Confirmed: Minnesota Twins Taking Offers on Carlos Correa at MLB Winter Meetings
Just two years ago the Minnesota Twins made the most shocking move in franchise history when they landed Carlos Correa in free agency. A year later they doubled down by landing him (after two deals fell through) again. Now they could make an equally jarring move and they are actually entertaining it.
In case you haven’t heard, the Pohlad family are among the worst owners in professional sports. Carl offered up the Minnesota Twins for contraction. Jim gave us total system failure. Joe worried about right-sizing his business. Now with the team up for sale, payroll limitations put in place last year are again causing an issue.
Minnesota Twins taking and inviting trade offers for Carlos Correa at MLB winter meetings
One way to free up money is moving the team’s most sizable contract, and The Athletic’s Dan Hayes is being told by a newly promoted Derek Falvey that, while the Minnesota Twins aren’t “looking to simply shed Correa’s salary” the now team president is “open to listening to those [Correa trade] ideas” other front offices might have in mind.
If teams want to try to pry away Correa, who according to FanGraphs was worth 4.3 WAR last season, they’d need to pay a high premium.
“When (Correa) was on the field, he was one of the best players in the game,” Derek Falvey said. “Ultimately, he didn’t play as many games as we would have liked because he was dealing with the plantar fasciitis. That was unfortunate. But when he played, he was really good for us. He’s a leader. He’s a key member of the clubhouse. Obviously, you expect teams to call on players like that, especially with where we are and some of the conversations we’re having with other clubs. But we want to win, so a high bar is set.”
The Athletic
Related: Local MLB Insider Reveals Who is on Minnesota Twins Trade Block
Hayes went on to write that, “regardless of what obstacles are in place [the Twins] will entertain any and all offers” sent their way, seeminglingly inviting other heads of baseball operations to send over their best and most serious starting offers.
But regardless of what obstacles are in place, Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll will entertain any and all offers because they know it could lead them to learning about a player they desire being available in trade. Several years ago, similar discussions led the Twins to discover Pablo López was available.
Dan Hayes – The Athletic
As Falvey has often said, he is open to being creative, and this offseason will present the ultimate test of that. Trading a trio of veterans presents little spending power and leaves holes on the roster. Correa’s roster spent represents sizable dollars, but his acquisition meant so much more than that.
Trading Correa could irreversibly set back the Twins
Carlos Correa didn’t play enough games last year. He dealt with plantar fasciitis and was available for only 86 contests. When he was on the field though, he was an all-star that posted a team-leading fWAR and a 152 OPS+. There is no return that will provide salary relief and generate that sort of production.
Therein lies Minnesota’s problem. They were never supposed to sign Carlos Correa. Not the first time, and certainly not the second time. It was a fluke that it happened, and they convinced him suggesting the franchise cared about winning and he would be supplemented. The Pohlad’s have followed through making that a lie.
I love watching Carlos Correa play shortstop for the #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/Y6GIRwhqwj
— Ted (@tlschwerz) April 13, 2024
Derek Falvey was given one season in which payroll soared to new heights, but ultimately below inflation rates. Then he had to tell his star shortstop his knees were being cut off. Now he’ll need to ask if Correa is willing to waive that no-trade clause.
Maybe the shortstop will. Carlos Correa has won a World Series. Having him in your clubhouse and in the lineup makes it harder to lose games. We’ve found that out first hand. The man needs to be on top, and playing in the biggest moments. He craves it… needs it.
Related: Minnesota Twins Gain Additional 1st Round Draft Pick for 2025
So for a guy who cares so much about winning, playing for an ownership group that value winning nearly as much as you do has to be frustrating. baseball for an owner who cares about fielding a winning team. This isn’t Joe Mauer and the hometown nine. This was a mercenary that you never should have landed.
It remains unlikely that Minnesota deals Correa. The return won’t match up with what he provides as a player. The though of entertaining the idea, and even following through with it, is something new ownership will have to clean up.
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