Could Carlos Correa’s struggles lead him to stay with the Minnesota Twins next season?
The assumption after Carlos Correa signed with the Minnesota Twins was that he would leave after one season. However, he’s been one of the worst hitters in baseball over the last month and a half, and that could lead him to stay with the team next year.
The Twins signed Carlos Correa to a three-year/$105 million contract, with an opt-out after each season. It’s still likely he does so after this year, but his struggles could benefit Minnesota in the long run.
Correa was extremely valuable to this team by the end of June. The shortstop was hitting .301, with an on-base percentage of .366 and slugging .479. His numbers were right in line with what we’ve seen from him in the past, if not better.
Then came July and August, and that player quickly disappeared.
- July: .175/.264/.350, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 9 BB, 19 SO
- August: .226/.351/.258, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 7 SO
Those are numbers you’d expect from your eighth or ninth guy in the lineup, not your former All-Star who’s making $35 million this season.
For the record, if the Twins didn’t sign Correa, it’s not like they would or will use that extra money on pitching. Having him on the roster is good for the Twins and the potential of this team.
He’s one of the best playoff hitters in baseball history, and he’s only 27. He ranks sixth all-time in runs batted in with 59 (Record Holder: Bernie Williams – 80). If he continues this trajectory, we could be talking about the best postseason player of all time.
The Twins have a chance at making it to the ALDS because he’s on the roster. Minnesota winning at least one playoff game would be a breath of fresh air.
On the bright side, Correa will not finish the season hitting close to .200. He’s too good of a player, but it is concerning. Especially when you factor in that if the season ended today, the Twins would not make the playoffs.
The Cleveland Guardians have a 1.5-game lead on the Twins for the AL Central. Minnesota needs to win the division if they want to make the playoffs. Six teams make it to the postseason and their one game back in the Wild Card race. The Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays are all better ball clubs.
Minnesota can’t expect them to lose games like they are with the AL Central.
Correa should and will help this team down the stretch. His midseason struggles happen to every player, but this is uncommon territory for him. His poor play could cause his market to dry up a bit this offseason, and maybe he doesn’t get the deal he was anticipating.
Maybe teams shave off $5-8 million a year, and Correa prefers to run it back and make a comfortable $35 million next season with Minnesota. No one expected him to sign with the Twins, so predicting what he’ll do is a crapshoot.
Who’s to say he won’t opt-in or sign a long-term deal if he continues to shit the bed late in the season?
