Well, this is definitely not Carlos Correa and really dampens the mood. But the Cubs have signed a shortstop. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are going to sign Andrelton Simmons.
Cubs closing in on free-agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 11, 2022
BUT WAIT!
A one-year agreement with Andrelton Simmons – $4M, plus incentives, per @JonHeyman – would not preclude the Cubs from pursuing Carlos Correa, if they choose to move in that direction.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 11, 2022
So, to be clear Simmons is getting backup money here. The Cubs do already have Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal, but now Simmons gives David Ross options to maximize his defense.
Simmons can’t hit for shit, but the dude can pick it at short.
Andrelton Simmons was 2nd in DRS (15) and 4th in OAA (16) among MLB shortstops in 2021. He also hit .223/.283/.274 in 131 games for the Twins.
Would give Cubs a glove-first option at SS, adding to Ross' options up the middle with Hoerner (SS/2B/CF) and Madrigal (2B).
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 11, 2022
But again, more importantly right now in the offseason is that Simmons signing with the Cubs doesn’t take them out of the Correa market. Now, if the Cubs choose to, they can flip Hoerner or Madrigal in a deal, and that’s some real value there as both players are still pre-arb.
And now there’s this update about the Cubs and Correa.
The #Cubs are reportedly unwilling to pay near $300M or above for Carlos Correa, per @mikedeportes. pic.twitter.com/n20ovr3tug
— Cubs Zone ™️ (@CubsZone) March 11, 2022
That basically means the Cubs have to hope other teams have the same mindset, then and only then will they actually be in on him. Maybe that means a 7-8 year deal. Throughout the offseason there have been reports that Correa is looking to beat Corey Seager’s deal, which was $325 million and maybe even get more than Francisco Lindor, who signed a $341 million contract.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Correa turned down a 10-year, $275 million contract from the Tigers earlier this offseason.
