One of the biggest needs for the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency is the shortstop position, and multiple quality options are on the market.
Among those leading the pack is Trea Turner, who is open to re-signing with the Dodgers, but there’s a sense he wants to play on the East Coast, and the Philadelphia Phillies may be the favorites to land him.
Other options for the Dodgers include Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson and Carlos Correa, all of whom are in line for significant multi-year deals.
Although Correa arguably makes the most sense from a baseball standpoint, members of the Dodgers front office have questioned whether the fan base would accept one of the key members of the 2017 Houston Astros, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Dodgers officials often have expressed concern their fans would not accept the addition of shortstop Carlos Correa, who is a free agent for the second straight year.
Although more Dodgers fans have recently expressed their willingness to accept Correa, there is still a divide within the fanbase.
Many of them and players, still feel the Astros were not sufficiently punished or remorseful enough when they were found by an MLB investigation to have electronically stolen signs throughout the 2017 season. And of course, Correa was one of the leaders of that team.
Yet, Correa hit .291/.366/.467 with 24 doubles, 22 home runs and 64 RBI over 163 games this year while playing elite defense. He also is the youngest of the top shortstops available at 28 years old, which makes him an intriguing fit for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers have reportedly shown interest in Correa for the second consecutive season, but they need to decide if the talent is worth the risk of potentially alienating some fans or creating possible clubhouse tension.
Carlos Correa contract expectation
Last offseason, Correa was expected to sign a long-term, high-money deal, but ultimately settled on a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins. The deal included a limited no-trade clause for 2022 and a player option that he decided to exercise, which made him a free agent once again.
This offseason, the star shortstop will once again look for a long-term deal in the eight to 10 year range with an average annual value of around $30 million.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
