NEW YORK — When it comes to improving the Mets, Steve Cohen knows no limits. Major League Baseball’s richest owner surprised everyone early Wednesday by agreeing to a $315 million, 12-year contract with the player after paying nearly half a billion dollars in wages to boost the team this winter. Carlos CorreaA source told MLB.com.
The agreement is not yet official and is subject to the results of clinical trials, an important distinction. The Mets have not confirmed the deal.
The New York Post first reported that Correa and the Mets had agreed to contract terms, hours after the shortstop’s 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants was terminated due to apparent medical reasons. It opened a window for Cohen, who is vacationing in Hawaii, to sneak up on Korea and restart negotiations.
“We need one more thing, and this is it,” Cohen told the Post. “It’s important… It puts us on top. It’s a good team. I hope it’s a good team!”
As of Tuesday morning, the Giants were expected to finalize a deal with Correa, the two-time All-Star and No. 1 draft pick who was traded to the Mets among other teams, before deciding to move to San Francisco. But according to multiple reports, the Giants abruptly canceled Korea’s news conference due to questions raised during the medical exam. This allowed the Mets to develop Correa as the new centerpiece of an offseason that allowed Cohen to acquire several players to improve the team.
Between Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, José Quintana, Omar Narvaez, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson and now Correa, Cohen has committed $806.1 million to free agents this winter.
It’s not publicly known what concerns the Giants had about Correa’s health, but various reports indicated it was unrelated to the back problem that sidelined him for 36 games in 2018. Still only 28, Correa has played 89% of the games. For his teams in the last three seasons.
