Red Sox should stay the course and focus on Xander Bogaerts instead of Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa told a Puerto Rican newspaper he intends to opt-out of his contract with the Minnesota Twins. In an interview with El Nuevo Dia’s Jorge Figueroa Loza, Correa plans to exercise his opt-out clause because it “is the right decision.”
The Twins and Correa have expressed interest in a longterm deal. Minnesota’s president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said he has spoken to Scott Boras this week.
Despite wanting to return to the Twins, Correa did acknowledge that “what you want doesn’t always happen.”
That same quote could also apply to Red Sox fans desire to see Xander Bogaerts return on a longterm deal of his own.
Bogaerts and the Red Sox are expected to talk about a deal soon, but the threat of him leaving in free agency is still a very real possibility. Chaim Bloom has publicly stated that Bogaerts is the team’s top priority.
If Bogaerts elects to leave the Red Sox, Correa would be a great replacement. Manager Alex Cora and Correa have a great relationship. Both are from Puerto Rico and spent time together in Houston back in 2017.
“He’s a very mature kid who understands the game,” Cora said last year after Correa signed with the Twins. “Sometimes, I don’t like him on the field, but he’s a good friend of mine and I’m very happy for him.”
The former first-round pick slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs, 24 doubles and a triple in 590 plate appearances across 136 games.
Defensively Correa did not return to his 2021 Platinum Glove performance. Correa tied for sixth with MLB players with 50 DRS and was pegged as a negative defender at -3.
The knock on Bogaerts has been his defense, could Correa be trending backwards with his glove in the field? Possibly.
Correa is a good clubhouse presence and the Red Sox might be looking for new voices on the team. The former All-Star is going to want a mega deal. Bloom might be better served not spending on Correa and allocating those resources to the player the know and the fans love.Correa will be more expensive in the long run than Bogaerts. The Red Sox also have minor league options at shortstop for the future in Marcelo Mayer and Mikey Romero.
The idea of Correa in Boston is fun to think about and his relationship with Cora might be overblown in the potential quest of his services. Boston should continue to stay the course and bring back Bogaerts.
There is a lot riding on this offseason for the Red Sox. Bloom has many decisions to make and whether or not to bring back Bogaerts will be his biggest since he traded Mookie Betts.
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