NEW YORK — The Carlos Correa saga has taken another turn.
The Mets, much like the San Francisco Giants, have concerns with Correa’s physical, which he took Thursday in New York, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Correa’s surgically repaired right leg is the issue, with the club having apprehensions over the integrity of the leg.
In 2014 while with High-A Lancaster, Correa suffered a fractured fibula on a hard slide into third base, which required a plate to be surgically implanted. Correa, now 28, has not missed time at the major league level with any leg injuries.
The free-agent shortstop was set to sign with San Francisco before the deal fell through because of the leg and the Mets came in with a late-night offer on Wednesday for $315 million over 12 years. Owner Steve Cohen confirmed the agreement to The Post from Hawaii, but his admission complicates the situation. According to Rosenthal, the league has warned owners not to speak publicly about contracts before they are made official because an arbitrator might end up siding with the player if a grievance is filed.
It’s especially strange considering he passed a physical with the Minnesota Twins last winter before signing a three-year, $105.3 million contract. Correa opted out this winter to become a free agent and the Twins offered him a 10-year, $285 million deal to stay in Minnesota but he was offered a 13-year, $350 million contract with San Francisco. The Giants pivoted to Correa after Aaron Judge chose to remain with the Yankees, and ended up settling for former Mets outfielder Michael Conforto.
Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, has insisted that Correa's health is fine and he might be inclined to fight any changes made to the contract. Testing the free agent waters again might not be easy with two teams citing concerns over the leg.
This is the second time in the last two years the Mets have had an issue with a contract because of a physical. The club opted not to sign their top draft pick in 2021, Kumar Rocker, also a Boras client, after the club found an issue with his elbow. Rocker was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2022 draft and could join Jacob deGrom in the rotation this season.
