Carlos Correa reveals what kept Giants, Mets from signing him
Carlos Correa had a busy offseason.
He agreed to deal with three teams. He can only play for one, of course, and that will be the Minnesota Twins.
Correa initially agreed to a 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. However, after a doctor working for the Giants took issue with Correa’s physical condition, that deal fell through and the New York Mets pounced.
They then reportedly agreed to pay him $315 million over the next ten years and move him to third base.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins rounds the bases on his solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of a game at Target Field on Sept. 15, 2022, in Minneapolis. (David Berding/Getty Images)
There was just one problem: The Mets sought advice from the same doctor the NL West club had been using, according to Correa.
“The Giants used an ankle specialist who didn’t get past me,” Correa told The Athletic. “Then the Mets used the same specialist, who obviously wasn’t going to get past me. He had already given an opinion on another team about my ankle. He wouldn’t change it. He would stand by what he was saying, of course, because that’s what he believed.”
The physical issue stems from a rod in Correa’s ankle from surgery in 2014. Correa’s deal with the Mets never reached the finish line after many moves. The Mets were willing to guarantee Correa $157.5 million over the first six years of their proposed contract.
Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa speaks to the media at Target Field on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Minneapolis. The team and Correa agreed to a six-year, $200 million contract. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
METS BREAK SILENCE ON CARLOS CORREA DEBACLE AS TWINS SHORTSTOP DEAL BECOMES OFFICIAL
The Twins and Correa eventually agreed to a deal, but Minnesota wasn’t willing to give Correa a deal as long as. They will have Correa for half the length of time he would have been under contract with the Mets.
Correa, 28, signed a six-year deal worth $200 million.
“We had other ankle specialists look at him and they said he’s going to be fine,” Correa said. But the only doctor used by the Giants and Mets “never touched me, saw me or did a test on me.”
The shortstop has been placed on the disabled list seven times in his eight-year career, but never for the ankle, and he has played at least 140 games just twice in his career (2016, 2021). The 28-year-old played in 136 games last season due to two trips to the injured list.
Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa (4) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on Sept. 30, 2022, in Detroit. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Correa is a career .279 hitter with a .836 OPS and a Gold Glove award in 2021. He also won the AL Platinum Glove.
In the postseason, he batted .272 with an .849 OPS, blasting 18 homers and driving in 59 runs in 79 games. Last season with the Twins, Correa batted .291 to go along with a .366 on-base percentage. He also hit 22 home runs and drove in 64.
