Carlos Correa entered free agency as one of the more sought-after players on the market. However, due to concerns over his physical, deals with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets ultimately fell through.
While Correa ended up back with the Minnesota Twins following the saga, he told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that he holds no ill will toward either the Giants or the Mets.
“There’s no hard feelings toward both organizations. There’s nothing but respect for them,” Correa said. “Doctors have differences of opinion. That’s fine. But God took me here to the Minnesota Twins. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.”
Correa initially agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants on December 14. Six days later, the Giants postponed Correa’s introductory press conference after doctors “saw something concerning” regarding his right ankle. Correa had surgery to repair a fractured fibula in 2014 when he was still a minor leaguer.
The Mets swooped in to nab Correa less than 24 hours later, agreeing to a 12-year, $315 million contract. However, as Correa revealed in his Q&A with The Athletic, the Mets used the same specialist the Giants had, and he wasn’t going to change his opinion.
“We did have other ankle specialists look at it and say it was going to be fine, orthopedists who know me, even the one who did the surgery on me,” Correa said.
In the end, Correa circled back, inking a six-year, $200 million deal with the Twins, who the shortstop said was always in consideration due to how the organization treated his family.
“I never forgot that,” Correa said. “I never forgot that feeling. I never forgot those conversations with my family when I got back to our house after games about how great everyone made them feel.”
