Carlos Correaphysical with the Mets has “raised concerns,” according to a report by Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes of The Athletic. According to the report, the concern relates to Correa’s surgically repaired lower right leg. Correa agreed to a 12-year, $315 million deal with the Mets just days after a 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants fell through due to physical concerns.
While it’s shocking to hear given the events of the past week, it’s not yet clear what that means for the status of the deal. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that both parties are currently trying to resolve the issue.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has previously addressed the matter, saying Heman earlier this week than “we needed one more thing, and that’s it.” That’s especially important because, according to The Athletic’s report, processing the deal on file could make it harder to pull the deal, although there’s no suggestion that’s what the Mets are looking to do.
It’s been a fascinating turn of events in Correa’s free agency over the past week. Typically, reported deals pending a physical have gone official without a hitch, but Correa’s has now hit a snag twice in the space of a week. Moreover, he is one of the best free agents this winter and has accepted deals worth more than $300 million. Correa had agreed to a long-term contract with the Giants on December 13, but that fell through on Monday after the Giants reportedly asked for more time to examine doctors after finding something that gave them pause. However, agent Scott Boras quickly pivoted and went to the Mets, who quickly agreed to their own long-term deal for $35 million less than the original deal with the Giants.
Boras also sought to re-engage with the Twins after the deal with the Giants fell through. According to The Athletic’s report, they had offered him a 10-year, $285 million deal, but would have placed more emphasis on physicality prior to that deal than the deal he signed with Minnesota earlier in 2022, given the long-term nature of the proposal. The report also adds that after Correa became available again, the Twins were unwilling to alter their original proposal and reportedly wanted to investigate the issues raised in the player’s physique with the Giants.
The Giants remained silent on the subject. HIPAA laws prevent them from releasing clear answers about the precise nature of the injury, but President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi issued a statement: “Although we are prohibited from disclosing confidential medical information, as Scott Boras has stated publicly, there was a difference of opinion regarding the results of Carlos’ physical examination. We wish Carlos the best.
The Correa camp denied any cause for concern. Prior to undertaking his physique with the Mets, Boras said “thThere is nothing with him currently that is some kind of medical issue,via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. He also added that the Giants were trying to use a crystal ball to try and predict Correa’s long-term health (via Newsday’s Laura Albanese).
Various reports have mentioned Correa’s right leg as a cause of concern for the Giants and Mets. In 2014, a teenager Correa fractured his right fibula and suffered minor ligament damage while playing High-A in the Astros organization. This injury required arthroscopic surgery to repair it. Correa missed time with thumb, back and rib problems in the big leagues, but the right leg never sent him to the injured list in his eight big league seasons.
It is worth recalling that only a few years ago the Mets entered into an agreement with a player. In 2021, they wrote Rocking Kumar 10th overall and agreed to a $6 million signing bonus, before dropping the deal after growing concerned about something they saw in the physical. Of course, walking out of a $6 million deal for a draft pick and a $315 million contract for an All-Star are two different things, and Cohen’s comments certainly provide confidence that a agreement can always be concluded in one form or another.
It’s the latest twist in what has been a tumultuous time for Correa in the open market. He was the top free agent after leaving the Astros last year, but after the long-term deal he was looking for didn’t materialize, he agreed to a three-year, $105.1 million deal. with withdrawal option with the Twins. After earning $35.1 million last season and having another solid season, he retired and hit the open market for the second consecutive winter. The mega long-term deal he was looking for seemed to have finally come to fruition when it was reported that the Giants had agreed to a 13-year, $350 million pact. That deal fell through, but Correa was able to quickly strike a more than $300 million deal with the Mets. Although there is every chance that a deal with New York will still be reached, there is at least some doubt hanging over it.
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