Could $200 million talent ‘cement’ Yankees return to World Series? | Sporting News

The New York Yankees had a busy winter after losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets, but the team is urged to bring aboard a former nemesis to make the offseason complete.

Jonathan Yankin of Heavy proposes that the Yankees relieve the Minnesota Twins of shortstop Carlos Correa this winter.

Yankin references the Fireside Yankees podcast, where co-host Alex Wilson was foaming at the mouth over the idea of acquiring Correa, saying, “This guy’s a monster in the playoffs, he’s a monster in the regular season. You’ve punched your ticket to the World Series with a move like that. That’s an ‘American League, watch out. You are on notice,’ type of move. If they get Carlos Correa, the Yankees would have such a balanced lineup. They would end up walking away a better team.”

Nowhere does Yankin mention where Correa would play in Yankee Stadium — the team has burgeoning superstar Anthony Volpe playing there now, and Giancarlo Stanton figures to once again be the designated hitter.

However, Fansided’s Chris Landers has mused that a move to third base, where Fangraphs currently has Oswaldo Cabrera penciled in to start, could be an ideal fit to save wear-and-tear on Correa — who has missed much time as of late due to plantar fasciitis.

He played just 86 games last season, largely due to a severe case of the malady in his right foot. In 2023, Correa played through a similar malaise in his left foot, though he posted arguably the worst offensive season of his 10-year Major League Baseball career.

Correa is in the midst of a six-year, $200 million contract that runs through 2028. The contract includes a team option for 2029 through 2032 as well.

In such a scenario, Landers notes that the Yankees could move Correa to third base to save the wear and tear on the oft-injured shortstop and transfer Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to his native position of second base to replace the departed Gleyber Torres.

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