You certainly don’t have to feel bad for the San Francisco Giants and their fans these days. The National League West club is still coming off a decade in which they won three World Series titles, after all.
But you can at least try to imagine how bad Giants fans are feeling on Wednesday after waking up to the news that Carlos Correa—the franchise’s marquee free agent signing this offseason—wasn’t actually signing with San Francisco.
Following concerns over Correa’s physical exam, the Giants and the shortstop failed to get a contract done, leading the New York Mets to swoop in and sign him to a 12-year, $315 million deal in the middle of the night.
While baseball slept, Mets chairman Steve Cohen was shattering dreams all along the West Coast.
That’s now twice this offseason Giants fans thought they’d landed the biggest name on the free agent market only to come away empty-handed. And this one is arguably much worse than the Arson Judge debacle because it was supposed to be a done deal.
These types of things just don’t happen.
And for the second time this offseason, the Giants’ 2023 World Series odds went for a ride because of it.
Carlos Correa ➡️ Mets @Mets odds to win World Series move from +1000 to +750.
— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) December 21, 2022
On Tuesday night San Francisco was +2500 to win the title this season at BetMGM. On Wednesday morning that dropped back to +3000—alongside the likes of the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Angels.
It’s another reminder that waiting to place a bet is usually a good strategy unless you have plenty of units to blow on throwing darts in the middle of the offseason.
When it seemed like Aaron Judge was signing with the Giants, their odds shifted from +4000 to +2500 and then bounced right back to +4000 after the outfielder agreed to re-sign with New York.
If anything is a safe(ish) bet in the Bay Area this summer, maybe take the under on San Francisco’s win total. In a division with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres making huge moves this winter, it’s going to be tough for a Giants team that keeps whiffing on free agents to keep pace.
