Nearly a month since Carlos Correa agreed to terms with the Giants and three weeks since Mets owner Steve Cohen jumped into the sweepstakes when the initial deal fell apart, Correa is heading back to the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins officially announced the signing on Wednesday. Multiple reports say the deal is worth $200 million over six years with four vesting options that could push the total value of the contract to $270 million.
The Giants’ agreement was for 13 years, $350 million. The Mets had him for 12 years, $315 million.
For a while, it seemed like the Mets were finally going to be the team to put an end to the mysterious saga. Then on Christmas Eve, reports emerged that the Mets, similar to the Giants, were concerned with Correa’s physical. The issue stems from a lower right leg injury that required surgery during his time as a minor leaguer in the Astros organization.
The two sides went back and forth for weeks with the Twins remaining engaged. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets were willing to guarantee $157.5 million over six years with the final six years of the deal “only conditionally guaranteed.” The Mets and Correa’s camp could not agree on the language regarding the final six years of the deal.
It’s excellent news for the Phillies, who don’t have to worry about having Correa in the division for the next decade or so. Correa in a Mets uniform made New York the clear favorites to win the NL East, but without him, it appears to be a three-team race. The Phillies’ path to its first division title since 2011 and a bye to the Division Series is much easier with Correa in Minnesota.
Correa and the Twins will be in town to play the Phillies August 11-13 during Wall of Fame weekend.