Correa talks Twins future: If they 'want my product' just come get it
There are still six games left for the Minnesota Twins in 2022, but Carlos Correa is already setting the stage for some offseason drama.
While the star shortstop has yet to decide whether he'll opt out of his contract, he did indicate Thursday that the Twins are on the clock to make it worth his while to stay put.
"When I go to the mall and I go to the Dior store when I want something, I get it. I ask how much it costs, and I buy it," Correa told reporters following the Twins' home finale, according to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "If you really want something, you just go get it.
"I'm the product here. If they want my product, they've just got to come get it."
Correa was expected to land a massive deal in free agency last year, but his market didn't take off as many expected it to. Instead, the 28-year-old surprisingly landed in Minnesota on a three-year, $105.3-million contract that contained two opt-out clauses after the lockout ended. He switched representations two months before inking the deal with Minnesota, hiring super-agent Scott Boras.
Correa has seemingly enjoyed his new home, hitting .287/.363/.462 with 21 homers and 61 RBIs over his first 131 games with the Twins. He'll finish this season as the Twins' only qualified position player with an OPS above .800 and is one of only two hitters on the club (Byron Buxton) to surpass the 20-homer mark. In August, he spoke fondly of his first season with the Twins and said he envisioned himself in their uniform "for a long time."
Unfortunately, he was unable to propel Minnesota back to October as both sides had hoped. The Twins, one of the favorites to win the AL Central heading into the season, stumbled in the second half and lost the division to the Cleveland Guardians. They're now in danger of posting a losing record for the second straight year.
Should he opt out, Correa will be among the headliners in another loaded class of free-agent shortstops. All-Stars Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson are also slated to hit the open market, while Xander Bogaerts (player option) and Tim Anderson (club option) could join them.
If he elects to spend another year in the Twin Cities, Correa would earn $35.1 million in 2023 and have a full no-trade clause.