Mets bowing out of race clears Dodgers’ path for Carlos Correa

It seemed like it could be a match made in heaven, right? Carlos Correa’s market falling while the recklessly-spending New York Mets searched for a new toy to splurge on, post-lockout?

The self-congratulating “king” of postseason success, who only actually has one tainted title to his name, locking up long-term with the self-proclaimed Beasts of the East who can’t stay healthy, won 77 games in 2021, and still have plenty of lingering problem areas?

Whether they ever intended to pursue each other or not, Correa and the Mets feel sort of like boasting peas in a pod.

According to the latest lockout buzz from SNY’s Andy Martino, though, New York’s serious pursuit of Max Scherzer has not leaked into the deep end of the free agent pool any further.

The Mets have never seriously considered Correa or Kris Bryant, leaving the door wide open for the Dodgers to spend their millions on whichever one they please.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. If not the free-wheeling Mets or suddenly-thrifty Yankees, who the hell is signing Correa? Will it end up being the Dodgers by default?

Mets bowing out of race for Dodgers target Carlos Correa

That sound you hear is the Chicago Cubs breathing a sigh of relief, too. Without America’s Wild Card, the New York Mets, in the fray, their sales pitch just got a lot more interesting.

Objectively, Correa’s list feels narrowed down to the Houston Astros on a two-or-three-year deal, and not some fanciful $350 million behemoth that Scott Boras will surely beg for, then the Dodgers, Cubs and a Mystery Team (Red Sox? Nationals?) following behind.

His “best fit” only wants him back at their price, and the Dodgers seem ready to go to war without a fully-set infield (Justin Turner, hobbled and struggling at the end of last season, an injured Max Muncy and Gavin Lux aren’t sure things).

We’re not going to outright guarantee it, but let’s just say we were more surprised by LA winning a Trevor Bauer bidding war with Steve Cohen last offseason than we would be by them turning into a late entrant in Correa’s market.

As for the Mets? Signing Scherzer, Starling Marte and Mark Canha isn’t quite a half-measure, but that offense is still overflowing with backsliding pieces from 2021, highlighted by the stunning regression of $780 million man (is that the right number?) Francisco Lindor. If Jacob deGrom isn’t healthy — he usually isn’t! — are we sure that’s an 86-win team without another offensive beast to replace Javier Báez?

Ah, well. Their loss.

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