Scott Boras called the environment that led to Carlos Correa signing a three-year, $105 million deal with the Twins, who pulled out after the first two years, “Rubik’s Cube”.
Correa left his previous agency and asked Boras to represent him during the lockout. Boras said: “It was a very, very difficult dynamic to execute in this time frame, in this market and with the qualifying offer” attached to Correa. He said teams are trying to move quickly.
So there was no time for the normal phase of negotiations as a free agent. As such, Boras said he warned Correa that they might have to “use the market bridge”. The idea was that Correa would receive a three-year $105 million defense—$35.1 million a year—the most for an outfield player. In addition, there is an option to opt out after the first year (after he turns 27) or the second year (after he turns 28) to potentially return to the free agent market while it is still in its prime. forces. Keep in mind next year will also be an elite shortstop market: Xander Bogaerts (player option), Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner and likely Correa if he has a strong year.
When Correa left William Morris Endeavor, it was believed that Correa had hired Boras to at least beat the 10-year, $325 million deal Boras made before Corey Seeger’s lockout with the Rangers, and possibly even beat 10-year contract for $341 million. given by Francisco Lindor.
Carlos Correa’s deal with the Gemini became official on March 22, 2022. Getty Images
Boras said the combination of the late market due to the end of the lockout, the draft pick compensation associated with signing Correa, and the way the market played out forced Correa into a deal where Correa could consider making that huge deal next offseason through refusal.
To explain the difficulty of the field, Boras said the Astros were firm on not going beyond five years in big free-agent deals. He pointed out that the Yankees were simultaneously watching their wages and wanted to use the trading market to reorganize their lineup as factors that prevented the deal.
However, on Saturday, Boras returned to several interested teams to make sure of their desires. The Yankees were included and the parties discussed a four-year opt-out option. The Yankees, however, had already passed the second tax threshold of $250 million and did not want to exceed the third threshold of $270 million and were doing more due diligence than anything else.
In the end, Boras said he put Correa in a spot with a salary structure that worked for a shortstop plus a spot Correa loves to hit. In 15 games at Target Field, Correa’s slash line is .413/.443/.762. The deal was agreed over the weekend and became official on Tuesday.
“We were looking for something that could launch a rocket,” Boras said.
That would mean Correa’s short-term safety and the ability to pursue a long-term, extravagant contract as early as next offseason.