Should the Red Sox consider Carlos Correa this offseason?
The Red Sox don’t exactly need a shortstop but they will if Xander Bogaerts officially opts-out of his contract. The one problem with that is Bogaerts can’t opt-out until the end of the 2022 season. This offseason the free agent market is flush with elite shortstops the Red Sox could consider to protect themselves if Bogaerts were to leave. One name that could be an option for the Red Sox is Carlos Correa.
Carlos Correa to Beantown?
.@TeamCJCorrea IS FIRED UP. 🔥#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/JDtdcZb86J
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 23, 2021
Once the World Series is over, Correa will become a free agent and will need to make a decision regarding his future. The 27-year-old will have many suitors for his service, including his current team the Astros, the Yankees, Angels and possibly the Red Sox.
“Whatever team wants to win I want to be part of it,” Correa told Jesse Rogers of ESPN. “I want to be part of an organization that wants to go in the right direction and rebuild in the right way and win championships.”
The Red Sox make some sense because of the Bogaerts uncertainty. Bogaerts has made it public “he hopes to remain in Boston” and “finish his career with the Red Sox.”
The 29-year-old Bogaerts will look to cash in similar to shortstops Francisco Lindor and Fernando Tatis Jr. who recently landed deals north of $340 million. It’s currently unknown whether Bogaerts will land a deal of that magnitude from the Red Sox. However Chaim Bloom and the ownership group should look to lock up Bogaerts this offseason.
Carlos Correa and Alex Cora reunion?
If they are unable to extend Bogaerts, Boston has options this offseason. Correa would fill the void nicely at shortstop at Fenway Park. Correa would be welcomed by manager Alex Cora, the two spent time together in Houston. Cora was also Correa’s manager during the World Baseball Classic.
Back in 2019, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal brought up the idea of the Red Sox being involved in the hunt for Correa and Lindor. This was strictly based off of Correa’s ties and connections with Cora.
“The Sox, in theory, could have the inside track on both players,” said Rosenthal back in 2019. “Their manager, (Alex) Cora, is from Puerto Rico, as are both players, and he was their GM in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.” Obviously Lindor has signed an extension with the Mets but the Correa narrative could gain steam in the fall.
Boston has depth within the farm system including Nick Yorke, Jeter Downs and Marcelo Mayer. All three prospects are not ready to contribute for the Red Sox at the major league level.
Bloom could look to bring in Correa and move Bogaerts to another position in the infield. Boston could look to feature an infield that has Rafael Devers, Correa, Bogaerts and Bobby Dalbec/Triston Casas.
Conclusion
I am not advocating that the Red Sox should sign Correa and move on from Bogaerts. The Red Sox should look to protect themselves in the event Bogaerts opts-out and he moves on.
While most Red Sox fans loathe the idea of Correa coming to Boston, it should be on the table. Boston has featured many players that opposing fans love to hate. Brad Marchand and Kevin Garnett are two players who are respected but opposing fans hate/hated them in Boston. In this case, Sox fans aren’t exactly too keen on Correa based off the Astros cheating scandal back in 2017.
The first home run Correa would hit over the Green Monster against the Yankees would be met with open arms. But before all of the that, the Red Sox should seriously look at protecting themselves. Bogaerts wants to finish his career in Boston, this ownership group needs to make that a reality this offseason. If not, the idea of Correa should be on the table.
– Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique on Twitter)
Feature image courtesy of MassLive.com
Feeling tired, unable to focus and low on energy? Go to shockedenergy.com today and get yourself Shocked Energy today! Obtaining maximum energy with healthy ingredients. Use the promo codes “CGS21” or “CGSN” for 10% off your order today.
Tired of soreness and pain slowing you and your workouts down? Change that. Melt stress away anytime, anywhere with the ExoGun. Designed to give you the ultimate recovery utilizing percussive therapy and deep tissue massage, it will change your recovery life FOREVER. Follow this link (Exogun) for 10% off or use code promo code CGS10 at checkout!