Chicago Cubs Rumors: MLB insider surprised by Carlos Correa pursuit

The Chicago Cubs have seemingly had a circle around free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa's name for the past twelve months and with no change of representation this offseason for Correa, the Cubs appear to be one of the teams most involved in his market. That is why the wording that New York Post's MLB insider Jon Heyman used to describe the Cubs and Correa's market in an update from the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings was peculiar.

"The incumbent Twins are going hard to try to keep Correa, who’s also drawing interest from the surprising Cubs and many others."

- Jon Heyman, New York Post

"Surprising" is not a word that should be used to describe the Cubs' interest in Correa. Beginning last offseason when the Cubs reportedly submitted a lucrative 7-year off to Correa, it has been rather clear that the Cubs have targeted the shortstop market as the way to improve the team's offense in 2023. That has further been made a fact this offseason considering the Cubs have been connected to Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson. Recent rumors from the Winter Meetings would suggest that the Cubs could be on the verge of submitting a formal offer to Bogaerts.

Perhaps what may be surprising about the Cubs and their pursuit of Correa is how high they are willing to go on a contract offer. As Heyman notes in his article, both Correa and Turner are seeking contracts near the $300MM threshold. There have been questions as to whether or not the Cubs define spending over $300MM as "intelligent spending". Perhaps, the team has shown an inclination that they are willing to reach that level in contract negotiations with Correa and that is why their pursuit is defined as "surprising" by Heyman.

Once the first free-agent shortstop signs, that should give a clear indication of where the Cubs are swimming in regard to Turner, Correa, Bogaerts, or Swanson. Given recent reporting, it would seem that the Cubs have a more realistic chance at signing either Bogaerts or Swanson this offseason as opposed to Turner or Correa.