MLB Rumors: One Big Market Team That Is NOT Pursuing Carlos Correa

The latest report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic indicates that one team that free agent shortstop Carlos Correa can strike off his list of suitors, is the usually free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers. 

One of the main reasons, says Rosenthal, is "out of concern that a sizable portion of their fan base would not welcome the move." That's due, of course, to the fact that Correa was the outspoken face of the tainted 2017 Houston Astros, who illegally stole signs on their way to beating the Dodgers in the World Series that year. 

The Dodgers are not pursuing star Free Agent shortstop Carlos Correa in part due to fan reaction of adding an Astro that played a role in the 2017 cheating scandal

Per @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/hARIrPsn61

— Starting 9 (@Starting9) December 7, 2022

But Rosenthal says that another reason the Dodgers are not ready to shell out $300M or anything close in free agency, is the unresolved Trevor Bauer situation. It's possible, he says, that LA could still owe the former Cy Young winner as much as $100M in back pay, if his current two-year suspension for violating the league’s policy on sexual assault and domestic violence is reduced or overturned. 

That means, says Rosenthal, that the Dodgers are more focused on lower-tier options on the open market this year, such as Kevin Kiermaier and JD Martinez. 

Another reason for the Dodgers to avoid spending big this winter? Next offseason promises to feature the biggest free agent of all, two-way star Shohei Ohtani. They want to keep the decks clear and the finances in order to go big and bring "Shotime" to Hollywood.

Photo: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports