Correa, Twins reach 6-year deal, pending physical (sources)

MINNEAPOLIS — Not as soon as, however twice this offseason, it seemed just like the Twins had been out of the Carlos Correa sweepstakes for good.

For the second offseason in a row, the Twins have shocked the baseball world by reportedly agreeing to phrases with Correa, this time on a long-term deal guaranteeing six years and $200 million, a supply advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The contract additionally contains 4 further vesting seasons that may be value as much as a further $70 million. Either approach, it represents the biggest free-agent dedication in Twins historical past, each by years and {dollars}.

But nonetheless, the deal, which the workforce has not confirmed, is pending completion of a bodily — and people phrases have completed numerous work all through the practically month-long course of involving Correa and agreements with three totally different groups.

That winding highway, reportedly involving long-term issues concerning Correa’s surgically repaired decrease proper leg, is why the Twins had been capable of conform to phrases as soon as once more with Correa in opposition to all odds, bringing him again as his former teammates had earnestly hoped. In doing so, they lastly have the splashy transfer that eluded them all through free company, throughout which a reunion with the shortstop at all times remained a spotlight.

Here’s how Correa and the Twins obtained right here, and right here’s what stays to be completed:

On Dec. 13, Correa agreed to a 13-year, $350 million cope with the Giants, however his introductory press convention was abruptly canceled amid reported issues concerning the bodily, and on Dec. 21, an unimaginable pivot noticed Correa conform to a 12-year, $315 million contract with the Mets — once more, pending a bodily.

But Correa and the Mets have hovered in limbo within the three weeks since, with further experiences persevering with to emerge of issues concerning the leg, which Correa broke throughout a 2014 Minor League recreation and had surgically repaired. After all that point, preliminary experiences emerged on Monday night time that talks between the Twins and Correa had been once more intensifying — and Tuesday noticed the experiences emerge of the third deal.

It’s been a course of in contrast to something within the current historical past of baseball’s free company — and it’s not over but, as a result of Correa nonetheless must undergo the Twins’ bodily course of, too, which had not but begun in earnest as of the time of the deal being reported, in accordance with a supply.

With that stated, the reported construction of the Twins’ deal is inherently much less dangerous than the unique offers between Correa and the Giants and Mets, just because the assure of the contract solely spans six seasons, by means of Correa’s age-33 season. (San Francisco’s authentic assure would have taken Correa by means of his age-40 season, whereas the Mets would have taken Correa by means of his age-39 marketing campaign.)

A 33-year-old shortstop continues to be effectively in his bodily prime, and the Twins are paying a premium — a median annual worth of $33.3 million — to maintain Correa by means of that prime. And Minnesota’s dedication to searching for “creative” options, as president of baseball operations Derek Falvey maintained all through the method, appears to have come into play with the 4 further vesting seasons at a decrease common worth, which might each mitigate the Twins’ long-term threat if the years vest and fulfill Correa’s want to determine long-term roots in a company.

If the 4 further years vest, the overall contract would come very near the ten years and $285 million the Twins had been reportedly keen to supply Correa earlier than this whole saga started.

All advised, Correa’s leg seems to have knocked seven assured years and $150 million off his authentic contract with the Giants — nevertheless it’s additionally value noting that Correa has by no means hung out on the Major League injured record with a proper leg subject. He performed 136 video games final season, solely lacking time for COVID-19 and after being struck within the hand by a pitch.

Correa had a career-best 140 OPS+ final season, hitting .291/.366/.467 with 22 homers and 24 doubles after signing a three-year, $105.3 million cope with a pair of opt-outs that had already come as a shock to the baseball world on the tail finish of a free company deeply impacted by the lockout.

In that one yr, the perimeters discovered mutual respect and admiration far past what they might have hoped — and, after one other huge coup, the Twins seem to have their man once more. This time, it’s for the long-term — permitting them to pair Correa and Byron Buxton up the center by means of not less than the 2028 season.