Related: Mr. October Carlos Correa Has Arrived and He is Beautiful

Because sometime between the hours of 12:30 and 1:00 a.m CST on the morning of March 19 that spring, the Minnesota Twins and Carlos Correa agreed to a 3-year contract (really just a one-year) that sent shockwaves through the baseball community. I happened to wake up around 1:30 a.m, thought I was dreaming, and had an article up by 2:15 a.m.

Not only was I not dreaming, but after a few contracts fell through one offseason later, Correa now resides in the Twin Cities long-term. But that shocking signing nearly two years ago was a franchise-altering moment that changed the trajectory of the Twins organization forever.

This is October.
This is Carlos Correa. #WeBelieveinTC pic.twitter.com/omkPgpshIv

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 9, 2023

And it was all thanks to MLB super agent, Scott Boras, who found himself frustrated with the long-term offers being made to his client, Carlos Correa at that time. In response, Boras turned to the Twins and offered them what we thought was a once in a lifetime opportunity to snag a superstar in Minnesota, even if it would’ve been for just one summer.

Scott Boras holding up the MLB offseason again?

But the MLB offseason market is once again at a stand-still in 2024, just like it was entering the spring back in 2022. And guess what, it’s Scott Boras who is playing chicken with MLB front offices yet again. All five of the top free agents remaining on the market, and six of the top eight, are all Scott Boras clients.

• OF – Cody Bellinger (28-y/o) | Boras
• SP – Blake Snell (31 y/o) | Boras
• 3B – Matt Chapman (30 y/o) | Boras
• SP – Jordan Montgomery (31 y/o) | Boras
• DH – J.D. Martinez (36 y/o) | Boras
• SP – Julio Urias (27 y/o) | Boras

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins have been so quiet this offseason that, for awhile, many were wondering if there were any live souls walking around Target Field headquarters for a month or more. At the beginning of the offseason, the the Twins announced that they would be cutting back payroll before the start of Spring Training, citing the many unknowns surrounding their TV contract and $60 million in revenue that was up in the air.

Related: Handful of MLB Teams Including Twins Duped by International Prospects Lying About Age

A few months later, that TV/streaming situation is still yet to be figured out. Nonetheless, whether it be as part of the Amazon deal just signed by Bally Sports or they find another route, it appears the Twins are heading toward a solution that won’t cover all $60 million of that lost revenue, but certainly a large chunk of it. And President Dave St. Peter says they are very optimistic about future possibilities.

Recently, Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli have been out, about and talking kind of big. Rocco Baldelli went on KFAN radio last week and told Dan Barreiro that he would bet on something big happening before the team gathers less than a month from now for Spring Training. And reporters around town seem like they know something we don’t.

Twinsfest was packed and the club expects to easily pass 2 million in attendance this season. You know why? The team was good. This is why they should keep adding.

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) January 27, 2024

Are Minnesota Twins playing dead for Scott Boras again?

Suddenly, the Twins have gone from dead in the casket, ‘we’re not spending anything, don’t even call us’… to pumping up fans and media members with optimism that something big might be on the horizon. Which begs to question, are the Twins in cahoots with Scott Boras again?

Has Falvey been waiting to deal Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco until they know what kind of surprise Boras might have for them under the offseason tree this time around? If Boras were to throw the Twins Bellinger, Snell or Montgomery, three superstars at their positions, just like they did Correa in 2022, Minnesota would be able to fill in a position of need and then adjust their offseason plan from there.

Related: Twins Trade Chips Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler Both Participating in ‘Twinsfest’

How would they afford one of those players? The front office has already cut about $25 million in player salary this offseason and now they’re starting to feel better about the TV situation. And sure, they don’t want to trade Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco for prospect packages, right now.

But if an expensive free agent addition were to change their approach, Falvey could find another $20 million by dumping their salaries for prospects, instead of demanding a tit-for-tat MLB talent only deal. Of course, there’s nothing being officially reported on something like this, but there wasn’t back in 2022 either.

Then, I woke up to go pee and the entire franchise future had been changed. So, I’m not saying to hold your breath until Cody Bellinger or Blake Snell are in Minnesota Twins uniforms. But this is absolutely something worth monitoring, at this point.

Twins “back front and center” on Carlos Correa

On Friday morning, Jim Bowden (The Athletic) advanced the story; first with a tweet, then on MLB Network Radio (SiriusXM). Bowden went as far as saying the Twins are “back front and center” in the Carlos Correa conversation and ended the clip below with a quip about where Carlos Correa’s future Minneapolis statue might stand (transcribed below).

The #Dodgers are expected to release Trevor Bauer today and the #Twins are still a factor in the Carlos Correa sweepstakes according to sources.

— Jim Bowden⚾️???? (@JimBowdenGM) January 6, 2023

????Carlos Correa update from @JimBowdenGM????

The #Twins are back in!

"There is a possibility the Minnesota Twins come in and pick Correa out from under the New York Mets' noses."@Twins | #AllTwins | @Mets | #Mets | #LGM pic.twitter.com/7IwmAH4vd1

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) January 6, 2023

“I’ll tell you what I’m hearing this morning is that the Twins have some momentum here with the possibility of shocking us all once again. They are still involved in Correa and they’ve got a shot here. I think they’re willing to do a little more of a risk on the medicals than even the Giants or the Mets were in terms of years and dollars, from what I’m hearing. So we’ll see how this plays out but I do think progress is being made here. I don’t think this is gonna go on forever but the Minnesota Twins are, yes, are back front and center in this Carlos Correa thing.”

“There is a possibility here that the Minnesota Twins come in and just go pick out Correa right under the New York Mets’ noses. It’s a strong possibility, if the Mets don’t move from their present position, don’t be surprised if the Mary Tyler-Moore statue someday has a Correa statue next to it.”

Jim Bowden – MLB Network Radio

Mets Frustrated with Correa?

When most of us woke up Friday morning, a reunion press conference at Target Field with Falvey, Levine, Boras and Correa all sitting together at a long table felt far-fetched. Even Heyman, in his initial report Thursday night, expressed a pretty strong belief that Correa would eventually resolve his differences with the Mets and play future home games in the Big Apple.

But Andy Martino (SNY Network) says that negotiations between Boras and the Mets are at an inflection point. That Steve Cohen & Co are considering walking away altogether.

Over the past few days, the Mets have grown “very frustrated” with Carlos Correa negotiations, in the words of one source with direct knowledge of the team’s thinking, and are now considering walking away altogether.

Andy Martino (SNY Network)

Go Twins Go?

These most recent reports, if nothing else, give the Twins a fighting chance at landing Correa. Could Minnesota’s original offer — somewhere in the range of $285 million over 10 years — end up as the best on Carlos’ table?

Is it really possible that the Pohlads are willing to invest all of that future cash on Carlos Correa after two failed physicals with other teams? I guess we’ll find out the answers to those questions soon enough…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Twins back in contact with Carlos Correa, Scott Boras

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen didn’t, quickly signing Correa to a 12-year $315 million deal. But now another failed physical has put his new big apple relationship on ice too. Both Mets and Giants doctors expressed serious concerns about an ankle injury that dates back to 2014.

Said concerns have put such a snag in talks with the Mets that it appears the Twins are back in the running for their former one-hit wonder shortstop. At the least, according to Jon Heyman (New York Post), they’re again in contact with Correa’s agent, Scott Boras.

There’s been decent hope for two weeks that Correa and the Mets could finalize the agreement, with a few alterations, and Correa’s camp had limited discussions to the Mets until Thursday. But two weeks into the discussions, the unresolved issues have at least led Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, to check in with other teams. The incumbent Twins, who know Correa best and offered close to $285 million over 10 years, were one of the teams in some contact with Boras.

Jon Heyman – New York Post

The Mets are concerned about the lower leg due to an injury when Correa was in the minors, and subsequent operation performed in 2014. While he has missed no days in the majors related to that incident, and according to Boras received no related treatment either, like the Giants before them Mets doctors have raised concerns about how the leg will hold up over a contract that would extend until he’s 40 years old. 

Jon Heyman – New York Post

What are the chances?

It looks like the Mets are still the betting favorites to land Carlos Correa, mostly just because billionaire owner Steve Cohen doesn’t give a shit and is willing to spend as much money as it takes. No matter how reckless it may seem.

It isn’t known how serious those talks with outside teams may be, but one Mets person, who said he was aware Correa’s camp was at least touching base with others, still struck a note of faith that the Mets would get it done when he predicted, “Ultimately, I don’t think Mr. Cohen is going to let him go,” referring to club owner Steve Cohen. 

Jon Heyman – New York Post

Even if Boras is just using the Minnesota Twins as leverage in hopes Cohen will give into whatever demands he and Correa are seeking, the fact he’s going back to the Target Field well seems worth something. If talks eventually fall through with the Mets, other teams would surely be interested.

You never know…

But it’s the Twins who would know Correa’s medicals better than any other team. If Boras is sick of this run around with other organizations then it would make sense he’d take the offer that’s been on the table in Minnesota for weeks, which is reportedly 10 years, $285 million.

This latest twist has at least added extra intrigue to a situation that everyone had agreed was likely to lead to a deal with the Mets, perhaps as early as by the end of this week, even after they raised an issue regarding Correa’s right ankle in medicals following the agreement. 

Jon Heyman – New York Post

In the words of a very wise man nearly two decades ago… “So you’re saying there’s a chance…?”

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

All this while knowing their offer (10 years, $285 million), paled in comparison to that of big market teams like the San Francisco Giants. For the Twins, there was no plan B, even if they claimed otherwise. So when Correa eventually agreed to a 13-year, $350 million deal to continue and finish his career in the Bay Area, Falvine had nowhere to turn.

Sure, they told us that a rebuild was out of the question but their roster construction says different. They lack a legitimate ace pitcher and, without Correa in the lineup, an anchor in the middle of the order. Sure, there’s time to improve the team’s outlook for 2023 but it’ll cost prospects they can’t afford to lose.

Life is about 2nd chances…

But then… the $350 million mega-deal between the Giants and Carlos Correa fell through. San Francisco cancelled the introductory press conference and bailed on the deal hours later because of concerns over Correa’s surgically repaired ankle, which was operated on eight years ago and hasn’t been a problem since.

The Giants have postponed today’s press conference to introduce Carlos Correa ????????‍♂️

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) December 20, 2022

The Giants were not convinced. The team’s fear, according to people with knowledge of their assessment, concerned the long-term stability of his leg — and the potential for Correa to quickly lose the mobility that won him a Platinum Glove in 2021. Boras scoffed at that notion, citing the 10-year offer made this winter by the Minnesota Twins, for whom Correa played during the 2022 season. If a team familiar with his medical history was willing to offer Correa a decade-long contract, his reasoning went, how bad could the injury really be? — Jeff Passan (ESPN)

So Carlos’ agent, Scott Boras, picked up the phone from his Bay Area hotel room and called Derek Falvey. His client was back on the market and ready to be a Minnesota Twin once again. All that was needed to get the deal done was an increase from their original offer of 10 years, $285 million.

Twins say ‘thanks but no thanks” to Carlos Correa reunion

One more year at the same AAV might have gotten it done. Maybe they’d need to add two years. Either way, it was the perfect opportunity to make up for their underwhelming original offer and make waves that would splash across the MLB and send Twins’ fans into a frenzy about how far their favorite team could go having Carlos Correa cemented into their lineup for the next decade.

Instead, the Minnesota front office hesitated. Falvine refused to up their original offer of $285 million over 10 years and demanded details as to why Correa failed the Giants’ physical. Meanwhile, Steve Cohen and the New York Mets did exactly what the Twins should have. They pounced.

When he called again on Tuesday, Boras informed the Twins they’d need to improve upon their original offer. Team sources said the Twins wouldn’t increase their bid, nor would they hold further discussions until they had a better understanding of the medical concerns that reportedly caused Correa’s deal with the Giants to fall apart. With New York Mets owner Steve Cohen already showing interest, Boras quickly moved on from the Twins. Later that night, Correa agreed to his contract with the Mets. — Dan Hayes (The Athletic)

Same old Twins… again.

Cohen regretted losing out on Correa the first time around and wasn’t going to let it happen again. The Mets upped their offer from 12 years, $288 million to 13 years, $315 million. So now, the guy who could have saved the Twins’ future will play in the Big Apple.

Is it possible that the Mets would have outbid the Twins, even if Falvine had seriously re-engaged with Boras on Tuesday? Of course, Steve Cohen has proven that money and luxury taxes will not stop him from building the best roster in baseball.

But we’ll never know because, once again, the Minnesota Twins didn’t even try. If they were living with regret, after originally losing Correa, they didn’t show it this week. Instead, they showed their fanbase an unwillingness to invest in winning. Something we’ve become far too accustomed to with this franchise.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan