Chicago Cubs Rumors: Another local expert predicts Carlos Correa signing

The Chicago Cubs' offseason is shaping up to be evaluated by whether or not they are successful in their attempt to land one of the four marquee shortstops that are available on the free-agent market. Those four shortstops are Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson. Of the four shortstops, Correa has been heavily connected to the Cubs.

The Cubs' interest in Correa dates back to the 2012 Major League Baseball draft and the team expressed legitimate interest in signing Correa last offseason. Correa eventually signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Twins but through virtue of a player option, he has once again hit the free agent market. Correa reaching free agency for the second time in as many offseason aligns perfectly for the Cubs as the team is looking to spend intelligently this offseason with the goal of contending at the Major League level in 2023.

The pushback on the idea of the Cubs signing a premium shortstop this offseason has been that the team won't be willing to meet the asking prices that it would cost to finalize a deal. There have been expectations throughout Major League Baseball that both Correa and Turner may see deals in the 8-10-year range worth at least $300 million. There is a very legitimate argument that can be made that if the Cubs were willing to offer Correa seven years on a potential contract last offseason, there shouldn't be a reason to prevent them from going eight years on a deal this offseason if it guaranteed that he would sign with the team.

Another connected Chicago Cubs reporter has the team landing Carlos Correa this offseason.

This discussion may all be for naught if The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma's prediction comes true. Sharma was on Wednesday night's edition of "The Reporters" on the Marquee Sports Network and predicted that Correa signs with the Cubs this offseason on a deal that is shorter than eight years.

The ideal contract between the Cubs and Correa, from the team's perspective, would likely be for a six years and provide a high AAV for Correa. A contract in the range of $225MM for 6 seasons likely would be in the financial wheelhouse of the Cubs and their goals for spending this offseason. Though, if the difference between landing Correa or not comes down to a seventh, or even, the eighth year on a potential deal, the Cubs still should make the move.