7 takeaways from Correa’s big deal

Here are seven rapid takeaways from the deal.

1. The Giants ultimately have their centerpiece. Even once they received 107 video games two years in the past — a really staggering achievement that also form of boggles the thoughts — the Giants felt extra like a set of supporting items somewhat than one with a star within the center round which the whole lot else revolved. The Giants now have that star. Correa immediately turns into the face of this franchise — which has been searching for one since Buster Posey retired in 2021 — and he involves city each two years youthful and about $13 million per yr cheaper than Aaron Judge would have. Considering how profitable the Giants have been at discovering complementary items, and at extracting extra worth from veteran participant on the sides, having a star you’ll be able to rely on daily was, basically, the logical subsequent step. They have him now. And they’ve him for a really very long time.

2. Boy, the National League West certain has muscled up. Whether it’s the NL East or the NL West that has taken over for the AL East because the constant-arms-race division, it’s clear that the steadiness of spending energy has modified. The Padres loaded up with Xander Bogaerts (and naturally Juan Soto simply 5 months in the past), and now the Giants have introduced within the participant many thought-about the highest free agent available on the market, even counting Judge. The shock of this offseason is that the quietest group on the prime of this division has really been the Dodgers, who in fact have a large payroll and a stocked roster of their very own. That often is the supply of all this exercise: Teams seeing what the Dodgers have put collectively and deciding they’re not going to recede: They’re going to energy up and problem them. Which is precisely what we must always all need them to do.

3. Dodgers followers are going to get in a number of booing over the subsequent 13 years. Count us among the many individuals who imagine, had the Dodgers (or Yankees) signed Correa, their followers would have gotten over contemplating him Public Enemy No. 1 for the sign-stealing scandal fairly shortly: There’s one thing about watching a man launch homers on your favourite group that can make you come round on him. But now that Correa’s a Giant? Hoo boy. Booing Correa goes to develop into as massive a convention in Chavez Ravine as Dodger Dogs. If a Dodgers fan is born at present, they’ll get to boo Correa all the best way into highschool. Rarely has a fanbase been extra set as much as jeer their chosen villain, for a full decade-plus, as we’ve got right here.

4. What do the Twins do now? Hey, good query. The Twins opened some eyes by bringing in Correa final yr, and whereas he had a wonderful yr, it turned out to be simply that one yr … a yr the Twins didn’t even make the playoffs. And now that non-playoff group has a massive gap in the course of its infield, and its lineup. Maybe the Twins go after Dansby Swanson now, or possibly they attempt to make up for it with pitching, or possibly they take a step backward and retool. But one factor is evident: The Twins should not pretty much as good with out Correa.

5. Hey, are the Orioles going to do something? The Cubs? There would appear to be no franchise extra primed to make a giant splash this offseason than the O’s, who broke via for a successful document final yr after some seasons within the wilderness. And their GM even stated they had been going to be aggressive this winter, which has the fanbase ready with anticipation. And they’ve responded to this point with … Kyle Gibson. Correa could have been a pipe dream — although he shouldn’t have been, not likely — however if you happen to’re an Orioles fan who had been promised a giant winter after years of rebuilding, there may be presumably a little bit of frustration proper now. And for that matter … weren’t the Cubs going to get a celebrity in some unspecified time in the future as properly? They even have a giant gap at shortstop, and Correa would have been adored there. When do they make their splash? Or is there simply not one coming?

6. Will Correa now develop into the perennial MVP candidate we’ve been ready for? Correa has been a unbelievable participant all through his profession, clearly — we’re not disparaging the man. But if you happen to keep in mind when he broke on the scene in 2015, truthfully, a number of us questioned if he was a generations expertise on a Hall of Fame observe. He was a terrific defender, a possible top-shelf hitter and a charismatic, charming persona, the form of man you imagined on the aspect of a Wheaties field. Injuries have damage him a little bit, and the Astros sign-stealing scandal damage him so much, however there’s a sense that there was extra to get out of him: He has solely made two All-Star Games, in any case. Well, he’s now the general public face of one among baseball’s signature franchises, with a fanbase that, once they love you, will love you without end. He completed fifth in MVP voting final yr, the very best he has ever reached. Can he be a celebrity who’s in that prime 5 frequently?

7. Normal offseasons are nice. Isn’t this enjoyable? With the pandemic, the lockout after which final offseason, which was actually a restoration from each, we haven’t had a superb old style Hot Stove in approach, approach too lengthy. The Winter Meetings had been flamable and kinetic, massive star gamers are signing with massive identify groups, rivalries are brewing … and we nonetheless have a ton of free brokers to be signed. This is enjoyable. This is the way it’s alleged to be.