It Was Too Short, but Carlos Correa’s 2024 Season Was Marvelous - Caretaker Exclusive

[Davy Andrews]

Carlos Correa only played 83 games, and the Twins only won 82. But don't let that distract you from what Correa just accomplished.

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

What with the injury and the trade rumors and the gut-wrenching slow-motion trainwreck that was the final quarter of the Twins’ season, this article is here just to serve as a simple reminder: Carlos Correa had an absolutely bonkers 2024. According to FanGraphs, Correa put up 4.3 WAR in 2024 despite playing in just 83 games. That was the fourth-highest total of what has at least an outside chance of being a Hall of Fame career. This century, 153 shortstops have had seasons in which they put up at least 3.9 fWAR. Would you like to guess how many of them played fewer games than Correa? If you guessed zero, then you were right.

In half a season, Correa was the 26th-most valuable position player in baseball. When he went down with plantar fasciitis on Jul. 12, his 3.6 fWAR ranked 10th among all position players. To be sure, having a great first half is never a guarantee that you’re going to have a great second half, but that’s still extraordinary. As much of a bummer as it is, staying healthy is a skill, and players who can do it deserve recognition. I’m not trying to say that Correa should be viewed as the best player in baseball this season, or even the best player on the Twins. What I am saying is that his absence made it too easy to ignore just how special this (half-)season was. Let’s not fall into that trap.

Before we dig into just how Correa amassed all that WAR, I’ll just say quickly that this is why I’m not too worried about the trade speculation. Don’t get me wrong; I would be straight-up devastated if the Twins were to trade Correa. However, while it might be easy for Twins fans to miss this particular silver lining after a very cloudy season, I assure you that teams around baseball have not. They get just how valuable Correa is, especially considering his contract situation. He’s signed through the 2028 season, with another four years of club options at progressively smaller dollar amounts, which means that exercising them would reduce the contract’s average annual value against the competitive balance tax.

You can bet that for Correa to accede to a deal, he would want at least one of those options exercised. Stop for a moment and try to imagine the prospect haul that would be required to acquire Correa on (say) an eight-year deal with a lower AAV than Nathan Eovaldi's. So while the Twins might listen to offers, it would take a monster offer for them to even consider it. Okay, let’s talk about how Correa did it.

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[DocBauer]

Correa's first season with the Twins in 2022 was one of the best in his career. His 2023 was marred by injury as a "tough it out and try to help" year where he was finally healthy enough to finish the season strong and help in the playoffs.

There's no question his 2024 was disappointing for missing the 2nd half, despite being about the only hitter who didn't cave the last 6 weeks. But what he did in 2024 shouldn't be ignored. And it should also put to rest anyone who is actually listening to pundits in other cities who speculate they should inquire about Correa as just fluff.

He's of tremendous importance to the Twins and he's not going anywhere. And that's a good thing!

I've suffered through plantar facilities and had the worst physical pain in my life. But it's never come back. I'm willing to bet Correa, through therapy and better shoes, won't have a return of PF again. 

I'm so stoked about what he will bring to the 2025 Twins as a hitter and leader. Supposedly, his defense is not as great as it once was. Maybe. I just know that the SS I saw in 2024 was outstanding!

And I see NO REASON not to expect general excellence in 2025 from Correa yet again if he's healthy.

[LambchoP]

If we can ever get a full season from Correa, Buck and Lewis, we would probably win the central for sure. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think it will ever happen. That said, Correa is the best all around player we have and is the leader of this team. Without him, we'd have no identity or validity whatsoever.