The Minnesota Twins officially completed what just months ago seemed improbable. On Wednesday they re-signed shortstop Carlos Correa to a six-year, $200 million contract. The free agent had spent one season with the Twins and made it clear he would shop for options elsewhere.
First, the San Francisco Giants came to an agreement with Correa on a 13-year, $350 million deal. But a physical turned up some questions, and the deal was off. Then, the free-spending New York Mets and Correa came to an agreement on a 12-year, $315 million contract. But, again, a physical turned up questions.
Agent Scott Boras told WCCO’s Chad Hartman on Wednesday afternoon the questions were mainly about an ankle injury Correa suffered when he was 19, and the metal plate inserted to help two broken bones heal.
“Even though his functionality has been remarkable for eight years, (the teams were) going to project into the future that there’s a problem,” said Boras. “There has been no MRIs, no anything, not even a complaint by him. It’s kind of hard to go through seven or eight seasons and not twist your ankle.”
“I never got any treatment on my ankle,” said Correa. “My ankle’s never hurt, so when the news came, it was a little shocking.”
So, it was back to Minnesota, where Correa had forged relationships both in the clubhouse and in the community. Twins President Derek Falvey said he reached out to Correa when it was clear he was going to sign elsewhere.
“It was an emotional conversation,” Falvey said during the press conference Wednesday morning at Target Field. “It was a heartfelt conversation on both sides. And what I took away from that conversation was how much of his heart was here, how much of him he invested in this organization, and how much he cared about us.”
The Twins say Correa passed a physical, and they signed him to a six-year, $200 million contract, with bonuses and options for more years.
“Sometimes in baseball, as in life and everywhere else, fate and destiny come back together, and there’s an opportunity you don’t always expect.”