BREAKING: Carlos Correa's Contract with Giants in Doubt Amid Health Concerns

[Nick Nelson]

Last week, everyone came to believe the Carlos Correa free agent derby was over when it was reported that the star shortstop had agreed to a $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. 

On Tuesday, this was all thrown into doubt with Correa's introductory presser (and official signing) postponed over reported concerns in the shortstop's physical.

Image courtesy of Nick Wosika, USA TODAY Sports

A report from the Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon indicates that San Francisco's official signing of Carlos Correa, and the corresponding introductory press conference, have been postponed over "a medical concern arose during the All-Star shortstop’s physical."

Few details are known at this point, but it's fair to say this is a significant development. Rarely do you see a prominent signing of this magnitude publicly stall out at this stage. 

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that whatever issue emerged in Correa's physical, it is not a back issue, ruling out one area of the body that has affected the shortstop in the past. 

The news of a medical issue being flagged is surprising to say the least given that nothing came up in last year's physical ahead of signing with the Twins, and Correa seemed to get through the 2022 season with a relatively clean bill of health. One wonders if the surgically repaired ankle that barked at him on at least one occasion this season could be involved. To be clear, this is pure speculation. But the only other known health issues experienced by Correa this past season were a bout with COVID and bone bruise in his thumb, neither of which would seem to pose any long-term risk.

What happens from here? That's anybody's guess. Perhaps this will prove to be a meaningless blip and further clarity will lead to the original deal being honored. (That seems unlikely now that we've reached this point.) Maybe Correa and the Giants will reconfigure the deal in a way that both sides are comfortable with. 

Or, maybe, the door just opened for the Twins to re-enter the fray. It's not out of the question.

Visit back soon for more analysis and added details as they trickle in. At the moment, we don't know much, but we do know this: Correa has NOT signed with the Giants, and it's suddenly not clear he will.

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[Dave Overlund]

Please don’t take him back if the giants bail. Please. 

[IndianaTwin]

Offer him $70.2M over two years, with an opt-out!

 

[DJL44]

15 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Wow, thanks for that update Nick.  If SF does not sign him then it would be interesting, given the failed physical, whether the Twins offer stands as-is.

It should. Who wouldn't want Correa at a $65M discount?

[KirbyDome89]

How does it take SF this long to get a medical report? If I'm Correa, or even Boras, and I've watched Swanson sign thus removing a potential suitor, and meanwhile SF took a week and decided to press pause...ehhh yeah. Does the PA get involved if SF decides to pull the plug here? Idk how there isn't some kind of deal still worked out between the two sides at this point.

[Nashvilletwin]

Let’s pray he is ok and this not some serious medical issue. He’s got a beautiful young family. 

[Vanimal46]

23 minutes ago, Dave Overlund said:

Please don’t take him back if the giants bail. Please. 

Why? Sounds like buyer’s remorse, and they’re blaming the physical. What could possibly pop up on his medical record that isn’t covered by insurance? 

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, KirbyDome89 said:

How does it take SF this long to get a medical report? If I'm Correa, or even Boras, and I've watched Swanson sign thus removing a potential suitor, and meanwhile SF took a week and decided to press pause...ehhh yeah. Does the PA get involved if SF decides to pull the plug here? Idk how there isn't some kind of deal still worked out between the two sides at this point.

Swanson hasn't signed. Because he hasn't done his physical.

There's a difference between just getting general medical reports and doing their physical before signing their deal. It can take this long to get the physical done because Correa was busy with his life and this was the first time he could get to San Fran to have the team doctors check him out. Or maybe the lead doctor was on vacation and just got back to town. PA has nothing to get involved with. His deal, like every other one in every major sport, is based on passing a physical. He apparently might not have passed his. But this is all standard stuff. The announcement of an agreement (even in trades) is not the same as the player actually signing their deal. The Twins just signed Joey Gallo today even though we all knew they'd agreed to terms last week. He just got here to take his physical.

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Why? Sounds like buyer’s remorse, and they’re blaming the physical. What could possibly pop up on his medical record that isn’t covered by insurance? 

Any sort of degenerative disorder that would lead them to worry that his career will be nowhere as long as they'd expected.

[nicksaviking]

Maybe he got an ulcer after finally looking at the rest of the Giants roster?

[Dman]

I don't know that I am convinced this is a deal breaker for SF.  They might want to restructure with option years or something hard to say but I think at the end of the day this gets done.  He was fine last year and he was never making it the full 13 years they gave him anyway.  Not aware of his ankle being an issue more his back. We will see but I can't see SF backing out now.

[KirbyDome89]

4 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Swanson hasn't signed. Because he hasn't done his physical.

There's a difference between just getting general medical reports and doing their physical before signing their deal. It can take this long to get the physical done because Correa was busy with his life and this was the first time he could get to San Fran to have the team doctors check him out. Or maybe the lead doctor was on vacation and just got back to town. PA has nothing to get involved with. His deal, like every other one in every major sport, is based on passing a physical. He apparently might not have passed his. But this is all standard stuff. The announcement of an agreement (even in trades) is not the same as the player actually signing their deal. The Twins just signed Joey Gallo today even though we all knew they'd agreed to terms last week. He just got here to take his physical.

Yeah I'm not suggesting anything nefarious, but 7 days seems like a long time if you'd even remotely consider nixing the deal. I guess we'll have to wait and see what/how serious the hold up is.

Swanson is also in agreement though no? The Cubs would have to find a physical reason to fail him and move on similar to what Vanimal mentioned, so they're technically off the board barring that happening right?

[chpettit19]

Just now, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

That must be it as he was playing fine and healthy at the end of the season. Not sure what, other that a degenerative issue, would have occurred since then.

It is certainly a very interesting situation. I hope it's nothing serious and he's able to get his deal done (even though I wanted the Twins to bring him back). I'd be shocked if it's the Giants playing games and trying to reduce his price tag in anyway.

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Yeah I'm not suggesting anything nefarious, but 7 days seems like a long time if you'd even remotely consider nixing the deal. I guess we'll have to wait and see what/how serious the hold up is.

Swanson is also in agreement though no? The Cubs would have to find a physical reason to fail him and move on similar to what Vanimal mentioned, so they're technically off the board barring that happening right?

Correct. Swanson has agreed to his deal. But he just got married (last Saturday if memory serves) so he hasn't been in for his official physical and signing yet. But he's going to the Cubs barring any unforeseen health issues.

[Mike Sixel]

This is fascinating! Also, I bet he's still a Giant in a week. But, good entertainment!

[howeda7]

Rumors that Falvey increased his offer upon hearing this news are false.

[CRF]

This is REALLY strange, but I honestly can't see this blowing the deal with SF. They'll end up getting it done. He won't be coming back to the Twins. Interesting situation though. I wonder what the medicals showed, because other than getting drilled on the hand, he was fine all season here. 

[Doctor Gast]

Graterol deal was messy & heart breaking. Is there any chance that FO has buyer remorse over Gallo? I doubt it, they never do, when they make a mistake they just double down.

[nicksaviking]

28 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This is fascinating! Also, I bet he's still a Giant in a week. But, good entertainment!

Yeah, I'd guess the deal, as it stands now, still goes through. For one, the Giants have very little long term payroll-impactful contracts.

For another, they'll not want to find themselves on Boras Claus naughty list for the next decade. He's got all the best toys.

[umterp23]

Maybe it isn't physical but a chemical issue.  Privacy concerns won't be released so to speak but would be very interesting if he "accidentally" took something he shouldn't during his fall/winter workouts to get ready for next year.  He could then hang out the Tatis Jr and share stories on how they got caught.  Happy Holidays

[chpettit19]

24 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Graterol deal was messy & heart breaking. Is there any chance that FO has buyer remorse over Gallo? I doubt it, they never do, when they make a mistake they just double down.

Why would this cause them to have buyer's remorse on Gallo? They were supposed to expect Correa to fail a physical so they can get back in on Correa now that he'll be cheaper since he couldn't pass the physical? If the Giants don't sign him at the agreed to deal they're either completely out on him, in which case the Twins should likely be, too, or they'll be in on him for much cheaper, in which case the 1 year deal for Gallo really shouldn't have anything to do with agreeing to pay Correa on a cheaper, long-term deal.

[gman]

If the Giants don't sign him for physical reasons the Twins don't want him. Glad it wasn't the Twins doctors who might have overlooked an issue. Or gambled it could be okay.

[nicksaviking]

1 minute ago, gman said:

If the Giants don't sign him for physical reasons the Twins don't want him. Glad it wasn't the Twins doctors who might have overlooked an issue. Or gambled it could be okay.

Well, I mean, they DID last year right?

[HokieRif]

7 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

Maybe it isn't physical but a chemical issue.  Privacy concerns won't be released so to speak but would be very interesting if he "accidentally" took something he shouldn't during his fall/winter workouts to get ready for next year.  He could then hang out the Tatis Jr and share stories on how they got caught.  Happy Holidays

This was the first thing I thought of when I read the news.  I'm sure we'll know something soon and whether or not the "accidental" needs the quotations.  I'm hoping he was playing clean while he was in MN.

[TwinkieFan4life]

San Fran learned upon the results of the physical that Correa is human.  The degenerative condition makes it unlikely that he would be able to perform over the 13 year duration of the contract.

[chinmusic]

I wonder if Dior has a return policy.

Couldn't resist, but in all seriousness,  not going to speculate.

It's very intriguing, and just going to watch it play out.

[Nine of twelve]

I highly doubt any conspiracy theories. First, I'm sure this was a very thorough examination. If a team is about to pay a player $350M I would expect nothing less. Second, if there's something significant that has arisen I'm sure everything is well documented. And I would expect that Boras has a physician on retainer to confirm any issue that may arise as the result of a physical. Everything on all sides will be completely above board. Nobody in this situation will be able to get away with any shenanigans.

[h2oface]

24 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

Maybe it isn't physical but a chemical issue.  Privacy concerns won't be released so to speak but would be very interesting if he "accidentally" took something he shouldn't during his fall/winter workouts to get ready for next year.  He could then hang out the Tatis Jr and share stories on how they got caught.  Happy Holidays

Why would anyone even think that? I mean, Carlos Correa, the clubhouse leader, the guy with the great character, cheat? Really?

[Nine of twelve]

26 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

Maybe it isn't physical but a chemical issue.  Privacy concerns won't be released so to speak but would be very interesting if he "accidentally" took something he shouldn't during his fall/winter workouts to get ready for next year.  He could then hang out the Tatis Jr and share stories on how they got caught.  Happy Holidays

 

2 minutes ago, h2oface said:

Why would anyone even think that? I mean, Carlos Correa, the clubhouse leader, the guy with the great character, cheat? Really?

There could be a "chemical issue" that does not involve performance-enhancing drugs or cheating, for example testing positive for THC. I'm not sure if THC use is still proscribed in the current CBA but with marijuana becoming legal on a such a widespread basis I would expect that clause to be eliminated in the next agreement.

[jmlease1]

I don't think it will change anything, IMHO. If they were willing to go 13 years and break the bank, they're not backing out now. 

Maybe SF was trying to get some insurance done on the contract and the medical threw a wrench into it. They'll probably iron it out or move along.