*Photo from Sportsnet*
Our first post lockout major shortstop domino has fallen, but it's not to a team you'd expect. The Minnesota Twins and SS Carlos Correa have agreed to a 3 year, $105.3 million deal, according to Mark Berman of Fox Houston. The Twins have confirmed the signing.
The deal pays Correa $35.1 million annually, setting the new record for a position player, just beating out Anthony Rendon's contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The deal also contains opt outs after both 2022 and 2023, so Correa could hit the market again next season and cash in on the long term deal a year later.
The Twins had a gaping hole at shortstop, and Correa fills it with MVP level production. He finished in 5th place in AL MVP voting last season, behind Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Marcus Semien, and Aaron Judge. His ability to hit for contact and power at a high rate is paired with his elite defense at shortstop, which netted him 12 outs above average last season, sixth best among qualified shortstops and only 4 behind Andrelton Simmons, who was the Twins shortstop last season.
It's funny to see how the Twins got to signing Correa, based on what has happened in the last week. We all thought they had their starting shortstop when they traded Mitch Garver for Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Texas Rangers, only to then trade Kiner-Falefa and all $50 million of Josh Donaldson's remaining salary, which then gave them enough money under the luxury tax to sign Correa.
Last season with the Houston Astros, Correa was his usual stellar self, making the AL all star team with a .279 batting average, .485 slugging percentage, and an .850 OPS, hitting 26 home runs with 92 RBI's in 148 regular season games. He hit one home run and drove in 9 runs in 16 playoff games for the Astros.
In 7 seasons in the bigs, Correa has two all star game appearances and a .277 batting average, .481 slugging percentage, and .837 OPS, hitting 133 home runs to go with 489 RBI's, playing in 752 regular season games. Correa has a .272 batting average and .849 OPS, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 59 in 79 career playoff games.
The signing of Correa is the largest free agent contract handed out by the Twins, and he's the latest new face in an offseason of turnover. Correa joins Dylan Bundy, Sonny Gray, Gio Urshela, and Gary Sanchez as the new faces in Minnesota.
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