Yankees GM addresses 1 big hurdle in signing Carlos Correa

Carlos Correa is one of the top free agents on the market this winter. As is usually the case with big free agents, the New York Yankees have been linked to Correa. They seem to have legitimate interest in the shortstop, too.

There’s just one complication: Correa would be leaving the Houston Astros, a team the Yankees have developed a rivalry with in recent seasons.

Much of the issues between the teams stem from ALCS clashes in 2017 and 2019. The issues were exacerbated by the reveal that the Astros employed a sign-stealing scheme on the way to the 2017 World Series. That drew the ire of numerous Yankees players, and Yankee fans let the Astros have it in Houston’s first trip to New York this season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman responded to that topic on Friday. Cashman was asked whether a potential negative reaction from players or fans would impact whether or not he would pursue a player like Correa.

“I’m here just to kind of assess all available players in the marketplace and then get as much information as I can for free agents and potential trade people,” Cashman said, via Erik Boland of Newsday. “So things like (potential fan/player anger) is not part of that process. To me, just making sure I understand what’s available, the price point of acquisition, and then communicate all of that back to ownership, as well as my baseball ops team, so we can . . . then gravitate to what’s realistic or not.

“The bottom line is, is he a great player? The answer to that is yes,” Cashman added of Correa. “He’s a free agent. So my job is to assess him as well as the others that are available and then act accordingly.”

In other words, Cashman says the potential fan reaction isn’t his problem. Why? Correa would win New York fans over if he performs. However, the Yankees should consider how Correa would impact the team’s clubhouse.

Correa certainly seems open to joining the Yankees, or at the very least he’s enjoying the rumor mill. Plus, if this old quote from ownership is any indication, the Yankees’ decision-makers are probably over it as well.

Photo: Aug 4, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports