Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa made all kinds of headlines during the MLB offseason.

He agreed to three different contracts with three teams, but the first two (a $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants and a $315 million pact with the New York Mets) were nixed due to concerns over his surgically-repaired right ankle.

The third time was the charm, as the Twins snagged him for $200 million and a chance to make it $270 million.

He has been a regular for Team Puerto Rico in international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic.

However, he has decided to step away and not represent his country in the 2023 edition that will start in a little over a month.

“Carlos Correa is withdrawing from the World Baseball Classic after making a joint decision with the #MNTwins. Correa’s wife is due with the couple’s second child the same week that Puerto Rico opens WBC play. Twins don’t want Correa juggling family/WBC. Story to follow,” Twins insider Dan Hayes tweeted.

Carlos Correa is withdrawing from the World Baseball Classic after making a joint decision with the #MNTwins. Correa's wife is due with the couple's second child the same week that Puerto Rico opens WBC play. Twins don't want Correa juggling family/WBC.

Story to follow.

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— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 6, 2023

It appears that the decision was a joint one between Correa and the team and doesn’t have anything to do with his ankle.

Correa has played, so far, in eight WBC games, in two editions.

He has performed admirably, with a .333/.500/.750 line (10-for-24), 10 runs scored, three homers, and nine RBI.

He has a cool 10/4 BB/K ratio, too.

In other words, Puerto Rico just lost one of their best players for the tournament.

Will they be able to overcome that loss? It remains to be seen.

The player, meanwhile, will be focusing on his family before focusing on the Twins’ 2023 season and the challenges ahead.

The post Twins Insider Reveals Carlos Correa WBC Update appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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PHOENIX — Seven-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green retired on Monday after 12 seasons in the NFL.

The 34-year-old spent a decade with the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Arizona Cardinals for the last two seasons of his career.

Selected by the Bengals with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2011 draft out of Georgia, Green was a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first seven seasons, topping 1,000 yards receiving six times.

The 6-foot-4, 207-pounder had a rare blend of size and speed and his low-key personality made him a favorite among teammates. He teamed with quarterback Andy Dalton to lead the Bengals to the playoffs every year from 2011 to 2015, though they never won a game in the postseason.

“I’ve never been a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short,” Green wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career.

“Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I’ve stayed true to the game and it owes me nothing. Be blessed.. Love y’all! The next chapter begins?”

He missed the 2019 season with an ankle injury, but returned to the Bengals in 2020.

Green was solid in his first season with the Cardinals in 2021, catching 54 passes for 848 yards and three TDs. His production dipped to 24 catches for 236 yards and two TDs this season, though he remained a popular presence in the Cardinals locker room.

He finishes his career with 10,514 yards receiving — which ranks 44th in NFL history — and had 70 touchdown catches.

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At the trade deadline in 2022, the St. Louis Cardinals made some key moves to strengthen their starting rotation, adding veterans Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana.

Both proved to be solid pickups, with Quintana ultimately drawing the start in Game 1 of the Wild Card series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Montgomery pitching a few solid innings out of the bullpen in Game 2.

But there was another starter that the team had eyes on.

Frankie Montas was that starter.

He was ultimately acquired by the New York Yankees before the Cardinals added Montgomery.

However, Montas has struggled with his health recently, meaning the Cardinals were smart to not make a move for him.

The St. Louis Cardinals avoided a major catastrophe by not making this trade (via @joshjacoMLB) #STLCards https://t.co/EyBBro6Biv

— Joshua Jacobs (@joshjacoMLB) February 5, 2023

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The 29-year-old finished the 2022 season with a 5-12 record and an ERA of 4.05 in 27 starts.

Now, the veteran right-hander may miss the entire 2023 season due to a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, Quintana went 3-2 with a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts with the Cardinals, while Montgomery went 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 11 starts with his new team.

Montgomery is also a potential candidate for a contract extension, which could help ease the burden on the Cardinals, who currently only have one starter under contract for 2024.

The Yankees, despite having signed Carlos Rodon to go along with Nestor Cortes and Gerrit Cole, find themselves in a difficult spot with Montas.

They now have an open spot in their starting rotation that will need to be addressed at some point during the season, if it is not addressed soon.

Ultimately, the Cardinals dodged a bullet by not going after Montas, which made a key difference down the stretch in 2022.

The post The Cardinals Were Wise To Avoid Trading For Frankie Montas appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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