Twins Fans Should Thank Baseball Gods for Carlos Correa's Future Bad Ankle

Spring training has begun and the Minnesota Twins already have a handful of exhibition games under their 2023 belts down in Florida. It may have taken a little while for some of the fanbase to come around but, slowly, Twins Territory is realizing the potential this year’s club has.

The Minnesota Twins needed Carlos Correa

From top to bottom in this lineup, from bullpen to starting staff — this is the deepest Twins team most of us have seen in our lifetimes. And that’s not hyperbole, though you could point just as much to three decades of depressing baseball, as you could this team’s roster potential.

But in all reality, the Minnesota Twins’ hopes and dreams, both in the present and future, relied on the signing of one Carlos Correa this offseason.

And against all odds, the Minnesota Twins made it happen got lucky. How? Because of a previously injured ankle that may… possibly… we aren’t totally sure… it depends on which doctor you ask… give him problems down the road. Only because of those hypothetical future ankle issues, did one of the best shortstops in baseball end up signing a long-term contract to play home games at Target Field.

Manny Machado gets paid.

I was reminded of this over the weekend when Manny Machado — a nearly 31-year-old former shortstop turned 3rd baseman who has comparable but lower career numbers and much less playoff success than Correa — signed a $350 million dollar extension with the San Diego Padres.

Carlos Correa’s original contract, signed with the San Francisco Giants, was worth 11 years, $350 million, identical to what Machado got with the Padres. After that fell through because of a failed physical, Correa signed for $315 million over 12 years with the New York Mets.

But he failed that physical too. Thus, he ended up with the Twins for a discounted 6-year, $200 million deal that can become 10-years, $275 if his ankle doesn’t give him problems down the road. A “baseball miracle” is the only way to describe Correa’s signing if you’re a Minnesota Twins fan.

Baseball gods smile down on Twins

Unless his ankle self-destructs in the next 3-4 years, the signing of Carlos Correa this offseason will be the best thing to happen to this franchise since Jack Morris threw an 11-inning shutout on October 27, 1991.

With Correa, the Twins look like a veteran-lead squad with two proven superstars manning both the middle of the outfield/infield and batting order. Not to mention a plethora of young talent — (SS) Royce Lewis, (OF) Matt Wallner, (SP) Simeon Woods-Richardson — ready to burst onto the big league scene.

Without Correa, the Twins would have looked like an aging team who’s only proven superstar wasn’t able to stay on the field long enough to help will his team into an expanded playoff race. An organization that appeared more ready to sell and start over, than to compete for an AL Central crown.

Luckily, we don’t have to worry about the latter scenario any longer. Carlos Correa will wear a Minnesota Twins uniform for the foreseeable future and, because of that, they should be perennial playoff contenders.— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) February 17, 2023

So thank the baseball gods for blessing Carlos Correa with a (possibly) bad ankle. Without it, the outlook for Twins fans would be bleak.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan