Carlos Correa Intends to Play for Puerto Rico in 2023 World Baseball Classic
Aug 31, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 29: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins throws the ball to first base to get out Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning of the game at Target Field on August 29, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Red Sox 4-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa intends to play for Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Correa, 27, is hitting .274 (.788 OPS) with 15 home runs and 45 RBI in his first season with the Twins.
The two-time All-Star spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros, where he won the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year award and the 2017 World Series.
Other players representing Puerto Rico include Twins rookie first baseman Jose Miranda and Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. Puerto Rico typically has a loaded WBC team, and it notably finished as the tournament runner-up each of the last two years.
Puerto Rico will begin WBC play in March in a round-robin with Israel, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. The games will be contested in Miami from March 11-15.
Carlos Correa Says He Sees Himself 'Playing for the Minnesota Twins for a Long Time'
Aug 24, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 19: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins fields against the Texas Rangers on August 19, 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
Carlos Correa signed a three-year $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins this past offseason, but his contract includes a $35.1 million player option for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, meaning he could become a free agent this winter.
But don't be surprised if Correa sticks in Minnesota one way or another:
The 27-year-old has had a solid if unspectacular first year with the Twins, hitting .269 with 14 homers, 39 RBI, 50 runs and a .783 OPS. He seems unlikely to match last year's outlay of 26 homers, 92 RBI and 104 runs in his final season with the Houston Astros, the team where he started his career and spent his first seven MLB seasons.
Correa returned to Minute Maid Park on Tuesday for a series against the Astros for the first time since leaving the organization:
"Thank you to the fans for everything you did for me, my family and my career and I'm looking forward to being back out there with you guys again." pic.twitter.com/1R9agJePU8
Before Carlos Correa's first AB, MartĂn Maldonado stepped out from behind the plate to allow the crowd a longer standing ovation. The team played Correa's walkout song â Bad Bunny's "25/8" â and Correa tipped his helmet to the crowd. The entire Astros' dugout was a the top step
While the Astros have an American League-best 78-45 record, the Twins (62-58) find themselves in a battle for a playoff berth, trailing the Cleveland Guardians by two games in the AL Central and the Seattle Mariners by three games for the final AL Wild Card berth.
The general belief has been that Correa would be one-and-done in Minnesota, opting out of his current deal to seek a lucrative, longer-term offer come free agency.
Earlier in August, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Correa, "barring injury, will likely opt out of his deal," joining a potentially loaded group of free-agent shortstops that likely will include Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson and Xander Bogaerts.
The two-time All-Star and 2017 champion should have a fairly vibrant market and will hope to turn that into one of the decade-long deals many of the game's superstars have been inking in recent years rather than the shorter deal he received from the Twins.
Whether such an offer comes from the Twins remains to be seen. But Correa, at least publicly, seems open to a reunion.
Twins' Byron Buxton Placed on 10-Day IL with Hip Injury
Aug 23, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 16: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates against the Kansas City Royals on August 16, 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Twins have placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with a right hip strain, per The Athletic's Dan Hayes.
Buxton exited Monday's 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers after the sixth inning because of right hip tightness.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters after the loss that he wasn't sure whether Buxton would be available for the team's series against the Houston Astros, which begins Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.
âHe had a few things go on today where you could tell he was really feeling it. Over the last few days, heâs been in a spot where heâs been on the verge of not being able to go out there, not being able to swing or run. But heâs continued to post up and continued to go out there and play at ... not a high percentage of what he can normally do, physically.â
Baldelli added that Buxton has been dealing with the hip ailment for "a good part" of the 2022 season. He has also been hampered by tendinitis in his right knee for much of the year.
Before Tuesday, Buxton had avoided the injured list altogether as the Twins had been treating him before games and giving him an ample amount of rest.
The 28-year-old is slashing .224/.306/.526 with 28 home runs, 51 RBI and six stolen bases in 92 games, which is the most he has played since he appeared in 140 games during the 2017 season. He also earned the first All-Star selection of his career this year.
Buxton has been hampered by a number of injuries throughout his eight-year tenure with the Twins and has only played more than 100 games once.
The Georgia native slashed .253/.314/.413 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 2017. He also earned a Gold Glove, won the Platinum Glove and was named the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year.
Buxton's absence is a tough blow for the Twins, who are also missing Ryan Jeffers, Miguel SanĂł, Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Kyle Garlick and a number of pitchers because of injury.
With Buxton sidelined, Minnesota can turn to Nick Gordon or Gilberto Celestino in center field.
Minnesota is second in the AL Central with a 62-58 record, two games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians.
The Twins are in a tight battle for a playoff spot and have a 37.8 percent chance to make the postseason, per FanGraphs. Getting Buxton back as soon as possible will be key for the club's end-of-season push.
Tyler Mahle Traded to Twins from Reds for 3 Prospects in Deadline Deal
Aug 2, 2022
Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Mahle plays against the Washington Nationals during a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The Cincinnati Reds' fire sale continued on Tuesday with Tyler Mahle being the latest player moved by the front office.
Cincinnati sent Mahle to the Minnesota Twins, receiving infielder Spencer Steer, third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and southpaw Steven Hajjar in return.
The #Reds have acquired IF Spencer Steer (Twins No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline), IF Christian Encarnacion-Strand (No. 23) and LHP Steven Hajjar (No. 18) from Minnesota in exchange for RHP Tyler Mahle.
Mahle becomes the latest player to be traded by the Reds. All-Star pitcher Luis Castillo, outfielder Tommy Pham and outfielder Tyler Naquin have also been dealt in the past week.
Even before the deadline moves, Reds general manager Nick Krall indicated the team would be cutting payroll before the start of the 2022 season after trading Tucker Barnhart to the Detroit Tigers.
"Having been drafted and developed by the Reds, our entire organization has a connection to [Barnhart] and our fans love him," Krall told reporters in November. "But going into 2022, we must align our payroll to our resources and continue focusing on scouting and developing young talent from within our system."
In the days after the lockout ended on March 10, Krall got back to work doing just that. Sonny Gray and minor-league pitcher Francis Peguero were traded to the Twins for 2021 first-round draft pick Chase Petty on March 13.
One day later, the Reds sent Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners for Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley and Brandon Williamson.
Reds offseason:
Lose Wade Miley on waivers, save $10M
Trade Sonny Gray to Twins for two prospects, save $10M
Trade Jesse Winker and Eugenio SuĂĄrez to Mariners for four young players, save about $40M https://t.co/DJrfZ3zD51
With the Reds seemingly going into teardown mode, Mahle had a tenuous future with the organization. He has two years of team control remaining before being eligible for free agency after the 2023 season.
Mahle has developed into a solid mid-rotation starter over the past two seasons. The right-hander was a seventh-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2013. He made his MLB debut late in the 2017 season and joined the Reds' rotation full-time the following year.
After posting a 5.06 ERA in 48 starts between 2018-19, Mahle came into his own starting with the 2020 campaign. The California native had a career-low 3.59 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 47.2 innings during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season.
The 2021 season saw Mahle pick up right where he left off. He set career-highs in starts (33), innings (180) and strikeouts (210). His 3.8 FanGraphs wins above replacement ranked 13th among all qualified National League starters.
This season has been a step back for the right-hander, who has a 4.40 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 19 starts. In two starts since coming off the injured list after the All-Star break, Mahle has a 2-0 record while allowing only five earned runs in 12 innings.
For his career, Mahle has a 5.02 ERA in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park and a 3.74 ERA away from Cincinnati.
Given his age and career trajectory, Mahle has the potential to be an excellent addition to the Twins' rotation for at least the next two years.
Mahle should immediately provide a boost to Minnesota's rotation for a potential playoff push. The Twins (54-48) currently sit one game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central.
No matter if a team is buying, selling or somewhere in between at the MLB trade deadline, each one has something to look forward to in the back half of the...
Baseball's Leading Hitter Is Defying the Trends of MLB Today
Zachary D. Rymer
Jun 21, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 11: Luis Arraez #2 of the Minnesota Twins rounds the bases on his first career grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning of the game at Target Field on June 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
As he's not so much fearsome as immensely frustrating for opposing pitchers, the best hitter in Major League Baseball today is a guy who basically doesn't belong in today's baseball.
It's all there in his triple-slash ranks. This guy gets his hits and takes his walks, but he's not likely to slug anyone:
It's OK if you looked at this and did a double take. Modern greatsâthink Juan Soto, Mike Trout and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.âdon't hit like this. Heck, you have to go back to Tony Phillips in 1993 to find the last time a batter finished with an OBP over .440 and a SLG under .440.
Tony Gwynn never did it. Neither did Ichiro Suzuki, who's unsurprisingly a big fan of the guy who is doing it: Luis Arraez.
As far as how he's doing it, let's start by granting two things about the Minnesota Twins' multi-use infielder. Given that he was a .313 hitter with a .374 OBP between 2019 and 2021, this is not his first rodeo as a tough out. He also isn't devoid of power.
Arraez, 25, came into this season with a career high of four home runs, yet he has three through 58 games. And at 403 feet, the grand slam that he hit June 11 against the Tampa Bay Rays was the longest of his career.
But while he's clearly capable of doing so, trying to hit for power isn't Arraez's style. At 9.0 degrees and 22.2 percent, both his average launch angle and fly-ball rate are lower than ever in 2022.
In other words, Arraez wants no part of a "Fly Ball Revolution" that's very much ongoing in MLB. Since the dawn of the Statcast era in 2015, the league's launch angle and fly-ball percentage have gone up and stayed up as more and more hitters have chased the long ball.
The catch this year is that fly balls aren't traveling as far. That's not an accident, as a new model of ball and universal humidor usage have conspired to make the baseballs mushier than usual. The difficulty most hitters are having in adjusting is plainly visible in the league's collective batting average. At .241, it's the fourth-lowest in MLB history.
Though it's premature to call Arraez a trendsetter, his fellow hitters can learn something from him. For their convenience, let's break down his main lesson points.
Don't Give Away At-Bats
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 11, 2022: Luis ArrĂĄez #2 of the Minnesota Twins hits a grand slam home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field on June 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
You've presumably heard of the three true outcomes (i.e., strikeouts, walks and home runs) and about how they may or may not be ruining baseball by making it more boring.
But given that two of those outcomes are indeed good results for hitters, dare we say that the real problem they're facing is a shortage of what we'll call competitive at-bats?
These would be at-bats free of non-competitive results, of which there are at least two. There are strikeouts, which have a zero percent chance of producing a hit. There are also pop-ups, which in 2022 have just a 2 percent chance of going for hits.
Since batted-ball data became available in 2002, this is the first season in which more than 22 percent of plate appearances end in strikeouts and more than 10 percent of all fly balls in play are pop-ups on the infield. Strip away the strikeouts and pop-ups, and only 72 percent of at-bats have been competitive in 2022. That's down from a peak of 79 percent in 2005.
Among individual hitters, however, you can take a wild guess who's not part of the problem in 2022 by way of a large percentage of competitive at-bats:
1. Luis Arraez, MIN: 89.8 percent
2. Jose Iglesias, COL: 88.8 percent
3. Steven Kwan, CLE: 87.8 percent
4. Michael Brantley, HOU: 86.8 percent
5. Jose Ramirez, CLE: 85.8 percent
This mostly has to do with how Arraez's swing is geared for contact. He's extraordinarily direct to the ball, resulting in the league's second-highest contact rate (91.9 percent) and third-lowest strikeout rate (8.5 percent).
As for infield pop-ups, Arraez has a lone "1" in that column this season. Between that and his 20 strikeouts, he's given away only 21 of his 235 at-bats.
That alone has meant a high hit probability for his other 214 at-bats, though other reasons help boost his batting average all the way up to .361.
Line Drives Are Good, but Ground Balls Can Be Too
Minnesota Twins' Luis Arraez watches his RBI-double during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, July 31, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
Hitters have fallen in love with fly balls in recent years for a reason. That's where power is, as even in 2022 the .523 ISO (isolated power, or slugging percentage minus batting average) on fly balls is more than twice as high as the .239 ISO on line drives.
If it's merely hits that a hitter is after, though, line drives are the way to go. They have a .627 average in 2022, compared to .261 for fly balls.
Go figure who loves to hit line drives.
"I just only try to be hitting line drives. That's how I [contribute]," Arraez said earlier this month, according to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. "I know Ichiro could hit home runs, but I just want to hit line drives."
And hit line drives he does. At 27.6 percent, Arraez's line-drive rate is four percentage points higher than the league average. He even gets more out of his line drives than the average hitter, batting .804 on them.
To be fair, this is where Arraez might be due for regression as the season goes along. At 91.4 mph, he hits his line drives more than 2 mph slower than the league average. Because hard-hit line drives have a better chance of becoming hits than softer-hit ones, it's no surprise that his .635 expected average on line drives is slightly lower than the league norm of .639.
Yet even if Arraez doesn't get as many line drives to find pay dirt between now and the end of the season, he should still collect plenty of hits like the first one in this clip:
That was a ground ball that left his bat at 94.7 mph and easily snuck through into left field for a single. Basically, the kind of hit we might as well start calling a "Luis Arraez Special."
He actually doesn't do well (3-for-36) when he pulls the ball on the ground, which is still another unsurprising thing. He only hits those balls at an average of 84.3 mph, whereas ground balls to the pull side generally average 86.9 mph.
Yet when Arraez hits ground balls up the middle or to the left side of the field, he typically mashes them:
This is why Arraez is batting .426 on ground balls up the middle and to the opposite field, whereas the average hitter is batting only .288 when he tries that.
It's also why opposing teams don't bother shifting their infields against him. It's happened on only 3.0 percent of all pitches against him, which isn't close to the standard 56.7 percent shift rate for left-handed batters this season.
Between this and Arraez's fondness for competitive at-bats, his basic lesson on hitting can be summed up this way: The best way to beat 'em is to not make it easy for 'em.
Oh, and Make Pitchers Work
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 11: Luis Arraez #2 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates his single against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning of the game at Target Field on June 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Rays 6-5. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Arraez's 2022 season would be impressive enough if his .361 average was all he had going for him. But as his .443 on-base percentage shows, he's not just hitting his way on.
Notably, he's taking ball four more frequently. His walk rate is 11.9 percent, which is a career high and a tick above Aaron Judge for 23rd among qualified hitters.
As much as anything, this aspect of Arraez's season defies common sense. Not just in the sense that less powerful hitters should theoretically see more strikes, but also in the sense that his zone discipline hasn't undergone any immediately noticeable changes. His swing rates both inside and outside the zone are roughly in line with his career rates.
Yet one thing that has changed in Arraez's approach is his willingness to let the pitcher set the tone. Even more so than in previous seasons, he's not swinging at the first pitch:
2019: 18.8 percent
2020: 19.8 percent
2021: 20.8 percent
2022: 15.3 percent
To the extent that he's finding himself in 1-0 counts more often, this is working. It's also key that Arraez isn't toning down his discipline once he is ahead in the count. Quite the contrary, in fact. When ahead in the count between 2019 and 2021, he chased 25.6 percent of the pitches he saw outside the zone. This year? Just 20.8 percent.
That's a good way to get to ball four, and Arraez also has a method for extending at-bats. He's fouling off 47.1 percent of the pitches he swings at in the "shadow" of the zone when he's behind in the count. It's just 38.3 percent for the average hitter, which is to say Arraez is on another level when it comes to defending the strike zone.
Of course, the problem with the suggestion that other hitters might be like Arraez is that he didn't choose to be the hitter he is. This is the hitter he's always been. Even before he arrived in the majors, Baseball America's scouting reports raved about him as a "hit-tool fiend" with "hand-eye coordination [that's] off the charts."
Arraez's example is nonetheless more than worthy of appreciation, and not just because he's so many different kinds of good at what he does. He's living proof that, in order to be great, a hitter doesn't necessarily have to be better at doing what everyone else is doing.
Instead, he can be the best at doing his own thing.
Twins' Max Kepler, Emilio Pagan, More Out vs. Blue Jays Due to Vaccination Status
Jun 3, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 23: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins advances to first base on a walk against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning at Target Field on May 23, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Outfielder Max Kepler and reliever Emilio Pagan are among the four Minnesota Twins players who will miss this weekend's series in Toronto versus the Blue Jays because they aren't eligible to enter Canada under the country's COVID-19 regulations.
The Canadian government has more stringent entry guidelines than the U.S., as it requires people entering the country to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the Associated Press, relievers Caleb Thielbar and Trevor Megill will also miss the three games in Toronto.
All four players were placed on the restricted list and will be eligible to play when the Twins return to the United States to start a home series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
Kepler, 29, has been one of the Twins' best hitters this season. He is slashing .253/.357/.429 and is tied for second on the team with six home runs and 25 RBI.
The Germany-born Kepler is Minnesota's regular starter in right field and made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2015.
His best season occurred in 2019 when he hit .252 with a career-high 36 home runs and 90 RBI.
The 31-year-old Pagan is in his first season with the Twins after coming over in a trade from the San Diego Padres.
Pagan has split closer duties with Jhoan Duran and leads the team with seven saves in 10 chances. He is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 22 strikeouts over 18 innings.
During his six-year MLB career, Pagan has pitched for the Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Padres and Twins. He set a career high with 20 saves in 2019 with Tampa.
Pagan said of his decision to not get vaccinated against COVID-19:
"I know that there are going to be people that are very angry for this opinion and the stance, but that's fine. I feel like I had a choice to make, and they have also a choice if they're going to be mad at me or not. ...
"I've gone to every guy in this locker room and explained where I was, and how I came up with my decision, and apologized because I do know it's hurting the team. I do not believe this is a baseball decision. This is the Canadian government. It's not even an MLB rule."
Duran will likely fill in as the full-time closer in Toronto, while outfielders Trevor Larnach and Kyle Garlick could see additional playing time in place of Kepler.
Minnesota's bullpen depth will be tested as well with both Thielbar and Megill unable to pitch.
Thielbar is 1-0 with a 5.59 ERA over 22 appearances, while Megill is 1-1 with a 1.04 ERA in five outings.
At 30-23, the Twins hold a 4.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central.
Twins' Carlos Correa Tests Positive for COVID-19, per Manager Rocco Baldelli
May 30, 2022
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 04: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins hits a home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 04, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Twins discovered during Monday's game against the Detroit Tigers that shortstop Carlos Correa had tested positive for COVID-19.
Correa is hitting .279 (.751 OPS) with three home runs and 16 RBI in his first year with Minnesota, who signed him to a three-year, $105.3 million contract last offseason.
The 27-year-old played his first seven MLB seasons with the Houston Astros, making two All-Star Games, winning the 2017 World Series and earning the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year award. He hit .277 (.837 OPS) with 133 home runs and 489 RBI during his tenure there.
This season has gone well for the Twins, which sport a 29-20 record and sit first in the AL Central.
Correa previously landed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 6) with a right finger contusion suffered after he fouled a ball off his hand during a May 5 at-bat against the Baltimore Orioles. He returned on May 18 against the Oakland Athletics.
The Twins have been snakebit with injuries, as Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Trevor Larnach, Luis Arraez, Kyle Garlick, Correa, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack and Dylan Bundy have all missed time.
Still, the team holds a comfortable lead over the rest of the AL Central field at the moment, foreshadowing potential hope that the Twins can run away with the division down the stretch provided they get healthier.
Without Correa, the Twins will turn to Royce Lewis or Jorge Polanco at shortstop.
Twins' Chris Paddack Undergoes Season-Ending Tommy John Surgery on Elbow Injury
May 18, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 08: Chris Paddack #20 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at Target Field on May 8, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Teams across the league are wearing pink today in honor of Mother's Day. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Twins rotation suffered a significant blow on Wednesday as Chris Paddack underwent Tommy John surgery, putting an end to his 2022 season.
Paddack was moved to the 60-day injured list last week.
This marks the second Tommy John surgery of Paddack's career. He also had the procedure in July 2016 when he was the San Diego Padres' No. 8 prospect.
The Padres traded Paddack, who made his MLB debut in 2019, reliever Emilio Pagan and starter Brayan Medina to the Twins in April in exchange for reliever Taylor Rogers and outfielder Brent Rooker. The right-hander went 1-2 in five starts for Minnesota this season, posting a 4.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 20 strikeouts across 22.1 innings.
The Twins were hoping Paddack would add some depth to their rotation, but the club has rotated through a number of pitchers due to injuries. In addition to Paddack, Bailey Ober is on the 10-day IL with a groin strain, Kenta Maeda is on the 60-day IL after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Randy Dobnak is on the 60-day IL with a finger ailment.
Minnesota's projected rotation entering the 2022 season included Paddack, Ober, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan and Chris Archer. Aside from those five, Dylan Bundy, Josh Winder and Devin Smeltzer have started at least one game for the team this year.
Before joining the Twins, Paddack had a promising career with the Padres, posting a 4.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 310 strikeouts in 308 innings across 61 games.
Paddack is on a one-year, $2.25 million deal this season and is eligible for two years of arbitration before becoming an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 campaign. Considering he also missed the end of the 2021 season with an elbow ailment, it's hard to imagine he'll receive much of a raise in 2023.
Despite injuries to members of their rotation, the Twins have gotten out to a solid start this year, going 22-16, which is good for first in the AL Central.
Carlos Correa Rumors: Twins Star Expected to Opt Out of Contract, Hit FA After Season
May 18, 2022
Baseball: Minnesota Twins Carlos Correa (4) throwing prior to game vs Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Baltimore, MD 5/5/2022
CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X164045 TK1)
Carlos Correa may not be the shortstop of the Minnesota Twins for long.
While Correa signed a three-year deal with the Twins in March, he has a player option after each of the first two seasons. Buster Olney of ESPN reported Wednesday that "there is an industry assumption that he'll opt out of his contract and become a free agent" if he returns to health from a finger injury and finishes the 2022 season in impressive fashion.
The 27-year-old would become one of MLB's most sought-after free agents for the second straight offseason if he does opt out.
His resume includes an American League Rookie of the Year Award, a World Series title, two All-Star selections and a Gold Glove. He was one of the faces of the Houston Astros when he played there from 2015 through 2021 and helped the franchise make five straight American League Championship Series and three Fall Classics.
Rumors linked a number of teams to Correa during the offseason, and re-signing with Houston was also a possibility.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported in January that Correa was looking for $330 million to $350 million prior to the league-initiated lockout and agent switch to Scott Boras.
His three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins didn't come close to that total value, although the $35.1 million average annual value was notable. The opt-outs give him the opportunity to hit the open market again when a lockout isn't hovering over the offseason and throwing off the free-agency timeline.
Yet he was off to an inconsistent start prior to the finger injury, slashing .255/.320/.372 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 24 games this season.
Correa's track record suggests he will find more consistency when he returns, which could give him the chance to land a megacontract this offseason.
