Correa opts to skip WBC event
Twins star won’t play for Puerto Rico; his wife is due during the tournament
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins and Carlos Correa made a mutual decision that the shortstop will skip the World Baseball Classic for family reasons, with his wife expecting a baby during the tournament.
The Twins announced Monday that Correa will not participate with the Puerto Rico national team for the fifth edition of the event, which was last played in 2017. Correa’s wife, Daniella, is due with the couple’s second child on March 11. The WBC begins on March 8.
“This was a challenging decision for Carlos. He takes so much pride in representing his country and truly considered ways to make this work,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “We all acknowledged that the back and forth flying combined with multiple days off from baseball activity didn’t set Carlos up for jumping into meaningful games upon his return.”
Twins position players are scheduled to report for spring training by Feb. 19.
Royals: Zack Greinke can earn up to $15 million in his one-year contract to return to Kansas City. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner rejoined the Royals last year for the first time since 2010 and went 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts and 137 innings. He had a $13 million salary last year and then became a free agent. His deal announced Friday includes an $8.5 million salary for this year. If he pitches 135 innings, he would earn at least $13 million. Greinke has $7.5 million in performance bonuses for innings. He would get $450,000 for 90
innings and each additional five innings through 135. He would get $300,000 for 140 innings and each additional five innings through 185.
Mets: Carlos Beltrán’s eventful post-playing career has taken yet another interesting turn. Just three years after being fired as manager of the Mets, the former star outfielder will return to the club as a member of its front office. Beltrán, who came up short last month in his first time on the writers’ ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, will join general manager Billy Eppler’s staff to help build the Mets roster and develop the organization’s talent base.
Nationals: Washington avoided arbitration with outfielder Victor Robles, agreeing Monday to a one-year contract worth $2,325,000 as part of a deal that includes a club option for 2024. Robles would make $3.3 million in 2024 if the option is exercised. There is no buyout. Robles is one of only a few players left from Washington’s 2019 World Series championship team and the only position player left from the team’s starting lineup during that run. A strong defensive center fielder who turns 26 in May, Robles hit .224 with six home runs, 33 RBIS
and 15 stolen bases in 128 games last season.
Arbitration: Reliever Ryan Thompson went to a salary arbitration hearing with Tampa Bay on Monday with the sides just $200,000 apart. Thompson asked for $1.2 million and the Rays argued for $1 million during a hearing before John Stout, Allen Ponak and Stephen Raymond. The 30-year-old right-hander was 3-3 with a 3.80 ERA in 47 relief appearances last year, striking out 39 and walking 11 in 422⁄3 innings. He had a salary of $701,228 and was eligible for arbitration for the first time. Rays right-hander Jason Adam, left-hander Colin Poche and outfielder Harold Ramirez remain scheduled for hearings.
Rangers: Former Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler returned to the team as a special assistant to general manager Chris Young, his teammate in the organization’s minor league system nearly two decades ago. Young said Monday that Kinsler, who was part of the franchise’s only two World Series teams in 2010 and 2011, will be heavily involved in player development and providing mentorship to both players and staff.