Report: Cubs among favorites to sign Correa

The market for free-agent players will be set ablaze after Major League Baseball and the players' association agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, which is good news for shortstop Carlos Correa.

Correa - one of the top free agents still available - is drawing interest from multiple teams, with the Chicago Cubs among the favorites to sign him, a source told MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Chicago reportedly had serious interest in Correa in December but was unwilling to give him a 10-year deal. The two sides had heavy dialogue before the lockout, which is expected to continue.

New Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman and a number of fans in the Windy City have also made appeals to the 27-year-old infielder.

Correa had a stellar season for the Houston Astros in 2021. He finished fifth in American League MVP voting, slashing .279/.366/.485 with 26 home runs, 34 doubles, and 92 RBIs.

He also won a Gold Glove after amassing the most defensive runs saved by any player in baseball.

The Astros and New York Yankees are among the other top suitors for Correa's services. Houston offered him a five-year, $160-million deal in November, and New York requested his medical records before the lockout began.

Correa reportedly turned down a 10-year, $275-million contract offer from the Detroit Tigers before the lockout. The Tigers signed infielder Javier Baez instead.