MLB Rumors: More Specifics On Cubs Offer To Correa

 

Word leaked yesterday of the mutual interest between the Chicago Cubs and free agent shortstop Carlos Correa, and their talks before the lockout. 

Today, Cubs insider Bruce Levine expanded on his previous report, saying “The consensus is a seven-year deal would be probably what the Cubs are gonna try to convince Correa of doing." 

Cubs Will Reportedly “Try to Convince” Carlos Correa to Take a Seven-Year Deal - https://t.co/kx3G5X5KZI (via BN)

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 23, 2021

Now, trying to convince Correa, and actually getting his signature on a contract are two different things. 

Yesterday's report stated that despite the mutual interest, the Cubs were not willing to meet Correa's 10-year asking term. 

Levine suggested on 670 The Score that any deal will likely come with some options. “Opt-out after three years or after four years or both .… It could work both ways, where Correa gets the opportunity to opt-out after even two years and maybe get another fortune from someone else.”

Correa reportedly turned down a 10-year offer at $275M from the Detroit Tigers (who have since pivoted to Javy Baez), and scoffed at a 5-year, $160M offer from the Houston Astros. 

If the Cubs can get him to agree to a higher AAV (average annual value) to take a "shorter-term" contract of 7 years, with opt-outs, as Levine suggested, the 27-year-old could hit the free agent pool again at a reasonable age and try to break the bank a second time. 

He already has a supporter on the Cubs, as recently-signed Marcus Stroman is trying to lure Correa to the Windy City, via Twitter. 

All of this, of course, will have to wait until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, hopefully sometime early in 2022. 

Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports