Why Carlos Correa signed with the Twins after Giants, Mets contracts fell apart amid injury concerns

Carlos Correa’s long national nightmare is finally over.

The shortstop whose ankle has been under the microscope since mid-December has, seemingly, found a new home for 2023 and beyond, but it’s also a familiar one.

Correa and the Twins are in agreement on a six-year, $200 million contract, that could be worth up to $270 million in total, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal was made official on Wednesday, after Correa passed his physical. 

He’s Home. pic.twitter.com/P2sMnJFOY9

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 11, 2023

BREAKING: Shortstop Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins are finalizing a six-year, $200 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal has a vesting option that can max out at $270 million. It is pending physical.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2023

MORE: MLB free agency tracker — What to know about winter signings

Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the “major part” of the physical was already done, including an evaluation of the troublesome right ankle.

Correa was on the cusp of signing with the Giants and then the Mets this offseason, with deals falling through with both times because of questionable medicals. Both teams were reportedly leery of the potential deterioration of Correa’s right ankle, which he fractured in a minor-league game in 2014. 

Correa’s original 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants was still the best offer he was close to signing, with medicals ultimately costing him $150 million on face value of the contract.

With the Twins, Correa has familiarity, and that works both ways in this case. He spent the 2022 season in Minnesota, so the Twins should have a better feel for his physical status than any other team. 

It’s deja-vu all over again for Correa. 

Carlos Correa contract details

After a couple of false starts this offseason, Correa ultimately agreed to a six-year, $200 million deal with the Twins, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal also has four years of vesting option that can bring the total value of the deal up to 10 years and $270 million total.

*Indicates vesting year.

Correa can vest Year 7 (2029) of the deal with 502 plate appearances in Year 6.

The Giants offered Correa a 13-year, $350 million contract extension, which ultimately fell through after questionable medicals popped up. 

The Mets swooped in and offered Correa a 12-year, $315 million deal, which Correa agreed to soon after the Giants deal fell into limbo. But, weeks after the deal was agreed to, it was never made official. Mets brass was seemingly turned off by the same medicals the Giants were, leading to doubt surrounding the deal. 

The Mets also wouldn’t guarantee the final six years of their reported 12-year contract offer, instead just giving him the first years of the contract guaranteed, but the remaining only conditionally guaranteed.

Now, Correa heads into the next chapter of his career with a new contract — and an ankle that may have cost him $150 million.