The Mets and Carlos Correa nonetheless shouldn’t have a decision after two weeks, however the excellent news is that it appears as if one is perhaps on the horizon.
Ken Rosenthal, talking on “The Athletic Baseball Show” podcast, mentioned he expects the 2 events to finish a deal this week. Rosenthal additionally mentioned he expects the contract to be totally different than what was initially agreed on — a 12-year, $315 million deal.
None of this can be a shock. If the membership is anxious concerning the long-term ramifications of his surgically-repaired ankle then they’ve just a few choices, like together with a clause within the contract about lacking video games due to the ankle and/or leg or decreasing the variety of years. The choices in all probability will not be interesting to Correa, nevertheless it’s in all probability higher than attempting his luck on the open market once more.
Mets’ proprietor Steve Cohen clearly needed Correa and different groups have been advised that Correa solely desires to barter with the Mets proper now. All indicators level to Correa, which is nice as a result of if the membership had been to pivot in one other path, the choices can be restricted.
Eduardo Escobar is more likely to be traded as soon as the Correa deal is full, however ought to one thing fall via, the Mets can nonetheless use him. That would possibly create an uncomfortable state of affairs given the truth that the membership did attempt to substitute him with Correa, however he’s nonetheless below contract via 2023 with an choice for 2024.
All of the elite free-agent hitters have signed with different groups, leaving solely depth choices in the marketplace. Eric Hosmer may have been an honest choice to convey a veteran presence and use as a DH or to spell Pete Alonso at first base, however the Mets aren’t precisely missing in World Series winners with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander anchoring the rotation. However, Hosmer is reportedly headed to the Chicago Cubs. Brandon Belt, one other left-handed hitting first baseman, would match that very same class as Hosmer.
Khalil Lee will get an opportunity to compete for the fifth outfield spot — assuming the Mets will nonetheless use Jeff McNeil within the outfield subsequent season — but when the Mets need outfield depth they may signal AJ Pollock or Adam Duvall. Both are veterans of their mid-30s so they’d be signed to one- or two-year contracts at most, but when the membership deems it essential to bolster the outfield via free company, then they may very well be choices.
It’s no secret the lineup may use just a few extra house runs so they may take a flier on 42-year-old Nelson Cruz, who has hit 459 of them all through his 18-year profession and is simply two years faraway from hitting 32 as a 40-year-old all-star. However, final season he hit simply 10 of them for the Nationals.
If the Mets are prepared to go the commerce route, outfielder Bryan Reynolds requested for a commerce out of Pittsburgh earlier this winter. But the Pirates have little motivation to deal a participant of Reynolds’ caliber and the Mets have been hesitant to go the commerce route with out a well-stocked farm. They do have a blue-chip prospect in Ronny Mauricio that they may use in a commerce since he’s blocked at shortstop on the big-league stage.
As for attempting to commerce for somebody like Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels will not be anticipated to commerce him this season. It’s much more doubtless the Mets wait till he’s a free agent subsequent season to try to use the most effective useful resource they should persuade him to return to Queens: cash.
But perhaps except Reynolds, none of those choices present the Mets with the kind of franchise cornerstone they’re searching for. It looks like it’s Correa or bust, that means there may be vital motivation to get a deal carried out quickly.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com