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Carlos Correa never even visited with the Chicago Cubs this offseason, and today we found out why. According to Stephen Nelson, Correa never received the Cubs’ offer. That’s right, despite Chicago’s proposed seven-year deal worth over $30 million per year, Correa didn’t even have the opportunity to consider it. Nelson cited Correa’s agent switch as the primary reason the offer never reached the All-Star shortstop’s eyes. Correa ended up signing a three year, $105 million deal with the Minnesota Twins in March.
For better context than I could give while chasing a crawling 8-month-old: I was told the Cubs offered Correa a 7-year deal worth more than $30M/year. But in the complicated nature of Correa’s agent switch, that deal was never even presented to him. https://t.co/hNgoUHGfmr
— Stephen Nelson (@StephenNelson) April 6, 2022
One of the most highly-touted free agents in this year’s class, Correa was expecting a massive payday. And the Cubs were a leading candidate to give him one. Instead, that three-year deal with the Twins shocked the baseball world. In an era where mega contracts are common, a 27-year old shortstop in his prime should’ve been a prime candidate for one.
But in January, Correa changed agents, and began working with Scott Boras. The swap was the result of a reported 10 year, $275 million offer from the Detroit Tigers being turned down. While Correa certainly had every right to be upset if that was where he wanted to end up, it looks as though it cost him another opportunity at a massive payday.
The Cubs meanwhile, shifted their focus elsewhere. Chicago gave pitcher Marcus Stroman and outfielder Seiya Suzuki a combined $156 million. But following the Javier Báez trade midway through last season, the Cubs would’ve loved to find a long-term replacement at the shortstop position. Instead, the team will trot out a stopgap in former Twins’ shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Oh, what could have been.