According to The Athletic, the Mets appear to be in the same boat as the San Francisco Giants following his most recent physical regarding a 2014 surgery that repaired Correa’s fractured right fibula. On December 21, roughly 12 hours after the Giants cancelled an introductory press conference with Correa due to their own medical concerns, Correa and the Mets agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract.
Correa suffered the leg injury and ligament damage while playing for the Astros’ Class A+ affiliate, the Lancaster JetHawks, when his cleat became stuck in a base.
Here are some of the pressing questions as Correa and the Mets try to reach an agreement following his latest physical:
After the Giants backed out of their initial 13-year, $350 million deal with Correa, the Mets swooped in and landed the shortstop for one less year and roughly $670,000 less in average salary.
How would Correa react to having to take another discount or return to the market after two separate agreements? A few teams are in the wings, but that could mean another physical and round of negotiations.
The Mets must balance Correa’s recent strong play — he has averaged 142 games over the last two seasons with 48 home runs and 156 RBI — with his troubled injury history.
If Correa is willing, a new contract with the Mets could include certain contingencies to protect the team from future issues with pre-existing leg injuries. Scott Boras, Correa’s agent, has previously made similar concessions to close a deal.
What effect do Steve Cohen’s public remarks have on negotiations?
When the Mets’ deal was first reported, Mets owner Steve Cohen publicly stated the team’s intentions before the deal was finalised.
Those comments from Cohen would imply that the team will work hard to get Correa into a Mets uniform, despite the latest medical concerns.
If the deal falls through, the Mets will be forced to field a lineup that is nearly identical to the one used on Opening Day last year. Cohen stated unequivocally that he hoped the team would add another bat.
What effect would signing Carlos Correa have on the Mets’ roster?
Eduardo Escobar and Luis Guillorme are the two players who stand to lose the most as a result of Correa signing with the Mets.
Guillorme was manager Buck Showalter’s preferred platoon infielder in 2022, filling in at third base when Escobar was injured and second base when Jeff McNeil moved to the outfield. However, signing Correa may force Escobar, who has played three of the four infield positions, to take on that role.
This could make one of the two players available for a trade.
Also, Brett Baty, one of the team’s top prospects, was expected to be the team’s third baseman in the making, but a deal for Correa could shift him to the outfield.
