Carlos Correa Trade Buzz Is Heating Up

[sampleSizeOfOne]

9 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Who plays shortstop? Really?

I have it on good authority that Who's still on first.

 

And too lazy to read the article, but i'm curious what it would take for Mr. Correa to waive his no trade clause.

[lake_guy]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The only reason we’re having this conversation at all is because the team is up for sale. Moves made this offseason won’t be about roster construction. It will be about cleaning up financials for the new ownership group. 

Exactly this.  given the state of MLB payroll a new owner is gonna want this contract off the books, it's expensive given his injuries and they simply can't build anything else around him at the $130m level.

[RpR]

No trade clause, end of story.

[mnfireman]

I think payroll not being added this past off-season despite the team being in a "contending window" speaks volumes as to when the Pohlad's decided/considered putting the team up for sale.

As for Correa's future, I think it is in Minnesota, at least until after this upcoming season, due to the fact that none of Julien, Lee, Lewis, Miranda, et al have stepped forward and established themselves as being an every day IF option at this point.

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, wombat28 said:

Maybe the new owners will be big spenders, nobody knows.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Who plays shortstop? Really?

As you’ve posted about several times this offseason it’s going to take 2 or 3 separate trades to shake up the current roster build… The answer to your question is probably not in the Correa trade, but later in the offseason. 

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, lake_guy said:

Exactly this.  given the state of MLB payroll a new owner is gonna want this contract off the books, it's expensive given his injuries and they simply can't build anything else around him at the $130m level.

Agreed. The Lopez and Correa contracts worked under different circumstances when the Pohlads beefed up the payroll closer to $160 million. Now things have changed. Unless we unload one of Correa, Lopez, or Buxton we aren’t spending more than $2 million on a FA contract.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The only reason we’re having this conversation at all is because the team is up for sale. Moves made this offseason won’t be about roster construction. It will be about cleaning up financials for the new ownership group. 

I believe the Pohlads would keep payroll down below 130 regardless of sale, but agreed, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy just to make numbers look better for the accountants

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I believe the Pohlads would keep payroll down below 130 regardless of sale, but agreed, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy just to make numbers look better for the accountants

I’m with you. Payroll was going to be at this level or lower regardless with the attendance and TV contract where it is. 

The new ownership group just might be big spenders but they’re going to want to make their own decisions. Correa and Lopez are big financial commitments that they didn’t make. 

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

I don't think the premise is that you'd be getting back much at all, aside from the flexibility to use that money in other ways. Which is why I hate it.

It is imperative to have at least two, preferably three, deep-pockets teams all wanting to get Correa.  While sites like Baseball Trade Values can sometimes give close estimates of what a prospect or average veteran would be worth in trade, when it's an above-average veteran the range of possible trade values is extremely wide.  That is to say, BTV isn't "wrong" on such a player, but the exact value not only isn't knowable, it isn't even a thing.  (And to their credit, they do list ranges of value.)

In addition to dollars per WAR, and remaining contract value, for such a player there is also the "yeah, but we have him and you don't" factor.  Possibly the Yankees were the only team who wanted Josh Donaldson, and so the return on him (plus other assets we gave up) was basically a couple of guys the Yankees didn't have room for anymore.  That may or may not be the case for Correa, a much better player at the moment.  If luck is with you, you can add the "and one of your rivals might get him" factor.

You need at least two teams "in" on Correa to take from a pure salary-relief trade to a trade between relative equals.  The number of rich enough teams is small, and the subset of those who are lacking good up-the-middle defense is smaller, so I'm not holding my breath.

BTW I'm not against trading Correa for good prospects, if the next step is to trade from that expanded prospect pool to obtain meaningful help for the 2025 edition of the Twins.

If it winds up a salary-relief deal with the only team who will take him, then yes, I hate it too.

[Jocko87]

28 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I believe the Pohlads would keep payroll down below 130 regardless of sale, but agreed, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy just to make numbers look better for the accountants

Current year payroll has absolutely nothing to do with the sale of the team.  Long term obligations, on the other hand...

If that long term obligation is a bad investment, it's bad for the sale.  If it's a good investment,  it's good for the sale.  Correa is a good investment.

Of course the New York teams and everyone else is interested in this player on this contract. 

No chance this would happen with a sale hanging over everyone's heads and its crazy to write this article without giving it much consideration.  We have to stop thinking like things are all same old same old.  Everything is different under these conditions, as we have seen for the last year leading up to a public announcement. Thinking we have any idea what payroll will be is a fools errand.

If I'm buying the Minnesota Twins, I'm buying with Correa.  It'd be like filling in the perfectly good pool before you sell the house.

[chinmusic]

Plantar fasciitis tends to be chronic. Correa has famously failed physicals (twice) before. Bit of a catch-22, but the heel issue could be a significant factor in his remaining a Twin.

[Brandon27]

I wait until who signs soto if the yankees sign soto I be asking for jasson Dominguez,Pereira and mlb ready pitchers for correa. The Mets i be asking baty or Acuna for correa if the twins trade correa 

 

[Jocko87]

You know who else needs a shortstop?

The Dodgers.

Article already in draft, I'm sure.

[Ole St Carleton]

It seems like the pundits are assuming Santana is not coming back. If Correa is traded- there is NO ONE on this team that can field his position. I don't care how many sluggers we have, defense wins!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

15 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

You know who else needs a shortstop?

The Dodgers.

Article already in draft, I'm sure.

They got Noah Miller.

 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

As you’ve posted about several times this offseason it’s going to take 2 or 3 separate trades to shake up the current roster build… The answer to your question is probably not in the Correa trade, but later in the offseason. 

I try to be efficient in considering the potential outcomes for the Twins in the coming year; not much stress or too much time. In considering a trade I make an attempt to determine whether the other team may consider any of my ideas. Yes, I am consistent in suggesting two to three transactions to improve the quality of the Twins roster. All of my ideas can blow up.

Thinking about moving Correa seems difficult. One prior trade idea that I proposed would acquire a player I would want to play third base and spell Correa but that player could also fill in for Carlos. A trade of Duran, Topa, and Castro to Arizona for Jordan Lawler is my thought. He is a slick defender at shortstop and would play third base for me with Correa at short. The Diamondbacks may want more and a huge blockbuster deal that helps AZ and MN is possible. I want the pitchers to take the mound knowing that routine plays will be made behind them. This is impossible without some shifting of personnel.

One odd side kick, should Correa be moved, is that the Twins could then be interested in Christian Walker (3/$60M). First the Twins need to add a guy like Lawler and another couple of guys as well.

[Vanimal46]

28 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I try to be efficient in considering the potential outcomes for the Twins in the coming year; not much stress or too much time. In considering a trade I make an attempt to determine whether the other team may consider any of my ideas. Yes, I am consistent in suggesting two to three transactions to improve the quality of the Twins roster. All of my ideas can blow up.

Thinking about moving Correa seems difficult. One prior trade idea that I proposed would acquire a player I would want to play third base and spell Correa but that player could also fill in for Carlos. A trade of Duran, Topa, and Castro to Arizona for Jordan Lawler is my thought. He is a slick defender at shortstop and would play third base for me with Correa at short. The Diamondbacks may want more and a huge blockbuster deal that helps AZ and MN is possible. I want the pitchers to take the mound knowing that routine plays will be made behind them. This is impossible without some shifting of personnel.

One odd side kick, should Correa be moved, is that the Twins could then be interested in Christian Walker (3/$60M). First the Twins need to add a guy like Lawler and another couple of guys as well.

 

Well sure, any of our ideas can blow up. We don't know who's available via trade without some smoke from insiders. I'm heading into the offseason thinking Falvey has no choice but to prepare this organization for a sale. Doesn't matter if it's a private or public business, they all do the same things. One includes beefing up the balance sheet so the prospective buyer believes it's a profitable opportunity. If we hold all of our players, I don't think Falvey has even $5 million additional to work with this winter, 

[Doc Munson]

Of course trading Correa woudl be a very viable option. Especially for a team looking to keep payroll down, and we coudl get some top talent from either Mets of Yankees, 

BUT where exactly does this fallacy that we cannot keep Correa's payroll and properly build around???

 

If we are talking about a window where we have Correa, that is a 3 year window. his contract is only guaranteed through 2028 with all other years having vesting options based on PA. and at numbers he has not hit in 4years, so lets assume he does not get 575 ABs in 2028 to vest the 2029 season.

In the next 3 years we have control over...

Twins currently have an ACE (Lopez)  and 2 young quality developing pitchers in Ober and  Ryan, plus potential with SWR so while it would be GREAT to add more top line pitching, there is nto a screaming need there. and not for the next 2+years.. Worst case scenario we cant move Vazques or Paddack and that combined $17.5M comes off the books after 2025..

The following young players will still be under team control, unless traded...

Wallner potential starting RF

Lewis potential starter SOMEWHERE in IF

for good or for bad... Buxton on the books til 2028

Larnach potential starting OF

Brooks Lee... hasnt proven self yet, but potenial starter

Julian... jury still out butpotential starter

Miranda... not consistently proven, but potential

plus young potential "studs" in Jenkins and Rodriguez

So really only need to fill a hole or two here or there while still keeping Correa

 

 

[TopGunn#22]

I decided to write my comments before reading any others.  But with 47 responses and counting, it's going to be interesting going back and checking how others see this.

I'm sure the Hot Stove is going to heat up a little more after a post like this Nick.  I've been saying since the off season began that a No-Trade Clause means nothing.  It's usually just a lever for the player to squeeze a little more money out of the deal by buying it out.  

The Yankees and Mets make sense.  The Mets only if Correa moves to 3B.  The Yankees only if they plan on moving Volpe to 2B as Torres departs in free agency.  One other team that could be interested in Correa would be the Dodgers.  Yes, I know they boo him every time he comes to the plate in Dodger Stadium.  But that changes as soon as he makes a dazzling lay at SS or knocks in the game winning run.  They need a SS if they plan to play Edman in CF or they need a CF if they plan to play Edman at SS.  Either way, we have something they need.

$30-million dollar contracts are nothing to the 3 teams I just mentioned.  Even if they are planning on bidding high for Juan Soto and a host of other FA's.  

If I could make a trade to move on from Correa or Buxton the player I would choose to deal is Correa.  $33 million is more than twice the savings for Buxton, and I'd like to hope the new Twins ownership won't act like a $15 million dollar contract is more than they can bear.  As it is, with the Pohlad's, that $33 million dollar deal for Correa is an Albatross. 

The biggest question for the Twins brain trust if they dealt Correa would be:  #1  Who plays SS.  And #2  what would they do with the $33 million saved to improve the team. 

When you're talking to the "Big Boys" (Dodgers, Yankees, Mets etc...) you don't have to agree to pay a portion of the big salary.  We didn't for Donaldson.  We won't have to for Correa. 

I don't think trading Correa destroys any chance of the Twins competing in 2025.  It just may push the more realistic window to 2026 when E-Rod AND Walker Jenkins should finally arrive. 

Could the Twins just hand the SS job to Brooks Lee?  Would they need a 1-year placeholder like Jose Iglesias?  If Iglesias played SS would Lee play 3B and Lewis 2B?  Would it be beneficial to having Lewis & Lee learn from an old pro who has a great glove like Iglesias?  Jose Iglesias is NOT Carlos Correa, but he's a very good glove who hits for average without any power or speed.  He will never win a batting title like Luis Arraez, but he will make plays in the field and put the bat on the ball.

And then it all comes down to what does the team do with the $33 million dollar windfall?  Do they sign Tyler O'Neill to play LF and give DeShawn Kiersey a chance?  This gives them 2 options in CF if Buxton spends time on the I.L.  And by mid-season/All Star break could Emmanuel Rodriguez be on the way?  Do they spend to bring in Aroldis Chapman as a LH reliever?  Do they sign Roki Sasaki in FA or maybe a Kikuchi or Flaherty? 

If the Twins trade Correa to LA or NY what other trades could/would that open up?  The Twins FO needs to have a detailed plan for what they plan to do AFTER a Correa trade is made.  

The Twins should NOT trade Correa unless it's a trade that not only gets them out from under (as the Pohlad's view it) his Albatross of a contract., and they have a PLAN to revamp the roster by redistributing resources to field a more balanced ball club.  Look, if the Twins chose to have a payroll of $150 million, Correa's contract wouldn't even BE an issue.  But to the Pohlad's it is.  

 

[old nurse]

Consternation because a New York sports writer wrote an opinion column on a slow news day on why he thought a New York team should trade for Correa. Holy clickbait Batman.. Not one shred of evidence either team thought about trading for him.. That column was no closer to reality than the what relievers the Twins should sign articles 

[Russ]

Everyone are tradeable.  Don't trust Falvey to get a lot in return as past evaluation of incoming players has been poor.  Under performing or in need of surgery or spending time on the IL

[minman1982]

Would Correa even want to go to New York (particularly the Mets after they offered him a big contract and backed out)? He has a full no trade clause. If he wants to stay in Minnesota, he can reject any trade offer that comes up.

[dxpavelka]

The only way this happens is if it is a salary dump to make the team more attractive to a prospective owner.  In which case, bleep the prospective new owner and bleep the current owners.  Remember, this is why the Vikings traded Randy Moss.  That sucked and so would this.

[dxpavelka]

11 minutes ago, minman1982 said:

Would Correa even want to go to New York (particularly the Mets after they offered him a big contract and backed out)? He has a full no trade clause. If he wants to stay in Minnesota, he can reject any trade offer that comes up.

The full no trade means nothing other than what will someone give me to waive it.

[RaoulDuke]

Correa is "Dior", if you are going to pay for it you better not be rocking wranglers and sketchers alongside it.

If the payroll is 125 then spending 28% of it on one player is putting a crazy level of expectation and need on that player to constantly preform at an MVP level.  Maybe if it was a true ace or a Soto level bat it makes sense but Correa, while awesome, isn't that piece.

If they are going to contend or make noise at this payroll level it needs to be through the farm system development path like the Rays/ Orioles/ Dbacks approach.  They won't contend every year but could hit on the right young core coming up at the same time.  Retain studs on cheaper first contracts and trade guys getting super expensive for good prospects.

Hopefully they get sold to an ownership group that will pay for studs but as it is they can't afford them.

 

[bean5302]

In actuality, Carlos Correa is not the only good shortstop in MLB, but I do believe he is the most expensive at $37MM next year. If the Twins keep payroll close to where they currently are, that's an enormous amount of capital to reinvest into the team.

Also, I disagree Correa is injury prone, and the fact these NY fans/writers want Correa so badly only serves to make that argument less credible.

Would Correa waive his NTC to go to the Mets? I don't get the impression he's a huge fan of how the Giants and Mets conducted themselves. Honestly, I still think the Nationals are probably the only real game in town.

[Fatbat]

Everyone says his $35M is a team salary limiter. Ok, at what salary is he a bargain? 15M? 20M?  
just split it at $17.5M.

 Lets pretend what the left over 17.5M would buy this organization. 

2-3 hasbeen MLB veterans. Or

1 Pablo type ace SP. Or

How about the Pohlads just suck up an investment into the team and spend $17.5M more and keep Correa. 
They made a commitment to win now.  

If Correa is traded, you need it to be for 

1. Allstar pitcher and

1 on the cusp of being an allstar position player and

2 high milb prospects and

2 Low milb prospects with high ceilings.

Anything less, we lose the trade. 

 

 

[Major League Ready]

36 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Everyone says his $35M is a team salary limiter. Ok, at what salary is he a bargain? 15M? 20M?  
just split it at $17.5M.

 Lets pretend what the left over 17.5M would buy this organization. 

2-3 hasbeen MLB veterans. Or

1 Pablo type ace SP. Or

How about the Pohlads just suck up an investment into the team and spend $17.5M more and keep Correa. 
They made a commitment to win now.  

If Correa is traded, you need it to be for 

1. Allstar pitcher and

1 on the cusp of being an allstar position player and

2 high milb prospects and

2 Low milb prospects with high ceilings.

Anything less, we lose the trade. 

Correa would not bring a #1 SP straight up and you definitely are not getting the other pieces you mention so that trade is a fantasy.  You have also just taken a position that an additional $17.5M won't make a difference.  Yet your solution is to spend another $17.5M.   Do you see the problem with your position?

[Whitey333]

Being in contention means consistently being a playoff calibre team.  The Twins have missed the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons with two of those being bad collapses.  That isn't a contending team.  Correa is good but can't really be expected to be a leader on this team.  His payroll and that of Buxton and Lopez make up too high of a percentage of payroll to be able to add to it.  Our "prospects" haven't proven anything yet.  I just think all viable options should be open.  Go ahead and trade him.