Trea Turner signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, agreeing to go back East for $300 million over 11 years. That deal turned some heads, but it provided more evidence that MLB is as healthy as it's ever been. Owners can't hide anymore, there's no impending lockout or a pandemic to use as an excuse to not spend more money in free agency.
And then the San Diego Padres signed Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year contract worth $280 million on the final night of this year's Winter Meetings.
Both Turner and Bogaerts have qualifying offers attached to them, they were also the two older of the top-four shortstops in this year's free agent class. If the Cubs are serious about their pursuit of Carlos Correa, then it's becoming fairly evident that it's going to take a record-breaking contract to do it.
Consider that Correa is the youngest of the star free agent shortstops, turning 28-years-old on Sept. 22, and where ever he decides to go doesn't have to worry about losing a draft pick or bonus pool money.
On March 31, 2021, the New York Mets signed Francisco Lindor to a 10-year, $341 million extension, making Lindor the owner of the biggest contract for a shortstop in MLB history. The Padres were reportedly willing to top that amount for Turner, who turned it down and went to Philadelphia. And then San Diego pivoted to Bogaerts, doing whatever needed to be done after losing out on Turner and Aaron Judge. By the way, reports say the Padres had $400 million waiting for the Yankees outfielder.
You can call it an overpay, but who would you rather be right now? A Padres fan that just got another good player or a Red Sox fan who has once again seen one of their home-grown stars leave Boston because of money?
The Red Sox reportedly offered Bogaerts a contract that was below the $200 million mark.
At this rate, it appears as though the Cubs or whoever signs Correa, will have to make him the richest shortstop in MLB.
If you're panicking about the length of these deals, who cares? Get the star player now and worry about the rest later.
Please don't use Jason Heyward as an excuse to not go after another top free agent again. Take the Padres for example. They signed first baseman Eric Hosmer to a huge deal that also turned ugly quickly. What did they do? They traded him to the Red Sox, ate a big amount of his remaining contract, moved on and continued to spend on premier talent.
If you're scared about bad contracts, then you're never going to get the best players available. It's as simple as that. Teams must take risks if they're serious about competing.
The Cubs also have the luxury of not being committed to much long-term money. Following the 2023 season, the contracts of Heyward, Kyle Hendricks, Cody Bellinger, Yan Gomes, Ian Happ and if Marcus Stroman opts out, will all come off the team's payroll.
According to Gordon Wittenmyer, the Cubs have an offer on the table for Correa among other teams.
The Cubs remain very much in the mix for Correa and Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson, according to multiple sources — one of several teams with offers on the table for Correa.
And here's the thing, if Correa signs somewhere else, maybe it's the Giants, I at least need to know the Cubs offered as much if not more to try and get him.
Right now, the Cubs also remain in the mix for Swanson, who may be the more realistic option.
But as the Cubs’ top executives began heading home from San Diego on the final day of the Winter Meetings Wednesday, the job of landing the ideal-fit Correa started looking a lot more expensive, which made a pivot to Swanson start looking more likely.
We discussed the Cubs free agent signings so far and their pursuit of the shortstops on the Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast. You can watch/listen via the link below.
Just don't get outbid. Don't make money the reason Carlos Correa isn't the next star on the Chicago Cubs.
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