Update as of Dec. 21, 2022: Since the original publishing of this article, Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants have parted ways. According to Jeff Passan, a columnist for ESPN, the Giants were not satisfied by the results of Correa’s physical examination. The Giants at this time have not said what exactly they were not satisfied with however they were unable to renegotiate and will not be signing Correa. Correa has agreed to a deal with the New York Mets for 12 years, $315 million. The deal will only be official once Correa clears the Mets’ physical examination. 

In 2021, the San Francisco Giants set their franchise record for regular season wins at 107, which put them on top of the National League (NL) West. Unfortunately, they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Divisional Series; however, the season was still considered very impressive by many. By contrast, the 2022 season was a big step back for the Giants as they finished third in the NL West going 81-81, and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Many fans felt the team needed to make a major signing this offseason in order to be competitive in one of the most stacked divisions in baseball. Several rumors spread about the Giants surrounding major free agents, such as Aaron Judge, who last season set the American League single season homerun record. Unfortunately for the Giants, Judge ended up returning to the Yankees on a nine year deal. Last Tuesday 12/13, however, the Giants were able to sign another top position player, shortstop Carlos Correa.

The Giants signed Correa for 13 years for $350 million, which is a $29 million average yearly value (AAV). Correa will be 41 years old when his contract expires, thus he will be past his prime however, at this moment he is only 28 and the Giants are hoping he will be a crucial piece in the coming years. Some still consider this an overpay because of how old he will be when the contract is over. 

Lucas Ghio, a sophomore baseball player, is an avid fan of the Giants.

“I don’t think [Correa’s] contract is an overpay for [AAV], but it is way too long. There’s no way he keeps up how good he’s been playing until he’s 41. I think 11 years is the most he should’ve got,” Ghio said. 

While many agree that Correa won’t be able to keep his production up throughout the contract, it is important to think about how enticing a 13 year contract is to Correa and how he might not have signed if it was only 11 years.

So far, throughout Correas’s 8 year pro career, he has consistently hit for around a .270 batting average. He’s also hit 20 plus home runs in almost all of the seasons, and he hasn’t missed significant time with injury. Last season, Correa hit for a .291 average and hit 22 home runs. This would have put him with the highest average and the second most home runs on the Giants. Correa adds something that no one on the Giants gave them last year; a right handed power bat. With the addition of Correa and the re-signing of Joc Pederson the Giants will have good power hitting from both sides of the plate.

Correa brings more to the Giants than just his bat. In 2021, he won the American League Shortstop Gold Glove award and the Platinum Glove award, which is awarded to the best fielder in the entire AL. Last season, Brandon Crawford was the shortstop for the Giants, however the once great fielder has started to decline with age. 

Junior Jake Southern is another major fan of the Giants and watches as many games as he can. 

“I think the most likely situation is that the Giants keep Crawford at shortstop and have Correa play third base or second base,” Southern said. 

The Giants don’t look to be pursuing free agent Evan Longoria who when healthy, was their third baseman last year. However, unlike Southern, many sources such as Bleacher Reports writer Mike Chiari, feel the Giants would be best with Correa at shortstop and Crawford moved somewhere else.

Overall, this offseason has been one of the most successful in recent years, with the addition of position players Carlos Correa and Mitch Haniger, as well as pitchers Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea. Still, they might need even more to compete with the other teams in the division. 

“I think with all the improvements that we have made we can improve from [last season’s] 81 win season to a 92 win season … I think this will put us third in our division and we will face the Padres in the wild card,” Southern said.