Carlos Correa: From Yankee Villain to Franchise Cornerstone? @Lonsksk

by Adam King

The Yankees enter the 2021 off-season with a massive hole at the shortstop position. A position that is seen as a cornerstone for any great franchise, and thankfully there are a multitude of great options, but one stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Enter Carlos Correa, the Houston Astro’s product has been a villain in Yankeeland for the past few seasons due to his involvement in the 2017 cheating scandal, but it seems that Brian Cashman is leaving all of those things in the past. Cashman said recently “Is he a great player? Yes. He’s a free agent, so my job is to assess him and act accordingly.” This openness from Cashman is something rarely seen (last time was with Gerrit Cole) and it is my belief that Correa is Cashman’s priority at the SS position.

Correa checks every box that Yankee fans would want in their future SS, yet there seems to be a massive amount of hesitancy from some sections of Yankee fans. So let me help ease those people’s minds by giving you the major reasons why I believe that Correa is the best of a great group of SS talent.

Postseason Acumen:

Correa has a career postseason slash line of .272/.344/.849 (BA/OBP/OPS), with 18 homers, and 59 RBIs. He’s been a major contributor to a team who went to five straight ALCS’s and to three World Series (winning the infamous one in 2017). He’s become a postseason regular, seems very comfortable in the spotlight, and has shown the ability to get big hits in big situations. Correa is the perfect type of player that can walk right into the Yankee locker room and shift the focus back to winning the World Series.

MVP Caliber SS (On both sides of the ball):

The list of shortstops in MLB that can realistically be considered perennial MVP candidates is a short one and Correa’s name is on it. He’s coming off an incredible 2021 in which he became a 2x All Star. He was an above average hitter slashing .279/.366/.850 (BA/OBP/OPS), with 26 homers, knocking in 92 RBIs, and putting up an astounding 7.2 WAR. Correa is an incredible offensive talent, but where he really cements himself as the best SS in this off-season class (and possibly in the league) is on the defensive side of the ball. He won the 2021 Gold Glove Award and can really impact the Yankees on the defensive side of the ball. The Yankees struggled in 2021 on defense and getting someone like Correa to play SS would change the entire dynamic of the Yankee infield going into 2022.

Can Become A Team Leader:

Correa leaves Houston (we believe) as the heart and soul of a team that dominated the A.L. for the last half decade. He grew into a team leader, especially following the events in 2017 and alleged events in 2019. Correa can come to the Yankees and help change a culture that seemed to be complacent during the bulk of the 2021 season. Many will believe that the Yankee locker room may not take a liking to Correa due to the events of 2017, but it is my belief that the players and many fans will actually rally behind Correa due to the fact that he is very easy to root for. He’s a passionate player who leaves everything on the field and regardless of your past, Yankee fans will grow to appreciate that trait in a player.

It is for these reasons that a lot of Yankee fandom want and are demanding that Carlos Correa dons the pinstripes come 2022. He will obviously command a hefty price tag, but again in order to acquire great players you’re going to have to spend the $$$. I believe that he will get close to what Francisco Lindor got when he re-signed with the Mets earlier this season (10 year/ $340 million). Correa’s talent is undeniable and I can understand some hesitancy from fans due to 2017, but I beg that you take these points into consideration and if he does sign for our Yankees and that you give him a chance to show you his greatness both on and off the field.

My Predicted Contract: