should they choose, or perhaps leverage him as their primary designated hitter out of the gate.
But is that best for baseball’s best prospect and in turn, would the Mets benefit by limiting his role in that manner?
Third baseman Brett Baty was obviously affected as much or more than anyone by the Mets’ Correa bombshell, as his future is now probably not in Flushing. But for now, could he be a left-handed bench bat? Getting playing time at third, designated hitter, and potentially even left field on occasion?
What about other names like Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio? New York’s system is finally churning out big league ready prospects and it would be nice to see the Mets utilize them like the Braves do with their young players.
It’s just hard to see where all of these players fit, should they complete their deal with Correa.
While the situation surrounding the Mets and their hopefully eventual marriage with Correa, it’s important to vocalize that the longer this goes on the more time the Mets lose to do other things. And as we just discussed, knowing whether or not he’s in the fold is a prerequisite to the rest of the off-season, particularly when it comes to determining what the bench will look like.
Hot Stove 🔥
The Diamondbacks designated righty Edwin Uceta for assignment (Official Release)
The Giants have released infielder Tommy La Stella (Official Release)
Cincinnati released veteran infielder Mike Moustakas (Official Release)
The Twins agreed to a minor league deal with catcher Tony Wolters (Heyman)