Report: SF Giants have star shortstop atop the wish list

Aaron Judge is evidently not the only star player that the SF Giants are targeting this winter. According to Alex Pavlovic of NBS Sports Bay Area, the Giants have star shortstop Carlos Correa atop their wish list.

Report: SF Giants have star shortstop atop the wish list

Pavlovic lists the fact that the Giants could build future rosters around Correa and his reputation as a clubhouse leader as reasons why the Giants are circling in on him in addition to his production on the field.

Familiarity could be a factor as well. The Giants hired Pete Putila as general manager at the end of the season. Putila spent his entire career in the Houston Astros front office up until that point, so there is familiarity with Putila and Correa.

For a certain level of free agents, familiarity can be a huge factor. It can still help with a player of Correa's caliber but that would not necessarily be the deciding factor.

Correa makes a lot of sense for the Giants as well. San Francisco needs a star talent that has been vacant since Bust Posey retired after the 2021 season. Plus, the Giants have the financial flexibility to make a deal happen as they sit approximately $95 million below the Competitive Balance Tax according to Cots. No big-market team has as much payroll space as the Giants.

Adding Correa could help to bring in a new era for the Giants. With Brandon Crawford entering the final year of a two-year, $32 million extension, the Giants have already begun thinking about the next move. Crawford's defense would be difficult to replace, but Correa has been fantastic with the glove throughout his career.

Plus, he is a middle-of-the-order threat that the Giants desperately need. The right-handed bat has eclipsed 20 home runs in five of eight seasons since debuting in 2015. Do you remember the last Giants hitter to blast 30 home runs? That would be Barry Bonds way back in 2004 when he hit 45 home runs.

Correa has never reached 30 home runs, but he has the raw power to do so. The 28-year-old put together another stellar campaign in 2022 as he slashed .291/.366/.467 (140 OPS+) with 22 home runs, 64 RBI, and 70 runs in 590 plate appearances.

He is two years younger than Trea Turner, who just signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. It is likely going to take a team to offer in the neighborhood of 9 years to land Correa. The Giants have the resources to do so as well as the need.