Mets signing Carlos Correa to massive 12-year contract after deal with Giants falls through

In a late-night stunner, the Mets are signing star infielder Carlos Correa to a 12-year contract worth $315 million.

Correa's deal with the Mets, first reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post, is pending a physical.

Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets reached an agreement with Correa after midnight, early Wednesday morning, with just Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler working late into the night.

The agreement with the Mets comes after Correa had recently come to terms on a 13-year deal with the Giants worth $350 million, only to have it fall through after Correa's physical. 

Correa and the Giants "had a difference of opinion on the medical," per The Post, and agent Scott Boras and the Mets worked out a deal.

Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle confirmed the turn of events, reporting that the "Giants flagged something in the physical and doctors disagreed."

"We need one more thing, and this is it," Cohen told The Post. "This was important … This puts us over the top. This is a good team. I hope it’s a good team!"

Cohen added: "This really makes a big difference. I felt like our pitching was in good shape. We needed one more hitter. This puts us over the top."

Correa, who has played only shortstop during his big league career, will play third base for the Mets, according to the Post, with star Francisco Lindor entrenched at shortstop. 

Correa, 28, hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 24 doubles in 136 games for the Minnesota Twins in 2022, opting out of his three-year contract after the season.

During his eight-year career with the Twins and Houston Astros, the two-time All-Star has slashed .279/.357/.479 with 155 home runs, 186 doubles, 553 RBI, 508 runs scored, and an OPS+ of 129.

Correa won a Gold Glove at shortstop in 2021, and was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2015.

Before Correa came to terms with the Giants, Cohen and the Mets made a late bid to land him. That attempt came up short, but the Mets now have him (pending the aforementioned physical), putting an apparent exclamation point on an offseason that has been historic in terms of spending.

Prior to coming to terms with Correa, the Mets had been in search of more punch for their offense, and had been linked to Michael Conforto and others. But with Correa about to become a Met, the offense now appears largely set.

What this means for the future of third base prospect Brett Baty is unclear. Baty has played primarily third base in the minors, but started 11 games in left field in 2022 after starting 18 games there in 2021.

The Mets' offseason has also included re-signing closer Edwin Diaz to a five-year deal worth $102 million, signing right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander to a two-year deal worth $86.6 million that contains a third-year option, bringing back center fielder Brandon Nimmo on an eight-year deal for $162 million, signing star Japanese right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga to a five-year deal for $75 million, adding left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana on a two-year-deal for $26 million, signing catcher Omar Narvaez to a two-year deal worth $15 million, inking right-handed reliever David Robertson to a one-year deal worth $10 million, re-signing right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino to a two-year deal for $14.5 million, and trading for left-handed reliever Brooks Raley.

If this latest deal is finalized, their estimated payroll for the 2023 season will be roughly $384 million, more than $90 million clear of the top luxury tax threshold of $293 million.

"What the heck’s the difference? If you’re going to make the move make the move," Cohen told The Post about coming to terms with Correa and the Mets' overall spending this offseason.