Carlos Correa deal: Star free agent passes Twins physical to complete $200M deal after Mets saga, per report

The Minnesota Twins and free-agent infielder Carlos Correa have agreed to a six-year contract worth $200 million that includes a vesting option that could push the value to $270 million. It appears the deal will be the final twist in the month-long free agent saga for the star MLB infielder, who previously agreed to deals this winter with the Giants and Mets. The Twins deal was pending a physical — no sure thing this winter so far as Correa is concerned — but Correa passed the exam Wednesday, according to the New York Post. An official announcement is slated to come later in the day.

This resolution in Minnesota — where Correa also spent the 2022 season — comes after a messy several weeks in which the Mets and Correa reached a tentative agreement on a 12-year contract worth $315 million before the Mets hesitated over the shortstop’s physical. It’s believed that the Mets had concerns about Correa’s right lower leg, which he had surgically repaired as a teenager. Correa’s agreement with the Mets was preceded by his 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants that fell apart over similar concerns. His agent, Scott Boras, elected to move on and solicit other offers after the Giants took too long to reopen negotiations. 

In subsequent negotiations with the Mets, the team’s offer was reduced to six years, $157.5 million guaranteed with annual physicals, the New York Post reports. Here’s a complete timeline of the Correa free agency saga.

It should be noted that Correa has not required a stay on the injured list because of his right leg since undergoing the operation as a minor-league player with the Houston Astros. The matter, then, is a predictive one instead of a prescriptive one. As for Correa’s Twins physical, Jon Heyman reports that the portion of the exam concerning Correa’s ankle has already been completed, which means the deal is likely to be approved from the medical standpoint. 

Here’s how the deal would break down: 

Dan Hayes notes that the first $200 million is guaranteed and that option years will vest based on at-bat thresholds: 

Correa, 28, entered the offseason ranked by CBS Sports as the third-best free agent available this offseason. Here’s what we wrote:

In the past, we’ve referenced Bill James’ theory that it’s better for a player’s perception if they start hot rather than finish hot — that way, James once reasoned, their statline…