Where could Carlos Correa sign this offseason?

Free agency is always a fun time of the year for baseball fans. However, the last offseason was one of the strangest in years due to the expiring collective bargaining agreement and the ensuing lockout. Superstar shortstop Carlos Correa was the top free agent on the market last winter, but his market was surprisingly not as robust as expected after the season ended. Instead, the lockout freezing all transactions and an agent switch to Scott Boras shockingly led Correa to sign a short-term, three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins.

No one predicted the Twins would sign a player of Correa's caliber because they were coming off a last-place finish in 2021, but sometimes that's how free agency goes in baseball. The contract he signed is uniquely structured because he can opt out after the first two years if he desires. It's widely expected that Correa will opt out for a larger deal, so here are some teams that make sense as a potential fit.

 Seattle Mariners

The team with the longest current postseason drought in baseball, Seattle nearly broke that streak last season. They only missed the AL wild card by two games and are on track to finally make the playoffs this year. The Mariners don't have much star power on their roster, and a great way to change that would be to sign their longtime former division rival, Correa. By signing Correa, Seattle would show their fanbase that they want to advance into the playoffs and would also be upgrading their infield by signing one of the best shortstops and players in the league. 

The Mariners' current shortstop is J.P. Crawford, and he is not a bad player by any means, but Correa is on another level in terms of talent. Crawford does not have the same career accolades as Correa, consisting of the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year, two All-Star selections, Gold and Platinum Gloves, and World Series champion.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles were a team linked to Correa last offseason, but no one took the rumors of interest seriously because they were the worst team in the league, finishing with a 52-110 record. However, things will have changed this upcoming offseason, and the Orioles might have a good chance of making a needed splash. They currently sit at 50-49 and are playing much better baseball than last season. 

With a nucleus of Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays, and 2022 first overall pick Jackson Holliday, things are looking bright for Baltimore's future. Holliday was drafted as a shortstop, but he likely won't be in the big leagues for a few years, and the Orioles shouldn't use him as a reason not to upgrade. Their current shortstop Jorge Mateo is only hitting .210 with a 73 OPS+, and by signing Correa, they can make a statement to the rest of the division that they're ready to compete with the best teams.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are another team that was in pursuit of Correa last winter and almost ended up converting. They are rebuilding and have been one of the worst teams in baseball so far, but their situation can get turned around quickly via free agency. Chicago is the third-largest market in the MLB, and ownership has been willing to sign off on major signings in the past, regardless of what they've said recently about being out of money. The Cubs have plenty of financial flexibility to make a big splash, and their interest in Correa should be high given the hole they have at shortstop.

San Francisco Giants

Finally, the San Francisco Giants are my final team that makes sense to go after Correa. Their glory days from the early 2010s have passed, but their team is still relatively good. Brandon Crawford has been a stalwart at shortstop for years, but his best seasons are behind him, given that he has only hit .215 in 2022 with a WAR of -0.3. Correa would be a major upgrade offensively and can replace Crawford as the Giants' long-term shortstop for years to come. This move would also make the Giants a more formidable threat to division rivals Los Angeles and San Diego. San Francisco needs a new face of the franchise, and Correa would be a perfect fit.