Twins front office salvages offseason with Carlos Correa deal

The Twins in signing SS Carlos Correa "salvaged the offseason" as their front office was able to "outbid" the Mets and owner Steve Cohen, according to LaVelle Neal III of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey and GM Thad Levine are "winners" in this affair, and now "anything is possible."  The Twins retained a “premium player who meant just as much in the clubhouse as he did on the field" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/10). In Minneapolis, Michael Rand wrote the Twins “can’t afford to miss” on Correa's contract. Rand: “The fact that the Mets and obscenely wealthy owner Steve Cohen ultimately walked away from Correa is a red flag.” The risk is “somewhat diminished by the updated terms" of the contract, but the risk “is still real.” Rand noted if Correa is “relatively healthy and productive for the vast majority” of his six year deal, it should “prove to be a wise move.” Still, the Twins “should take their time with that physical examination” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/10).

PATIENTLY WAITING: In St. Paul, Betsy Helfand noted Falvey “vowed the club would be ‘creative’ in its pursuit of Correa at the beginning of the offseason.” Which it appears the Twins’ “creativity -- and patience -- paid off” (St. Paul PIONEER PRESS, 1/10). Also in St. Paul, John Shipley wrote despite originally “appearing to lose the Correa sweepstakes,” Falvey and Levine “kept themselves in position to scoop up a great player at a keystone position and lock him up for what should be his prime.” After “doing little to quicken the pulse in free agency,” the Twins have “reversed the narrative by nabbing inarguably the best free agent ever lured to Minnesota” (St. Paul PIONEER PRESS, 1/10). MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said this was the Twins' “chance” to sign a high-caliber player like Correa. This is "where you take your chance.” Harold Reynolds: "The Twins are elated. This deal does not get done without their ownership" ( "Hot Stove," MLB Network, 1/10).

OUTSPENDING THE AL CENTRAL: USA TODAY’s Gabe Lacques noted while both the AL and NL Central divisions are “filled with franchises that often cry poverty,” the Twins have “proven different, landing third baseman Josh Donaldson and now Correa, twice, on deals that work for them.” The “much bigger-market” White Sox just “gave out the biggest contract in their history" in a five-year, $75M contract for OF Andrew Benintendi. Correa’s commitment is “more than two and a half times that,” on the heels of C Christian Vazquez’s $30M contract. Lacques adds if just “one of Correa’s option years vest, it will be the largest free agent signing in AL or NL Central history.” Minnesota is “proving that so-called flyover country doesn’t have to be no-man’s land” (USA TODAY, 1/10). MLB Network’s Chris Russo said Correa is better off being on a “ballclub where he’s got a lot of great players around him and he is notthegreat player because he’s not going to sell tickets under any circumstances" ( "High Heat," MLB Network, 1/10).