I will preface this by saying that I wish any other MLB analyst said or wrote this, well maybe anybody other than Dan Clark. Anyway, Jim Bowden wrote about the 25 best remaining free agents and where he believes they will end up signing. There is a positive development if you fully trust the former MLB executive and still believe the Cubs can make a huge splash this offseason by signing one of the top-two shortstops left. Specifically, the best position player available.
Here's Bowden's description of Carlos Correa's current market.
Via The Athletic.
Carlos Correa is the top position player left on the free-agent market and as many as six teams are interested in him, according to team sources. There have been indications the Twins and Cubs have the inside track, but it only takes one owner from another team to step up at the last minute to change the equation and pull off a deal. Correa would be a great fit with the Angels, Tigers, Braves, and Red Sox, who just lost Xander Bogaerts to the Padres in free agency.
So, we definitely know the Cubs are deep in talks with Correa, but the latest word coming from Chicago media is how Jed Hoyer is still hesitant to offer a mega-long deal. But who knows, there are reports out of Minnesota that Correa is more interested in having a high average annual value in his contract rather the actual length of the deal. That would play into the Cubs' favor, but how aggressive will Hoyer be remains a mystery.
Back to Bowden, though. It's good to see that someone is saying the Cubs are one of the teams with the inside track and you'd imagine they would easily have the ability to out-bid the Twins, but that blurb from Bowden kind of seems like pure speculation on his part. I mean, he didn't even bring up the Giants, who are most certainly involved with Correa after Aaron Judge turned them down to return to the Yankees.
Also, Jon Heyman wrote on Monday night about the Giants and Twins being the ones engaged in a battle for Correa.
Via the New York Post.
The Giants and incumbent Twins are among teams locked in bidding for Correa, the top remaining shortstop on a market that once saw four All-Star shortstops free. Dansby Swanson remains a free agent, and the Cubs are a candidate to sign him, possibly along with the Dodgers, Red Sox and second-place finisher for Correa.
I mean, Heyman did say "among teams" so you'd assume the Cubs are included in that group.
One thing seems pretty straight forward though, nearly every MLB reporter that writes about Dansby Swanson, thinks he'll sign with the Cubs if they don't sign Correa.
Here's Bowden on Swanson.
The Braves put their “best offer” on the table before Dansby Swanson reached free agency, and although they’ve touched base with the All-Star shortstop in the offseason, they’re giving him space to test the market. The Cubs appear to be the most likely to sign Swanson, if they don’t get Carlos Correa. The Giants, Red Sox, Twins and Cardinals are other possible landing spots.
I may be out of my mind by still thinking the Cubs have a shot at Correa, but I keep thinking about what Boston Globe reporter Pete Abraham said after Xander Bogaerts signed his 11-year, $280 million deal with the Padres.
Abraham first said that three or four teams offered Bogaerts more than $200 million.
He was then on the Wake and Rake podcast, saying the Cubs were in on Bogaerts.
So, I'll keep clinging to that thought. If the Cubs were indeed one of the teams that offered Bogaerts more than $200 million, then I have to believe they are willing to do what it takes to sign Correa. Right? C'mon, Jed, step the fuck up already.
Let's see if we can have more good vibes on Wednesday, when we'll record the next Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast.
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