MLB insider drops bombshell Yankees-Carlos Correa free agency report

The expectations are high. The New York Yankees can’t come up short this offseason given how many factors are aligning in their favor.

They reset the luxury tax with cost-cutting moves last year. General manager Brian Cashman will likely be able to spend freely with a lot of money coming off the books after 2022. The Astros, who have owned the American League for five years, are expected to lose many key players.

But most importantly, the high-profile rumors surrounding the Bombers are remaining consistent. Corey Seager was first mentioned as the team’s likeliest target. Then pitchers such as Justin Verlander and Robbie Ray entered the conversation. There’s been loose speculation about Cashman making a phone call to A’s manager Billy Beane to see who’s available in Oakland.

The bottom line? The Yankees will be spending. Changes will be made. And the 2022 roster will once again have World Series aspirations.

Beyond that, the only quarrel involves fans deciding who they want the team to dole out big contracts to. The Corey Seager/Carlos Correa argument is alive and well, but an ESPN insider may have some intel suggesting the Yankees’ next move.

According to Kiley McDaniel (subscription required), New York is “the most motivated” to offer Correa a deal he can’t refuse before Dec. 1.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel thinks the Yankees are going to sign Carlos Correa.

Ohhhh. So THAT’S why Correa was in New York City over the weekend! Just kidding, that was for UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden.

All jokes aside, when you look at this market, it’s hard to envision Correa not being the fit for the Yanks. Seager’s defense is just about average and he’s played in just 452 games since the start of 2017. Correa’s dealt with injuries too and has played in only 500 games over that span, but his defense is far superior and his postseason resumé (.272 with an .849 OPS in 79 career games) is hard to match.

Throw in the fact he’s a natural team leader and outspoken figure — two qualities the Yankees desperately need — and it’s fitting why this is the candidate they’d want to give a ~$300 million contract.

For as good as Seager is, he’s not projected to be a shortstop in the long term and has only played one other position at the big league level (third base for six games) in his career, making a potential transition an even greater risk when giving him all that money.

Correa may need to move eventually, but his defensive profile suggests a shift to third wouldn’t be problematic even though he’s only played one career game there since becoming a professional. He’s an elite glove with a rocket arm.

Quick disclaimer: nobody’s saying the Yankees adding Seager would be a bad thing. Who wouldn’t be on board with that? The Yankees would be getting better at shortstop while adding a lefty bat. The problem is that the Dodgers are expected to work hard to retain him and it won’t be easy to find common ground with Scott Boras as his agent. For Correa, his relationship with the Astros has soured, especially after their latest offer, and the slugger has previously teased a potential partnership with the Bombers.

Either player is a win for the Yanks, but Correa’s intangibles and consistent dominance on the big stage tip the scales a bit here. McDaniel’s report indicates that’s exactly what the Yankees are looking to add to their largely character-less roster.

Yankees: Carlos Correa, Martin Maldonado start rumors with NYC trip

Former Houston Astros and future New York Yankees Carlos Correa and Martin Maldonado showed up in NYC for the UFC Fight on Saturday.