MLB Rumors: Mets, Carlos Correa Expected To Reach Deal Different From $315 Million Contract

More than two weeks after New York Mets owner Steve Cohen proudly proclaimed that the team had come to an agreement with Carlos Correa, the shortstop remains a free agent. Correa will probably end up in the Big Apple, but not with the massive contract that he was reportedly set to sign before Christmas.

The Mets are expected to get a deal done with Correa at some point, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The contract will be dramatically different from the 12-year, $315 million guaranteed deal that the two sides initially agreed upon.

Correa could have a hard time landing a contract to his liking if he goes back onto the open market for a third time. The San Francisco Giants were prepared to sign the 28-year-old for 13 years and $350 million before the organization had questions about his surgically repaired lower leg. Now that the Mets also want to tweak their offer to Correa, it's unlikely that any other suitor would ignore his physical.

Correa underwent surgery to repair a fractured right fibula and ligament in 2014. The injury hasn't been a problem for Correa since he made his major-league debut in 2015. Teams fear that it could become an issue later in his career.

The Mets have more leverage than Correa, considering how much they've already improved their roster in the offseason. But New York views Correa as a key part of their championship hopes for the 2023 season.

"This really makes a big difference," Cohen told The New York Post's Jon Heyman when Correa agreed to join the Mets. "I feel like our pitching was in good shape. We needed one more hitter. This puts us over the top."

"We needed one more thing, and this is it."

Less than a week after Cohen spoke with The Post, a source estimated to Heyman that there was a 55% chance of the two sides working out a deal. A source told Sports Illustrated's Pat Ragazzo that there was a 51% chance of a new agreement being reached.

Cohen has been willing to outspend every other team by close to $100 million in search of a World Series title next season. The San Diego Padres eliminated the Mets in the 2022 wild-card round. In its two postseason losses, New York scored one total run.

Correa hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs in 136 games for the Minnesota Twins last season.