Detroit Tigers: Carlos Correa’s value skyrockets after flurry of signings

Carlos Correa is likely to command more than the Detroit Tigers are willing to shell out.

Heading into free agency, everyone thought the shortstop market would be relatively prosperous, but I don’t think anyone expected to see this kind of money being thrown around.

I can only wonder what it feels like to be a fan of the Texas Rangers right now.  In a span of a week, the Rangers have spent an offseason record $561.2 million and didn’t just sign one of the top-five free agent shortstops; they signed two.

Texas added veteran infielder Marcus Semien to a seven-year $175 million deal. Shortly thereafter lured Corey Seager from the Los Angeles Dodgers, inking the 27-year old to a ten-year deal worth $325 million.  The Rangers also added pitcher Jon Gray, along with outfielder Kole Calhoun.

That being said, Tony Paul of the Detroit News tweeted out something I found very interesting.

How is that ‘District Detroit’ development coming along?  While the Rangers, Mets, Blue Jays, and Mariners spend in free agency, the Detroit Tigers continue to sit on their hands. Yet, a week ago, Christopher Ilitch mentioned the organization has the resources to spend.

I will give Tigers general manager Al Avila some credit; he went out and signed a really nice piece in Eduardo Rodriquez to a team-friendly five-year $77 million deal.  Since that deal…crickets.

Carlos Correa is likely priced out of the Detroit Tigers’ budget.

I use the term budget loosely here.  The Detroit Tigers, with a middle-of-the-pack payroll, have the money to spend on Correa if they wish. Still, a couple of weeks ago, Avila hinted that the organization wouldn’t be prepared to spend upwards of $300 million on one player.

Well, if Corey Seager signed for $325 million, that tells me Correa’s agent will likely be commanding $350 million with something like $330 being the floor.  Correa is widely considered as the top position player available this winter, and his market seems set.

The Detroit Tigers will likely settle for Trevor Story or Javier Baez. However, at the time of this writing, the Rockies are expected to make a push to retain Story, and Baez is being linked to a couple of teams, including the Seattle Mariners. The latter is considered to be in serious talks about adding the middle infielder.

It’s one of those ‘you snooze, you lose’ types of things for Al Avila; one can only hope he’s working the phones.