There's "mutual interest" between the Cubs and All-Star free agent shortstop Carlos Correa, WSCR's Bruce Levine reported Tuesday.
It's the latest report connecting Correa and the Cubs. The Cubs were one of several teams to reach out to him before MLB's lockout, according to Houston reporter Mark Berman.
The Cubs went into the offseason with a need for an everyday shortstop after trading Javy Báez at the deadline in July. Team president Jed Hoyer said earlier this month the infield will be a focus after the lockout.
Correa, 27, is the top shortstop on the market this offseason. He's an All-Star hitter who won his first Gold Glove Award in 2021.
It probably seems obvious, but, according to Levine, citing sources, the Cubs would "rather not go 10 years in length" on a potential deal with Correa.
Hoyer has talked in recent months about the importance of the Cubs remaining financially "nimble" through their process as they look to put their next annual contender together.
They signed Marcus Stroman to a short-term deal with a high average annual value — three years and $71 million.
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Correa could command a deal larger than Corey Seager, who signed with the Rangers for 10 years and $325 million.
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Depending on what his market looks like after the lockout — teams are unable to make big-league transactions during the work stoppage — that could make Correa a non-starter.
“You know, a lot of people don’t believe in 10-year contracts and in long-term deals and all that,” Correa said in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Chicago in October. “But when you look at most of the 10-year contracts they’ve been giving out, the long-term deals, they’re players that are 31, 30, 32.
“I’m going to be 27 on my first year. I’m young, I’m healthy, and I perform. So we’ll see what happens.”
Indeed.