Caveat Emptor

A few years from now, the San Francisco Giants will either be padding themselves on the back or kicking themselves elsewhere for nixing a thirteen-year, $350 million deal with shortstop Carlos Correa. I’m available, guys. The Giants were scared off by an unspecified medical issue that came up during Correa’s physical. Agent Scott Boras claims his client is fine; really, the Soviets could’ve used Boras’ power of spin back in the days of Andropov and Chernenko. Nothing to see, comrades, move along. The Mets, though, look to be buying, at a year and $35 million less than the Giants, provided Correa can pass a physical, to be conducted by Dr. Boras, no doubt. If Correa signs with New York, Mets’ owner Steve Cohen would have himself a team payroll in the neighborhood of $394 million, plus another $120 million for the baseball luxury tax, according to the Associated Press. It’s always nice to have a little spending money on hand, isn’t it? Again, the temptation is to call for a salary cap, and, again, the question becomes, to whose benefit? Cohen is sticking it to his fellow owners, none of whom needs a tag day. If Cohen really wants to set the sporting world on its collective head, he could underwrite ticket and concession prices at Citi Field. Winning baseball within reach of the average fan—the horror. It's Christmas. I can dream.