Mega contracts with star shortstops not paying off for Twins, Phillies, Padres
When the Minnesota Twins signed Carlos Correa in the spring of 2022, it was shocking in many ways. Correa was one of the top shortstops on the market and while players like Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million) were cashing in on their superstardom, Correa settled on a three-year, $105.3 million contract.
Twins fans were jubilant over one the game's top shortstops coming to Minnesota but they also had to wonder why Correa would turn down a long-term deal. The key was an opt-out clause that allowed him to join a loaded group of shortstops in the 2023 free agent class.
This winter's free agency period carried some big names but the main attraction was the shortstops. With Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts and Trae Turner joining Correa, all four players cashed in with massive contracts. But after the first two months of the season, nobody is getting what they paid for.
Trae Turner
Turner agreed to an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies moments after free agency opened. One of the best offensive shortstops in the game, Turner was expected to become the catalyst for Philadelphia's lineup but that just hasn't happened with a .676 OPS that's his lowest since he appeared in 27 games for the Washington Nationals in 2015.
Feeling the pressure of playing in one of the most ruthless markets in sports, Turner it's getting to the point where his own mother booed him after a seventh-inning strikeout against the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week. Turner went on to hit the game-winning homer in that game, but even he admits his first season with the Phillies hasn't gone as planned.
"I'm honest with myself, I've sucked," Turner told reporters on May 22. "But every at-bat, every play, every game is another day to try to do better and to try to be the player I know I am."
Xander Bogaerts
Bogaerts was on the Twins' radar after dining with fellow free agents Correa and Carlos Rodón at the winter meetings but ultimately signed an 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres.
Bogaerts started out well, hitting .284/.378/.465 with six homers and 15 RBI in his first 34 games, but after hitting .210/.300.290 with one homer and four RBI in his last 16 games, his production has dropped below the numbers he put up in 10 seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
"I'm not helping the cause get better right now," Bogaerts said after striking out four times in a loss to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. "It's very frustrating. It's very annoying. I'm extremely frustrated."
Things aren't all bad for Bogaerts as his 1.6 wins above replacement are the second-highest among this group and he leads all of MLB with eight outs above average defensively. But if his slump continues, it could leave the Padres wondering what they have in the 30-year-old.
Dansby Swanson
Swanson doesn't have the flare that Correa, Swanson, or Turner have, but he's arguably the most dependable. That doesn't make it a surprise that he's been the best of the bunch after signing a seven-year, $177 million contract with the Chicago Cubs last winter.
Swanson's current line isn't as great as the .277/.329/.447 line with 25 homers and 96 RBI in his final season with the Atlanta Braves, but he has the look of an ascending player. He's nearly doubled his walk rate from seven percent last season to 13.1 percent this season, he's tied for fourth among shortstops in outs above average and has played in all but one game for the Cubs this season.
The only knock is that the Cubs are 22-28, but at just 4.5 games out of first place, they could make a charge in a division that's as bad as the one the Twins play in.
Carlos Correa
After all three shortstops went off the board, Correa went all over to find his bag. Two contract agreements fell through with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets and in the end he "settled" for a six-year, $200 million contract with the Twins.
Long story short? It hasn't panned out.
Correa is mired in one of the worst slumps of his career and it could get worse now that he's dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. While Correa avoided the injury list and went 1-for-3 with two walks and a pair of brilliant defensive plays in Friday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Twins fans can't help but feel short-changed.
The Twins are 26-24 and hanging on to the lead in the American League Central. While the other shortstops on this list are complementary parts, Correa is the face of the franchise of the Twins outside of Byron Buxton, whose injuries have forced him into the designated hitter role.
If Twins fans want to remain optimistic, they can take a look around and see that nobody is getting what they paid for from this class. At age 28, Correa is also the youngest player out of this group. But if the Twins are going to be more than just division champions, they'll need to get a solid return on their investment.
