The Cubs have had discussions with Carlos Correa in the past 24 hours, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, general manager Carter Hawkins and manager David Ross all attended the meeting. Levine also notes the team has had recent discussions with both Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson – the other two top shortstops remaining after Trea Turner agreed to a deal with the Phillies.
Both Correa and Bogaerts in particular have been strongly linked to the Cubs this off-season, and although it’s not yet known whether or not either has received an offer, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times relays information from Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer’s media availability stating the team has made multiple offers to free agents this winter, and that the team is heavily focused on free agency over trades at the moment.
In the wake of Turner coming off the board on an 11-year, $300MM deal, there seems sure be a greater sense of urgency among the teams seeking to sign one of the top free agent shortstops. The Cubs have long been speculated as a possible landing spot for one of the “big four” (now big three) shortstops. They’re a team with plenty of financial muscle that’s looking to make a splash and return to winning ways, so inking a marquee free agent makes plenty of sense.
Correa only turned 28 in September, so he’s still young enough to be a long-term piece for a Cubs team that may not have all the pieces it needs to compete for a championship in 2023. Correa also comes with the added benefit of avoiding draft pick compensation, as he already received one last winter before signing his short-term deal with the Twins.
He’s also coming off yet another elite season, one in which he was worth 4.4 fWAR with the Twins. He slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs for a wRC+ of 140. He experienced a dip in defensive ratings, but was still worth 3 Defensive Runs Saved, though that was the lowest mark of his career.
MLBTR predicted a nine-year, $288MM deal for Correa, although in light of Turner’s deal with Philadelphia, it’s not hard to imagine Correa’s contract heading north of the $300MM mark. The Cubs currently have a projected payroll of $127MM, per RosterResource, which, for a team that has seen payrolls in excess of $200MM recently, leaves plenty of room for a Correa-sized addition and more.
Of course, Correa’s market is expected to be robust, with the Twins making a strong effort to re-sign him, and the Giants and other teams likely to be interested. With that in mind, it makes sense that the team is remaining engaged with Swanson and Bogaerts as well. Levine reports that Chicago met with Bogaerts ten days ago. Swanson is a year older than Correa, while Bogaerts is 30, and while both are elite players in their own right, both will probably command smaller commitments than Correa.
While there’s been plenty of talk of the Cubs signing one of the top shortstops, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the team could sign two of the shortstops. In that case, it’d likely be Bogaerts and Swanson signing, rather than Correa and one of the other two, and it’d be contingent on Bogaerts moving to third base. Needless to say, with the widespread interest in all three players, it’d be a challenge for the Cubs to win the bidding for two of them, but it’s an interesting added layer to consider.
Won’t happen.
Why do you care?
Cubs…..lol
PUT SOME MONEY ON THE CUBIES
You’re such a square!
I don’t see this happening.
I don’t either. But the alleged fact that they are talking to top tier FAs means they’re likely coming out of rebuild mode and intend to contend in the NL central again.
With the Reds in rebuild mode, the Pirates always in a rebuild mode, and the Cardinals with suspect starting pitching anything is possible with a few signings. They are 100 million under the threshold tax. They could literally get Correa for SS, and Bogaerts for 3B if they really wanted to open up the pocketbook (and still have money to add a catcher and CF… Then Heywards 22 million comes off the books next year.
Cubs settle for bringing back Addison Russell.
That’s just mean.
Cubs have Nico Hoerner who is a talented middle infielder. They also have Madrigal and Morel if they don’t get a Big 4 shortstop (Correa, Bogaerts and Swanson – with Turner now a Phil). Segura might be a cheaper short-term option to pair with Hoerner.
Yeah I really figured they would have Nico and Madrigal penciled in for the next 2-3 years at least, so this news is interesting considering they have holes just about everywhere else
Nico will move to 2nd. Madrigal would be used as a utility player.
Yeah you’re right. My bad.
It just as equally outlandish as them signing Correa.
Correa isn’t outlandish, just extremely unlikely.
The KBO is getting Correa.
Cubs only get Correa if they go 11 yrs, 350.
As a Cubs fan, I would rather make that offer to Judge than Correa. Or sign Rodon (6 years), Segura (1 year) and Justin Turner (1 year).
I always find comments like this odd. What makes you think this is true?
No way they go 11 years to sign Correa. Personally I’d rather have Bogaerts. Turner was my first choice. I knew they wouldn’t go back like 9 years for him.
The Cubs may be taking a page out of last offseasons Texas Rangers playbook with the talk of potentially signing two shortstops.
A long shot of course. Cubs don’t need to make a move like at this point in their development – but a guy like Correa doesn’t come along very often.
If the Cubs are developing a pitching factory Correa will recognize that and the team will be attractive to him long-term.
Fans need to stop looking at his stats. Mr. Correa is easily the best all-around SS in MLB when he’s healthy, and a main reason why is that he has one of the highest Baseball IQ’s in MLB…..and that’s a prerequisite to being an impact SS.
Pitching factory??? The Cubs have 3 to 100 prospects, two of which had disappointing seasons in the minors, and none of them are pitchers.
Really? Judging a system by the top 100 list alone is like saying you read a book when you only skimmed the chapter titles. They have a number of high level pitching prospects throughout their farm.
It has just been learned that Correa has also just recently had private discussions with the doorman, elevator operator, and the restroom attendant at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.
Lord Correa is going to run from both central divisions after seeing how weak they are. Good sir, take this coach to the coast!
It’s ridiculous how conservative the Cubs are with their spending. If the Cubs don’t sign Correa, consider it another middle finger to the fanbase.
Hey, heard the Sox are trading Hendriks and bringing back Kimbrel!
The former might be true, but not the latter.
Forgot they still have Joe Kelly to put out fires with gasoline.
Graveman would get the saves ahead of Kelly.
Manny, you’re not a good tag team partner.
First Graveman would have to clean up the messes he makes before cleaning them up. No other closer than Hendriks if the team would just give him something to save.
Of course Hendriks is the superior closer. I am surprised to hear that they are considering trading him and I sure won’t write it in pen until I see it finalized.
I agree that they need to spend more, but also to spend smart. It is not Correa or nothing.
WTH does spend smart means? The Cubs roster is trash, they rank 3rd in revenues and they’re not spending any money. Correa is the most talented player available in the FA market. If you’re the Cubs, you sign him. Period. Stop glorifying this team’s frugality, it’s stupid.
With Hoerner, Madrigal, Morel and Christian Hernandez, I would say it is smarter to spend for other positions. They need pitching. Starting pitching. And a solid 3B, CF and DH. Correa gets a premium for his defensive chops but the Cubs could get multiple pieces for that money. Rodon, Senga, Bassit, two of those would help.
That “trash” roster only won 7 less games than your White Sox, who were trying to win. What does that say about the White Sox roster?
The real trash is your comments.
Cubs fans are so brainwashed it’s pathetic. They never spend money on talent. Spending money on borderline players or injury prone players is what gets you in trouble. Spending money on quality players makes the difference between being a sub .500 club and a division winner. Dodgers, Astros, Padres, Yankees stay in the playoffs year after year because they only spend money on quality players.
Let us know when the Southside Bums start spending money and then you can talk about the Cubs.
Cubs payroll was one of the highest until they hit the reset, so I am unsure where you get this idea they don’t spend money.
All you do is complain about the Cubs but one player isn’t going to change the Cubs course next season and I will state this I believe Turner was more of a fit than any of the other shortstops, but he is no longer available.
Also the Cubs have some prospects coming up, so let see what they produce before writing they are pathetic.
I mean look at the Southside Bums and their record last year and let be clear they ain’t going anywhere next year.
Also check the Cubs record after the All Star break and see they made vast improvement but hey keep on saying they are a joke when your owner and team stay as the second rate team in Chi-town!
We should actually listen to him on this. As a White Sox fan, he knows a thing or two about talentless players!
He has no idea what the Sox are doing since he spends all his time trolling Cubs stories. Pathetic.
Padres stay in the playoffs year after year? Since when?
You have the worst case of a Napoleon/Little Brother complex I’ve ever seen.
Get a new therapist.
Just on twitter. Cubs ownership gave Jed the green light to spend what he needs to turn the team around. Finally Joe Ricketts is opening up his checkbook. Even though sadly he has nothing to do with the team. He only provides the money and holds the title of owner.
You need to get a life. All your posts are obviously trolls. You just can’t accept that even a losing Cubs team is,by far, more popular than a winning White Sux team. Just accept it. Yje White Sux will always be the second team in Chicago!
You need to get a life. All your posts are obviously trolls. You just can’t accept that even a losing Cubs team is,by far, more popular than a winning White Sux team. Just accept it. The White Sux will always be the second team in Chicago!
Apparently Samuel weighs defense more heavily in his assessment. I would argue that Trea Turner and Fernando Tatis, Jr. are the best all-around shortstops in MLB, though Tatis may play a different position when he returns. Jeremy Pena and Wander Franco are closing the gap with Correa, too.
As a Cubs fan, this team currently is very far from being good. Team has 2 above average hitters, Hoerner who is fine but average and holes everywhere. Rotation is ok but no top end guy and bullpen is a bunch of young guys.
Correa is very good but he didnt move the needle for MN and he is not a franchise guy. Of course, he would make any team better but Cubs need a lot more than Correa to not stink in 2023. Still think this org has a lower budget than they should and signing Correa would tkae them out of the market for any other top guys.
They are competing in the central if they add Correa and a some other pieces. Central is quite weak. They have more money to spend than you think and if the Add Correa, they still would have a ton of money to spend
Hoerner and Happ had great seasons last year.
Suzuki will bounce back and Mervis will surprise many.
PCA, Davis and Alcantara are a year out.
Wisdom is a strike out machine who best serves as a utility.
The rotation. I think the ship has sailed for Kyle, who was one of my favorite players. Stroman looked strong late in the season. Alzolay, Assad, Steele and Thompson ought to give them two starters and two middle relievers. So Cubs need two frontline starters more than a high-priced shortstop. Rodon and Senga?
Sounds like Correa is pitting teams against each other to drive up his salary. He’s all about “show me the money”.
This dude will sign with the first team who offers 300 million. All he wants is his ego stroked. I hope no one offers it
He’s the top free agent and top SS available—his market value has nothing to do with ego.
You keep on claiming he is the top free agent of this class but I valued Turner more than him and give me Judge over him or JV who signed with the Mets over him.
I do not know why you believe Correa is the best of this class when he isn’t the best Free Agent.
Judge is almost 31 and Verlander is almost 41. Based on who will produce at the highest level for the lengths of their prospective contracts it’s Correa
Judge is 30 and Verlander is 39..
Carlos Correa hasn’t learned a thing. He rebuffed enough teams last season, he had to settle. Will history repeat itself?
@ GarryHarris
Correa’s a smart man and will make a business decision that fits for him. If he doesn’t find a team he wants to play for long term, I could see him signing another 1-year deal. He already has at least one long term offering on the table from the Twins.
The Cubs will miss out on both, and attendance will fall another 10% from last year’s already down year. This team is not in spending mode. Maybe next year when Heyward’s contract comes off they will be. But there is 0 indication that they are going to spend this offseason. There probably just going around and “kicking the tires” to see what markets are looking like.
Zero indication? The past two days, they have met with Bogaerts and Correa. They weren’t talking about gardening tips.
Reports this morning indicate that the Ricketts have told Jed they expect to be in contention for the playoffs in 2023, and they are willing to spend what it takes to get there.
Obviously, the jury is out, but zero indication? Every indication is that they plan to spend, if they can generate interest from the right guys.
“Contention for the playoffs in 2023”
With what team? The team that has question marks abound? Where’s the offense coming from? Horner is a glove first player, Madrigal and Bellinger imploded last year, can Happ play full-time another year effectively, who’s on first, who’s behind the plate, can Wisdom be effective for a whole season? Also, who’s starters 4-5, and the bullpen is a mess. This team doesn’t have a prayer of making the post season. They won 74 last season and have so far gotten worse this offseason.
So, when are the Cubs supposed to make this “Big Splash”? Best they can do now is Swanson and Narvaez. LOL, so much for spending.