Carlos Correa injury makes Cubs' choice to sign Dansby Swanson look better than ever

Health has long been the crux for Carlos Correa, a former World Series champion and three-time All-Star. On the heels of the 2022 season, he was part of a star-studded class of free-agent shortstops that included Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

As we're all well aware, the Chicago Cubs - in need of a franchise cornerstone up the middle - wound up signing Swanson to the second-richest deal in team history, a seven-year, $177 million pact that runs through the 2029 season. Given Bogaerts' underwhelming showing in San Diego (not to mention his deal running through 2033, his age-40 campaign) and the latest injury suffered by Correa, that's a decision that continues to age remarkably well.

Carlos Correa's longstanding injury issues rear their ugly head once more

According to MLB.com, Correa suffered a 'significant' ankle injury during batting practice prior to the Houston Astros' game on Tuesday. Injuries have plagued the 31-year-old constantly in recent years, eventually prompting the Minnesota Twins to trade him - and his high-dollar contract - back to the Astros after just 3 1/2 years.

Correa has played in at least 140 games just once since 2019 and his lower body issues offer great cause for concern thinking about how he'll age heading deeper into his 30s. Meanwhile, Swanson has maintained a high floor thanks to his defensive prowess which, when paired with fellow Gold Glove winners Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong, give the Cubs elite defense up the middle on a nightly basis.

Had Jed Hoyer pushed his chips in on Correa, it's interesting to wonder what Chicago's current position may be. Winners of seven straight - and 13 consecutive at Wrigley Field - Swanson's Cubs are firing on all cylinders right now, eyeing a return to the playoffs after coming within one win of an NLCS appearance in 2025.

There's no question: when Correa is at 100 percent, he's the type of guy you can build around. But problems in both feet and ankles over the last four years (remember, the Giants and Mets both backed out of deals with him before he signed with Minnesota over medical concerns), it's hard to envision a scenario where he's on the field as much as he needs to be in the years to come.

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