The Giants are one of the many teams shopping at the top of the shortstop market this winter, and Carlos Correa “is atop the front office’s list,” according to NBC Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic. Earlier reports had hinted that Correa was San Francisco’s preferred choice among the star shortstops since the Giants were going to actually use Correa at shortstop — the Giants are prepared to move Brandon Crawford to third base to accommodate a Correa signing, but if Trea Turner or Dansby Swanson were signed, Crawford would remain at shortstop and Turner/Swanson would play second base.
With so many clubs exploring the markets of the “big four” of Correa, Turner, Swanson, and Xander Bogaerts, naturally there have been several reports (and perhaps some gamesmanship or smokescreens) concerning which players are preferred by particular teams, or who a team’s second choice might be if the top option signs elsewhere. The Twins, for example, are prioritizing keeping Correa in Minnesota, but are open to pursuing Bogaerts as a backup plan. The Phillies have reportedly had either Turner or Bogaerts as their top choice, but will head to the Winter Meetings and meet with the agents of all four shortstops. Meanwhile, the Braves want to sign Swanson but only Swanson, and aren’t expected to look into Turner, Bogaerts, or Correa if Swanson departs Atlanta.
Correa’s market may be a little limited by his asking price, since as the both the youngest of the top shortstops and the only one not linked to draft compensation via the qualifying offer, Correa might command the biggest contract of the group. MLBTR ranked Correa second on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, predicting a nine-year, $288MM pact for the two-time All-Star as he enters his age-28 season.
Given the Giants’ relative lack of future payroll commitments, they can somewhat easily fit a mega-deal for Correa into their budget and still have the financial means to pursue other needs. The Giants already used some of their payroll flexibility in retaining Joc Pederson via the qualifying offer, as San Francisco rather surprisingly issued the $19.65MM deal to the outfielder and he accepted the one-year payday. While president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has taken a somewhat conservative approach to spending and contract size during his first four years in San Francisco, the expectation is that the Giants will splurge on at least one big signing this winter.
Of course, that big signing could well be Aaron Judge, as the Giants remain as one of the chief suitors for the reigning AL MVP. To this end, Pavlovic echoes the sentiment that the Giants aren’t likely to pivot to Correa or any of the star shortstops until Judge decides on his new team.
Correa & Judge ! No Way. But might as well Dream Big.
I don’t see any way they sign both. But I don’t think anyone planned on TX landing Semien & Seager in the same offseason either!
No one saw Texas as signing either of them, let alone both.
Maybe it’s just being jaded from all the times the Giants came runner up with big name FAs but I still think Jusge re-signs with the Yankees
If I’m considering San Francisco, why would I not just see if LA or San Diego will match their offer? There’s nothing about San Francisco that I’d prefer over LA or San Diego unless I’m from San Fran, and even then, if you have hundreds of millions of $, buy yourself a jet and go back as often as you’d like.
Maybe players want to be a part of their own winning team. If every player thought like you, there would always be two or three team playoffs every year. You think that’s exciting?
OR…. The Giants will have to overpay. Money talks.
Neither Correa nor Judge are likely to use your opinion on the city of San Francisco in their decision-making process. I hope that is not surprising to you.
If that’s the way you rolled, the Giants wouldn’t want you.
In this market, everyone has to overpay.
Money wise, the Giants could easily sign both. They have plenty of room in the budget. It all depends on how badly the Yanks want to keep Judge.
Why wouldn’t they sign both, they have over 100 million to spend to get even close to where the payroll should be.
And look how that turned out for them
If the Yanks don’t sign Judge they shoulld sign Turner, Rodon/Bassitt , and get Nimmo. Trade Gleyber and prospects for Lopez, and add 2 relief pitchers like Lugo, and Rogers. This could be a better long term move than signing Judge!
Slider: They actually have a great opportunity here to make the team significantly better either way. But I agree, if Judge does walk, they could make the entire team much better overall by signing three or four guys.
I’d really like the Turner/Rodon combo, and I’d love to see additions of Reynolds & Yoshida.
That would be a power offseason….
Nowhere does it say Correa and Judge. It says they’re waiting to see if Judge is coming to SF before seeing if they pursue one of the big SS.
I find it hard to believe that the Giants front office thinks signing just one premier free agent will solve the problems they have. I think Judge is a terrific player but I’d rather see the Giants sign Correa, Nimmo and Senga. I’d even add in Haniger and Chafin.
The Giants have the money to do this without destroying the future. If the Rangers can go all in, why not SF?
Would love to see Judge, Correa, etc. But I think they could sign 3-4 top tier FA’s for something similar and be in a better position.
Swanson 7/154 ($22M/year)
Nimmo 5/110 ($22M/year)
Senga 5/75 or Taillon 4/56 ($14-$15M/year)
Bell 4/64 ($16M/year)
Another quality RP would be nice too, but not sure how far they would push payroll.
The problem is that most experts (and fans) agree that the Giants need at least one, probably two, superstars to kick start enthusiasm and start drawing crowds again. Even Swanson is not that billboard name (nor do I count on his career year being the springboard for more). I think he regresses back to norm (excellent defense, meh bat).
Spending all that money on judge and Correa and then finding out they both hate each other will be a very fun experience. i.e. garbage-can gate
Avoid both. Get Turner now and Ohanti next year
Iam no Giants fan but have always respected them. I completely agree with you that Turner is the choice. Carlos qnd even Judge have some past Injury concerns and you have to wonder how they will age out.
Oldschoolandthemets1980 — Andrew Baggerly reported (weeks ago) that Turner does not want to come to SF, and that the Giants front office already knows that.
Turner would be my first choice, too, but I’ll be plenty happy with Correa.
Pete..I didn’t know that about Turner. Crazy. It makes me think if his tune would change with money. But why want a player that doesn’t want to play for you.
It is reported that Turner wants to play closer to home on the east coast. He may accept a big offer from a team. The Rangers signed 2 big free agents last offseason. So you never know.
Balk — Exactly. Plus he’s said publicly that he wants to be east, closer to his Florida home.
Get over it man, players don’t care that much.
The players certainly don’t care, I can promise you that.
The players don’t care? Hmmmm? Joe Kelly certainly cared? I seem to recall him throwing over his head then sticking his tongue out at him after being ejected? Then serving a suspension for throwing at his head, But yeah… the players don’t care I’ll believe that take
Where does Kelly play now?
Let me know when Joe Kelly signs for 200+ million then arrives to his new team and “hates” his other teammate who just signed for 300+ mil
Grow up
No way they are entertaining signing both. The fact that the Giants are starting to talk about Correa shows that even they believe Judge is going back to NY.
Mikey…Giants have been linked to Correa since off-season began. I’m sure they’ve always felt their odds of signing Judge was a long shot.
Ohtani and Turner could just as easily dislike each other. Judge and Correa hating each other, seems like a super random thought
Yankees and Astros hate each other since the sign stealing garbage can issue. Not random at all. Players, fans, and even front office members.
But they don’t hate hundreds of millions of dollars and a shared goal towards winning a championship.
Yanks keep Judge and Correa going back to the Twin Cities.
I would be ok with both of those things. Go grab Turner, resign Rodon, go after that crazy talented kid who can pitch and hit next year! Lol
I see the Giants getting one of the two, Zaidi has money to spend, and a long way to go to beat the Padres and Dodgers.
Dodger fans would enjoy jeering Correa on the Giants.
Correa is in play as Guardians new 1B
I don’t get the Correa hype. He just seems overrated. He can do some things, but compare his overall numbers to other SS and he lacks.
@baseballency
He’s just 28, and In addition to the talent, he’s deep thinking, high baseball IQ, and a leader.
Deep thinking? Ever listen to him speak?
What numbers are you looking at?! Of the big four, Correa has the highest career OPS+, highest DRS rate, highest bWAR/162, most GGs (tied with Swanson), and the most recent birth date.
Exactly. If anything he is underrated while being lumped in with this group of four. Turner is no slouch, Bogaerts is terrific, but Correa is the best of the four.
I like Correa, but I don’t see in what universe is he better than Trea Turner.
I don’t understand the people that say this. Turner is not a leader in the clubhouse where Correa has already became a leader in the Twins organization that he has been a part of for one year. Also wasn’t the MLB trying to call Correa the new Mr. October only two year ago? Turner seems to chock in October where Correa shines very bright. I think that’s what they are really getting paid to shine at the biggest stage!
Since 2018, Trea Turner is second in SS WAR (24.9) only to Lindor.
Correa is 6th with 18.9.
Both great players but I can’t give a tie for postseason performance to Correa when the gap over the regular season is this big. I also don’t buy in to the he’s not a clubhouse leader, he’s won everywhere he’s been.
Correa also played in 124 fewer games, making 682 fewer PA in that arbitrary timespan.
Both were rookies in 2015, Correa’s career fWAR: 31.3. Turner’s: 31.6
Correa’s bWAR: 39.5 Turner’s: 29.7
Correa is also a year and a half younger and a better defensive shortstop.
The gap between the two isn’t all that large.
“Correa also played in 124 games played”
So you’re penalizing Turner for being durable and staying on the field? Not sure an exec would see it the same way
I’m not penalizing anyone for anything, Also I’m not sold on you having any insight on a hypothetical nameless “exec’s” thought process.
Also, you somehow managed to misquote me.
I like Turner, the last two years he has a better WAR 13.1 to 10.5 for Correa. I think his speed stolen bases 59 to 0 for Correa, plays better with the larger bases and Turner has 20 more RBI. They both post, but Turner plays better for the next 6 years in WAR for me.
Trea’s game heavily relies on his speed and he is 30 in 2023! Just because you win doesn’t mean he is a leader in the clubhouse! You never here Trea’s name mentioned in the same sentence with the clubhouse leader. There is no gap in regular season you just picked numbers that fit your criteria. Correa has OPS plus 129 in regular season and a Gold Glove and a Platinum Glove at that Tuner has OPS plus of 122. Turner in playoffs: 197 PA, .238 BA, .614 OPS, 3 home runs. Correa in playoffs: 334 PA, .272 BA, .849 OPS, 18 home runs
You don’t penalize Turner for that at all but you have to compare Apples to Apples! Did the Mets just penalize Justin Verlander for missing two out of last three seasons?
Hopefully this means they’ll go after him regardless if Judge signs. Would be a dream offseason
The Giants have the $$$ they could realistically get both and probably Senga for that matter, I however don’t see all that happening in one offseason.
They can afford both if they choose to do so, but I feel one of them would be ideal and 1-2 rotation upgrades would be better money spent.
Meanwhile, Kolten Wong.
Would signing Judge preclude signing a top SS? Somehow I don’t think so.
He’s a two time all star and hes going to get 8 years 280 million? Wtf? Seems like Eric Byrnes, A.J. Pollock, Adam Eaton, Eric Hosmer type of overpay?
See Corey Seager, 10 years $325 million.
My guess on Correa, 7 years $231 million
Overpay, sure. But in today’s market, he would be a bargain at six years, $30 million per year. That is probably the floor.
My guess on Correa is 10/330. If 6/180 was the floor he would already be a Twin who offered 6 years and $35 million AAV.
Clearly the league didn’t think that Seager contract was an appropriate valuation, that’s why correa ended up on the Twins.
Of all the major position player free agent contracts only A-Rod has won the world series. Betts’s contract kicked in the year after he won with the Dodgers. Pitchers have done better in free agency winning the world series.
No cheaters please. I’d prefer the speed and athleticism of Turner anyway
You would rather have a 2B than a SS? Or didn’t you read the article?
Turner can play SS, regardless of where they choose to play him. When Crawford’s gone, he’ll move back.
No cheaters? Bonds left a stain didn’t he.
No Cheating in baseball that;s an oxymoron. Perry- spitball- Sosa- corked bats, vasaline ball, scuffed balls,, amphetamines, sterioids,and sign stealing! 90% of HOF players in the 60-70-80-90 took something. Oh, and now we are supposed to think spider tac is and sticking stuff is a new thing.. Time to let Bonds and Cllemens in the Hall.
Don’t act like your pitchers were using spider tack!
Two words “Barry Bonds” lmao
Giants are going all in. Judge and Correa. Then they need some pitching.
What Zaidi does during Winter Meetings will determine direction Giants go in 2023; sign / trade for top level talent or more of the same (dumpster diving / platoon players).
I think Judge will either go to the Giants or Dodgers. Probably soon since deGrom just shocked a lot of people and left the Mets. The dominos will start falling fast.
Jacob deGrom leaving New York wasn’t a shock since it only reinforced LOLmets.
Big mistake.
Nice username
“Meanwhile, the Braves want to sign Swanson but only Swanson”
This makes me believe Swanson is going elsewhere. Braves seem content with going with Grissom at SS. Otherwise they’d be kicking the tires on all 4 SS. But after the Freeman fiasco last year AA is going to show his fan base that he “tried” to get the homegrown Swanson back.
Or they think Swanson will sign for ~50-100m less than the other guys.
Or maybe one will be acquired in trade. Rosario is available, and more affordable.
Rosario is available
=======================
If Bogaerts doesn’t re-sign, I’d us to go after Rosario.
Swanson wasn’t home grown. Came from the Dbacks.
If the article’s source of info is Pavlovic’s fluff piece on the Winter Meetings, there’s absolutely nothing new being reported here. All he mentioned was that the Giants are still in the hunt for Judge and will pivot to one of the free agent shortstops as Plan B. They could well lose out on both guys and just settle for ex-Dodger castaways as the pattern has been.
Giants need a face for the franchise, and Judge is the only guy that really fits that bill. Correa is a cheater and a mercenary, and not the kind of player who will put butts in seats.
If SF doesn’t sign a big fish by week’s end, then I think they’re going to fall back on Plan C: The Low Hanging Fruit, which is just to grab at whatever ex-Dodgers their two ex-Dodger staffers are familiar with from their prior dealings. It will be a real gas if they sign Turner, Bellinger, and Jansen to go with Pederson.
Do you think you might be overplaying the ex Dodger thing ? Who have we got ? Historically we have had McGee and Watson. Currently we have Pederson and ……..
Seems like the low hanging fruit of Zaidi criticism.
Not agreeing with the premise but…
Alex Wood
Wow I thought there were more
Good call. Missed him. Thanks
The notion that Zaidi and Kapler take the easy option is ridiculous. Work ethic is there backbone and indicating otherwise is just plain ignorant.
The Dodgers’ roster from last season included Kevin Pillar, Reyes Moronta, Tyler Anderson, and Phil Bickford, all former Giants.
Any familiarity has to have a positive aspect to it. It’s silly to think just knowing a player from a previous team is the only criterion to a signing.
Players move around team to team. A recent Braves’ team had a number of ex-Giants on it. There’s little to nothing to be made from players’ former teams on any roster..
I agree that you’ll find Giants castaways on other teams, particularly the Pirates. And I was being a little hyperbolic with my implication that Giants FO would fall back on former Dodgers, yes. But if the Giants do miss out on the biggies this offseason, I can see the Zaidi/Kapler FO (former Dodgers execs) retreating to guys they feel like they can vouch for from ten years ago.
So far the only thing they have done this offseason is overpay to resign former Dodger Joc Pederson.
It’s hard to foresee Judge or Correa signing in SF. Judge would be taking a big risk in jumping ship to a less friendly yard, not to mention that Yanks have expressed a willingness to up their offer to match or exceed others’. The thought that the team would ask any stud SS to move over for Crawford shows a ridiculous short-sightedness. That right there will take just about any SS of note off the table this offseason.
Turner just inked a massive contract, so maybe Giants can now fall back on patching holes with Bellinger and Jansen. Any other 2015 spare Dodgers parts lying around? Stripling, Puig, or Ryu, perhaps? Or maybe former A’s from the Moneyball era?
It’s early. Too early to think that the Giants are going to miss on all the big names. Judge will sign where he gets the deal he wants. If SF offers a better deal than NY he’ll probably sign with the Giants.
As to ballparks his Statcast numbers show he can hit in any yard. As it is, since the changes prior to 2020, Oracle plays neutral, and more hitter-friendly than 15 other parks.
Trevor Story had no problem moving to 2B for Bogaerts despite the fact that he’s a much better defender. Asking a guy to play 2B for one season when a team gives him $27M to $33M or more, for 9-10 years is hardly a disrespectful ask. In fact, a guy might like the idea that a team stays loyal to a guy like Crawford. It shows they’ll stand by him as well.
And I have to disagree completely about Bellinger. The Giants can do better, and even the status quo is probably better. Jansen is a possibility since he continues to be effective, but signing him is no indication of some Zaidi/ex-Dodgers link.
@tad: It’s still early, yes. We did see some major dominoes fall today, though. The Giants haven’t signed anyone of Judge’s caliber since Bonds, and I think the Yankees have too big of an advantage if they want him back (and clearly, they do).
Interesting take on Story, but I don’t know how many marquee free agents are going to want to play a new position like that. If I’m Turner or Swanson, and I’m told to tread water for a year, I’d tell SF to kiss my you-know-what. Look at the contract Turner just inked, and SF was thinking they could just shove him over to 2B? Forgettaboutit.
Jansen is what, 35? He’s probably the next Tony Watson or Jake McGee (more throwback Dodgers signings), and I don’t mean that in a good way.
But thanks for the respectful disagreement. I’m happy to move off my cynicism if the Giants start making good moves.
You and I will have to agree to disagree about asking a guy to play 2B for 1 year. I would do it just to show I was a guy willing to do what was needed for the team. I’d feel like I was being selfish to demand otherwise.
When Tony Watson was 35 he pitched to an ERA+ of 174 for the Giants. I would gladly take that from Jansen. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me. I would like to say I’ve been right 100% of the time, but that would be a lie.
Correa – Giants. Turner – Phillies. Bogaerts – Cubs. Swanson – Braves.
All seem plausible except for Bogaerts.
Dodgers not getting any of them? Not convinced Lux will be their SS.
If the Dodgers were willing to spend for a big money SS, Trea would ge their guy. They don’t want to splurge on a SS is my view.
Angel Hernandez — Given the quality of your umpiring I cannot in good faith follow your your line of thought.
I could see the Dodgers making a sneaky under-the-radar move and acquiring Adames or Rosario or something like that.
Agreed, Clipper.
I am still of the opinion that Judge goes back to the Yankees. In fact, maybe even the Giants know this, which is why they’re pivoting to Correa.
Would Judge even consider signing with the Giants, without assurances of knowing he won’t be the only top tier free agent signing there?
The Giants need retooling almost everywhere, as they have a ton of holes to fill. Without a farm system producing premium talent, they have to spend a ton of $.
If they fail this offseason, ticket sales will plummet big time.
Correa is an excellent player, but can’t imagine execs lack concern about paying a massive contract to someone who will not realistically suit up minimum 140 games now, let alone a few years in. Turner seems like the best big $$ FA risk for those with deep pockets (compared also to Judge like SF is pursuing). Thought Giants might be the ones to grab Turner/Senga for rotation and an under-the-radar signing later.
How is it not realistic that Correa will suit up a minimum of 140 games? That’s a huge assumption, as well as the one that Turner is immune to injury. Correa hasn’t missed significant time since 2019. He played in 58 of the 60 games in the truncated 2020 season, and averaged 142 games over the last 2. The time he lost last season was from a HBP, and COVID.
He was on a run of missing a lot of time when he wasn’t close to a contract year (’17-’19). You cherry picked the average of his last 2 “contract years” and discounted the missed time of HBP as not counting. I personally look more to GP when it is not a contract year (when every player is motivated) to see what one can expect when a player signs a monster deal. As far as Turner, just said best bet as an opinion. No one is immune from injury.
Are you suggesting that Correa has a tendency towards being HBP? There are different reasons for IL time. Chronic injuries, like Brandon Belt’s knee, are different from fluke injuries like OF collisions and being HBP. It’s common knowledge, when discussing injuries, to know the difference and factor the chronic/fluke aspects into it. Fluke injuries can happen to anyone.
It isn’t cherry-picking to look at a players most recent performance. That goes for health as well as performance. I’m not as cynical as you to believe that players don’t care, and goldbrick, until they’re in a platform year. The correlation of his losing time 2017-19, and his availability since is not proof of anything.
Does the $19M to Pederson hamper their chances to sign multiple big names? Feels like that money could have been spent better.
No. If it did, it wouldn’t exist.
I think some of you are crazy thinking the Giants will get both Correa AND Judge. They have to get another SP, need help in the pen, and help around the diamond. I suspect they get Correa – Zaidi was saying getting young and athletic was key this offseason – and grab some random like Nimmo for OF. The rest is focused on pitching.
Crawford at 3rd? Lmao better off signing Drury to play 3rd and Correa/Turner for SS,and move Crawford to 2nd. His value at 3rd would be trash and he’s getting older. Then sign Nimmo, Verlander/Rodon and either a solid bullpen arm like David Robertson/Kimbrel/Jensen. JD Martinez or Brantley on 1 year deals would be ideal too.
But knowing how the Giants are they’ll probably sign Segura, Hangier, Wacha and trade 3 top prospects for B Reynolds lol
Drury is a not very good defensive 3rd baseman, and a journeyman with 3.6 career fWAR about to ride his one decent season into an overpay. Giants should stay clear of Drury.
Crawford creates a conundrum. He has a cannon for an arm=excellent for 3B. But with the new rules, his range at 2B would also be a real plus.
So like, the good kind of conundrum.
The Giants just drag their feet and never pull the trigger on any signings worth anything.. He’ll be gone way before the Giants sniff around !!
If SF signs Correa, Judge stays in NY. Dodgers have a small outside chance of signing Judge but it seems like NY and SF are the big ones.