Minnesota Twins

Veteran catcher Christian Vázquez agreed to a three-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, according to the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham.

Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press reported the deal is worth $30 million.

A number of teams had shown interest in the 32-year-old.

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said the team was open to a reunion. Abraham included the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres in the mix.

Vázquez split the 2022 season with the Red Sox and Houston Astros. In 119 games between both stops, he hit .274 with nine home runs, 52 RBI and a .399 slugging percentage. He then posted a .551 OPS during the postseason as the Astros went on to win their second World Series title.

Offense hasn't historically been Vázquez's strength. For his career, he has an 85 OPS+, per Baseball Reference, and a .301 wOBA, per FanGraphs. Both peg him as a below-average hitter.

Vázquez's defense is a slightly different story. He ranked 24th in catcher framing runs at Baseball Savant and saw improvements in his pop time to second (1.94 seconds) and third base (1.5 seconds).

The Twins were in need of a veteran catcher with Gary Sánchez, who played in 128 games, hitting free agency.

The biggest domino, Willson Contreras, fell off the board when he signed a five-year, $87.5 million pact with the St. Louis Cardinals. Vázquez was one of the better alternatives still available, and he gives Minnesota a clear upgrade over Ryan Jeffers, who spelled Sánchez in 2022.

Vázquez probably won't provide the Twins with a ton of surplus value, but he offers a high floor for a franchise that wants to rebound after losing 84 games and finishing third in the American League Central.

The market for the best MLB free agent on the board might be narrowing.

MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips reported Monday the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins are seen as the favorites in the sweepstakes for star shortstop Carlos Correa.

While a few of the top free agents have signed new deals, adopting a more patient approach has worked in Correa's favor.

The pacts for Trea Turner (11 years, $300 million) and Xander Bogaerts (11 years, $280 million) have helped shape his market value. You wouldn't expect Correa to get less money than Turner or Bogaerts considering he's better than both.

The Giants and Twins aren't in a strong position to negotiate either.

San Francisco has shown a willingness to spend, but that doesn't matter much if star players don't sign. Having already missed out on Aaron Judge, not landing Correa will make this a bitterly disappointing offseason.

Minnesota, meanwhile, has to pay the same tax often required of smaller-market franchises when a talent as good as Correa is in the picture. Last year, that meant agreeing to a contract that allowed him to walk after only one season.

If Correa prefers a return to the Twins, then he might have to act fast. The Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal III reported the team might look toward other targets such as shortstop Dansby Swanson if there isn't a resolution within the next few days.

In general, it feels as though a final decision could come soon because there isn't much more benefit in waiting for Correa. The shortstop market has largely taken shape already, and you would've expected a mystery team to emerge by now.

Carlos Correa's market is starting to take shape.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins are among the teams interested in the 28-year-old shortstop.

ESPN's Buster Olney said on 95.7 The Game's Willard & Dibs on Friday that the New York Yankees could be in play for the best remaining free agent because "they're working on something big" after getting a commitment from Aaron Judge.

Once Judge decided to re-sign with the Yankees, the Giants became the most logical fit for Correa. They had an offer on the table for the reigning American League MVP of around $360 million in total value, per Heyman.

If the Giants offered that much for Judge, why not make the same proposal to Correa?

While Correa isn't the same level of superstar as Judge, at least by name recognition, there's a strong argument he would be a better free-agent investment. He's two-and-a-half years younger than Judge, plays a more important defensive position and has played it at a high level for most of his career.

The Giants have fallen behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the National League West hierarchy. The Padres show no signs of slowing their spending, having signed Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million deal.

Correa alone wouldn't make the Giants a playoff contender, but he would help them close the gap on the top two teams in their division.

The Cubs have put themselves in an interesting spot, even after losing Willson Contreras to the St. Louis Cardinals. They've spent money the past two offseasons to bring in Marcus Stroman, Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon, but they lack high-ceiling players who can get them back into playoff contention in 2023.

Chicago has reportedly been heavily involved in the shortstop market this offseason. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported team brass met with Bogaerts earlier this month as well as Correa.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney reported Thursday the Cubs have a "particular focus" on Dansby Swanson.

The Twins are familiar with Correa after he played for them last season. He was a standout in their lineup with a .291/.366/.467 slash line and 22 homers in 136 games.

The AL Central is wide-open every year because none of the teams spend exorbitant amounts of money to sign players. The Cleveland Guardians won the division last season with 92 wins and appear to have a bright future, but their biggest addition has been Josh Bell.

The Chicago White Sox finished .500 and have lost José Abreu in free agency. Their only meaningful addition has been Mike Clevinger.

The Twins have a path to win the AL Central in 2023. If they can bring back Correa, that path becomes easier.

The Boston Red Sox have a huge hole to fill after losing star shortstop Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres. Fortunately, the team can pivot by pursuing one of the best free agents remaining on the market.

Carlos Correa, who spent the 2022 season with the Minnesota Twins after playing the first seven years of his major-league career with the Houston Astros, would be a more-than-suitable replacement for Bogaerts in Boston's infield. He also has a strong relationship with Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was Houston's bench coach during its World Series championship run in 2017.

As one of the more popular names in this year's free-agent class, Correa won't have a shortage of suitors. The Red Sox will face a ton of competition for the 28-year-old, and the team's recent spending habits indicate it's not looking to break the bank.

Bogaerts left for San Diego for a reported $280 million deal over 11 years. The four-time All-Star was considered the face of the franchise, but Boston deemed him too expensive and let him walk. Correa, who is younger and a better defender than Bogaerts, will likely command a similar price or higher.

If the Red Sox are looking for a cheaper option, they could turn to Atlanta Braves free-agent shortstop Dansby Swanson. The 28-year-old is coming off a career year in which he earned his first trip to the All-Star Game and first Gold Glove Award. Boston could look to offer him a short-term deal with a high average annual value in order to address other holes on its roster.

After shoring up their bullpen by signing closer Kenley Jansen on Wednesday, the Red Sox still need to add a reliable starting pitcher to its rotation. The team could look to bring back veteran Nathan Eovaldi, who is a free agent after spending the last four-plus years in Boston, but there are more attractive options on the open market.

Carlos Rodón is the best pitcher available and can be the ace of Boston's staff, but the question remains as to how much the team is willing to spend. Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt are both dependable starters and would be strong additions to any rotation. Veterans like Corey Kluber and Noah Syndergaard would be cheaper, but riskier, players to target.

The Red Sox have finished last in the AL East twice in the last three years, so this offseason will be crucial to bucking that trend. Boston's front office would be wise to loosen the reins on spending in order to land a big-name player this year. If it doesn't, it runs the risk of further disappointing an already restless fan base.

The Minnesota Twins are reportedly planning to "go hard" in their efforts to re-sign shortstop Carlos Correa despite plenty of competition on the free-agent market.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday there are at least eight MLB teams that have shown interest in Correa, who's entered free agency for the second straight year.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rico native signed a three-year contract with the Twins in March, but it included an opt-out clause after the first season, which he exercised in early November.

Correa enjoyed a solid campaign with the Twins. He compiled a .291/.366/.467 slash line with 22 home runs across 136 appearances. His 4.4 WAR ranked ninth among shortstops, per FanGraphs.

The shortstop spent the first seven years of his MLB career with the Houston Astros, highlighted by winning a World Series title in 2017. His individual accolades included the AL Rookie of the Year Award and a pair of All-Star selections (2017 and 2021).

His latest foray into free agency is slightly complicated by the fact there are four standout shortstops available, the others being Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

In turn, the signings may be a little sluggish until one of them joins a team to help set the contract market for the others. The fact eight clubs have already checked in with Correa shows the demand is high, which is a good sign for the entire quartet.

The Twins' firm interest likely stems from the need to have lineup protection for Byron Buxton. A top three in the order of Luis Arraez, Buxton and Correa is strong, and it doesn't have the same potential if Max Kepler or Jorge Polanco slides into the No. 3 spot.

Correa spoke about a potential return to Minnesota in late September, saying it was up to the Twins to make the best offer:

So it sounds like the standout infielder is taking a business-first approach to free agency. That puts the pressure on the team's front office to decide whether it's willing to outbid all of the other clubs with interest.

If not, the Twins will have a significant lineup void to fill before the 2023 season gets underway.

Carlos Correa has already stated his intention to become a free agent, but the Minnesota Twins intend to make a play to keep the two-time All-Star shortstop.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Twins "plan to bid" on Correa in free agency and "may stretch" to sign him.

Correa told Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día (h/t ESPN.com) on Oct. 13 he's going to exercise his opt-out clause to become a free agent.

"With the year that I have had, my health and my being at the best moment of my career at 28, that is the right decision," Correa said.

This will mark the second consecutive offseason that Correa will be on the open market. He was expected to land a long-term deal last winter, but he instead opted for a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins in March.

Minnesota structured the deal to provide Correa with an opt-out after each of the first two seasons. It will be interesting to see how the free-agent market for shortstops plays out this offseason.

Correa and Trea Turner are going to be available for every team to sign. Xander Bogaerts could join them if he declines his player option with the Boston Red Sox.

Heyman did note the Twins won't go to the same level for Correa as the Texas Rangers did when they signed Corey Seager to a 10-year, $325 million contract in December.

Correa had an excellent 2022 season in Minnesota. He hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 homers and 64 RBI in 136 games. The former American League Rookie of the Year has hit at least 20 homers with a .450 slugging percentage in six of the past eight seasons.

Injuries contributed to the Twins finishing a disappointing 78-84 and third place in the AL Central this season. Since winning back-to-back division titles in 2019 and 2020, they have gone 151-173 over the past two seasons combined.

Veteran shortstop Carlos Correa told El Nuevo Día newspaper (h/t ESPN) on Wednesday that he will opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Minnesota Twins and become a free agent.

The news comes as little surprise after ESPN's Buster Olney reported on May 18 that there was "an industry assumption" that Correa would opt out of his contract to become a free agent again if he ended the season on a high note.

The 28-year-old signed a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins as a free agent ahead of the 2022 campaign. He went on to have a solid first season in Minnesota, slashing .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI in 136 games.

However, the Twins finished third in the AL Central with a 78-84 record. They missed the playoffs in what was a disappointing season.

The 28-year-old was seeking a deal worth $330 million-$350 million in free agency before he signed with the Twins, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman. It's possible he'll be searching for the same type of long-term contract this time around.

Correa began his career with the Houston Astros, which selected him first overall in 2012. He made his MLB debut in 2015 and went on to win Rookie of the Year after slashing .279/.345/.512 with 22 home runs, 68 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 99 games.

The Puerto Rican went on to play seven seasons in Houston, earning two All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, Platinum Glove and 2017 World Series title.

One of his best seasons with the Astros came in 2017 when he hit .315/.391/.550 with 24 home runs, 84 RBI and two stolen bases in 109 games.

It's unclear which teams might be interested in adding Correa this winter.

Carlos Correa sure sounded like a man set to decline his $35.1 million player option with the Minnesota Twins for the 2023 season and become a free agent Thursday.

"When I go to the mall and I go to the Dior store and I want something, I get it. I ask how much it costs and I buy it," he told reporters. "So if you really want something, you just go get it. I'm the product here, so if they want my product, they just gotta come get it."

Correa signed a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins this past winter after spending the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros. The deal included player options in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, however, each worth $35.1 million.

Turning down $70.2 million over two years can't be an easy decision, though the 28-year-old Correa is likely hoping to find the security that comes with a long-term contract while he's still in his prime.

The question is whether Correa will be able to secure one of the lucrative deals he's seen his contemporaries at the position sign in recent years, like Francisco Lindor (10 years, $341 million), Fernando Tatis Jr. (14 years, $340 million) and Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million).

Teams had the opportunity to sign him to such a deal this past offseason and abstained, so Correa opted for a short-term windfall—his $35.1 million this year led all shortstops in base salary—and the chance to hit free agency again in any of the next three offseasons.

He won't be the only high-profile shortstop on the market, however. Trea Turner will be the headliner in that regard, while Dansby Swanson is also hitting free agency, and Xander Bogaerts could opt out and join the fray.

Correa has had a strong 2022 campaign, hitting .287 with 21 homers, 61 RBI, 68 runs and an .826 OPS. But he isn't going to be the top option at his position on teams' free-agency boards, and it's fair to question if his market might play out in a similar fashion to last winter.

The Minnesota Twins announced that outfielder Byron Buxton will undergo season-ending arthroscopic knee surgery, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic.

Buxton had 28 home runs, 51 RBI and an .833 OPS in 92 games this season. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his eight-year MLB career.

Per Twins' team sources to Hayes, the surgery is considered "a cleanup," and he should be ready for spring training.

Buxton has been out of the Twins' lineup since Aug. 22. He landed on the injured list one day later with a right hip strain. The combination of the hip and knee issues ultimately kept him out for nearly half the season.

Buxton has largely been tremendous since 2019, sporting a 162-game average of 41 home runs, 91 RBI, 40 doubles and 103 runs. He's also posted a .874 OPS during that span.

Unfortunately, numerous injuries have kept him off the field for 267 of a possible 534 games from the beginning of the 2019 season until the Twins' announcement.

Buxton got off to the hottest start in baseball last year thanks to a .427 batting average with eight home runs and 14 RBI in April. However, hamstring and hip injuries in addition to a fractured hand suffered on a hit by pitch ultimately led to him missing 101 games.

The Twins signed Buxton to a seven-year, $100 million extension after the season, and that faith was rewarded with a tremendous power surge this year.

Unfortunately, Buxton will ultimately end up missing 70 games in a year that start promising for the Twins before tailspinning out of control.

Minnesota started hot with a 27-16 record and a 5.5-game lead following a six-game winning streak, but the Twins are now 73-77 and sitting 10 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central crown. They are 6-16 in their last 22 games.

As Hayes noted, the Twins were hoping Buxton would be back by now if the team was in a playoff race. However, those hopes have all but dissipated, and the Twins appear to be playing out the string at this point.

A healthy Buxton would go a long way toward the Twins bouncing back in 2023. For now, Minnesota has 12 regular-season games left starting with a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels.

Minnesota Twins catcher Gary Sanchez avoided a potential disaster during Sunday's 5-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

As White Sox pitcher Kendall Graveman was warming up during the top of the eighth inning, Sanchez was heading back to the dugout to look at the scouting report when Gilberto Celestino took a full swing in the on-deck circle that nearly hit his teammate in the face.

"I had a few minutes to go and ask a couple questions about that pitcher," Sanchez told reporters through an interpreter after the game. "I saw his bat was on his shoulder just standing there in the on-deck circle, and so I went back to the dugout and I didn't notice he was swinging."

Sanchez called it "an accident," but things are "fine" with Celestino.

This situation is an uncommon one in Major League Baseball. It's more common to see players in the on-deck circle get hit, typically by a foul ball or shattered bat.

The Twins did get a run during the at-bat when Max Kepler scored on a wild pitch by Graveman.

Sanchez later struck out to end the inning, but Minnesota's win moved it into a tie with the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central.

The Twins will open up a four-game series against the New York Yankees, Sanchez's former team, at Yankee Stadium on Monday.