Mets owner says Carlos Correa move puts team 'over the top'

Carlos Correa. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Mets owner Steve Cohen says Carlos Correa move puts team 'over the top'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 12/21/22

In a stunning reversal, Carlos Correa won't be joining the San Francisco Giants and is now headed to the New York Mets.

Owner Steve Cohen told Jon Heyman of the New York Post that the addition of the two-time All-Star puts the Mets "over the top."

Amazin’ switch: In a late-night stunner, Carlos Correa makes a $315M deal to be Mets 3B, @nypost has learned. More complete story follows. “This really makes a big difference,” Mets owner Steve Cohen tells The Post. “This puts us over the top.”https://t.co/kYNC6xHsnN
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 21, 2022

While New York lost Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers in early December, they quickly replaced the two-time NL Cy Young award winner with the 2022 AL Cy Young award winner, Justin Verlander. The Mets were far from done though, as they've also brought in Japanese star pitcher Kodai Senga and re-signed outfielder Brandon Nimmo and stud closer Edwin Diaz, among other moves.

Then, the Correa news came out Wednesday morning. The Mets now have a lethal starting rotation with Verlander, Senga, and Max Scherzer heading a deep group, Diaz at the back end of a shutdown bullpen, and Correa sliding into the middle of one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.

Possible Mets' lineup:
CF Brandon Nimmo
RF Starling Marte
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
3B Carlos Correa
2B Jeff McNeil
LF Mark Canha
DH Daniel Vogelbach
C Tomas Nido
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 21, 2022

Every member of the Mets' projected infield has at least two All-Star appearances. Their No. 1 and No. 2 starting pitchers should be unanimous selections for the Hall of Fame. The Mets' closer struck out 50 percent of the batters he faced last season.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 21, 2022

It's likely no coincidence that Cohen's spending spree comes as the last two NL champions have come from the Mets' division -- the 2021 World Series-champion Atlanta Braves and the 2022 runner-up Philadelphia Phillies. While the Braves haven't had a big offseason so far, the Phillies recently made one of the biggest moves in landing Trea Turner.

Correa was scheduled to be introduced to the Giants media on Tuesday before the press conference was postponed due to a reported medical concern. Now, Mets fans will instead get to unwrap one (perhaps) final present before the Christmas holiday.

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