Correa Spurns Mets, Signs with Twins Instead

And so it goes for the New York Mets. The Amazin's valiant attempt to lock-down a deal with Carlos Correa ends much the same way it did with the San Francisco Giants a month ago, with Correa signing elsewhere. 

After contract negotiations between the Mets and Correa’s camp stalled just before the Christmas break, the two sides never could agree to a deal after it was initially reported that the Amazin’s and Correa agreed in principal to a 12-year $315 million deal on December 21.

Like the San Francisco Giants before them, the Mets tried in good faith to sign Correa, but concerns over an ankle injury from years ago would up nixing the deal. The Mets tried to work something out with Correa and his agent Scott Boras, but nothing came to fruition.

Instead Correa went back to Minnesota on a six-year $200 million contract — a far cry from the 13-years, $350 million offered to him by San Francisco a month ago. The agreement includes a vesting option for four years and $70 million and will become official if Correa passes a medical review.

According to Jeff Passon of ESPN, the Twins are expected to be comfortable with Correa’s leg, an injury he had surgery on back in 2014, and has not spent any time on the injury list for any setbacks to his right leg.

The loss of Correa is the first real “L” that owner Steve Cohen has taken as owner. He wanted Correa on the Mets, pursued him, had him on an agreement, but in the end the Mets and Correa couldn’t get over the finish line.

That means, barring an unforseen mega deal, the Mets enter Spring Training with a platoon at third base between veteran Eduardo Escobar (.240, 20 HR, 69 RBI) and rookie Brett Baty, who is one of the Mets top three prospects in their farm system.