CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 05: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 05, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Mets (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The New York Mets may have missed out on Carlos Correa due to a complicated physical, but there are plenty of high-profile 2023 free agents they can sign.
The Mets will be just fine without Carlos Correa, if anything because Steve Cohen proved he’s willing to open his pocketbook. The richest man in baseball won’t close his purse strings anytime soon, and will go well over the luxury tax in order to build a World Series contender.
But even Cohen has his limits. If the Mets weren’t confident in Correa’s ability to contribute to a contender nearly a decade down the line, then they were right not to sign him. New York remains one of the best teams in the National League without him.
That being said, it’s not too early to look ahead at 2023. Cohen likes to go big-game hunting. Next offseason, he can sign one of the premiere free agents to make up for losing out on Correa.
Mets rumors: Manny Machado makes a lot of sense
Eduardo Escobar will be solid at third base this season, but beyond that, the Mets should take a serious look at Manny Machado. The Yankees wanted to make a run at Machado when he was last a free agent, but he ultimately signed with the Padres. Why not bring him to Queens instead?
New York will be far from the only team vying for Machado’s services, but if they made him their top priority rather than getting distracted by other shiny toys on the free-agent market, they may have the edge. Cohen can also afford to pay him whatever he wants.
Machado’s made the All-Star team each of the past two seasons, and has finished top-3 in NL MVP voting two out of the last three years. Last season, he slashed .298/.366/.531 with 37 home runs, leading the Padres to the postseason without Fernando Tatis Jr. for the majority of the year. With the trade for Juan Soto and contract handed to Xander Bogaerts, San Diego might not be able to afford Machado next offseason.
The Mets can, and then some.
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