Giants Embarrass Themselves With Worst Off-Season in Baseball History

First, the San Francisco Giants lost a $360 million bidding war for Aaron Judge to the New York Yankees.

Then, the Giants saw their best pitcher last season, Carlos Rodón,  agree to a $162 million contract with the Yankees.

And now the Giants have seen the apparent $350 million free-agent acquisition who was supposed to be their star performer for the next decade sign with the New York Mets.

Put it all together and the Giants are staring at one of the worst (and most embarrassing) off-seasons in baseball history.

An off-season that offers little hope San Francisco will improve on last season’s 81-81 record. Especially competing in the NL West against the stacked lineups of heavyweight spenders like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Related Story: Judge’s Verdict: He’ll Stick With Yankees for $360 Million

Correa Signs With the Mets for $315 Million

In a wild twist, Carlos Correa agreed to a $315 million, 12-year contract with the free-spending New York Mets after his pending deal with the Giants came apart after his physical.

Giants fans currently pic.twitter.com/glKQnA5eCa

— 🎄Minoru-kun☃️ (@Minoru79) December 21, 2022

“We need one more thing, and this is it,” Mets owner Steve Cohen told The New York Post. “This puts us over the top.”

Correa, an All-Star shortstop, likely will play third base for the Mets, with his buddy Francisco Lindor staying at shortstop.

Correa’s Physical Gives Giants Pause

The Giants postponed a news conference Tuesday to introduce Correa. He has a history of back troubles and has missed many games over eight big-league seasons.

I feel like the Giants’ best bet might be seeing if Brock Purdy can play shortstop.

— Mike Oz (@mikeoz) December 21, 2022

Correa and the Giants agreed on Dec. 13 to a $350 million, 13-year deal, pending his physical. Giants executive Farhan Zaidi said Wednesday that the physical raised a concern. Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, struck a deal with Cohen and the Mets less than 24 hours later.

“While we are prohibited from disclosing confidential medical information, as Scott Boras stated publicly, there was a difference of opinion over the results of Carlos’ physical examination,” Zaidi said in a statement. “We wish Carlos the best.”

Journeyman Free Agents Only

The Giants have a recent history of talking big and striking out. Their whiffs include Bryce Harper, Shohei Ohtani, Judge, and now Correa.

And only the game’s hardcore seamheads recognize their 2022 winter signings: pitchers Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea, and outfielder Mitch Haniger.

Bottom line: Today’s Giants pretend to be a big-market team but spend more like a franchise willing to concede the next five seasons to the Dodgers and Padres.

(Associated Press contributed to this column.)

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