Steve Cohen strikes again

Adding Carlos Correa is the icing on the cake for what's been a wild Mets offseason.

Steven Cohen is running the New York Mets like a 12-year-old playing MLB The Show. That’s a compliment.

He continued his takeover of the MLB offseason by stealing Carlos Correa from San Francisco. Correa’s 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants fell through after something popped up on his physical exam. According to The New York Post, Correa’s agent Scott Boras said there was a “difference of opinion” over Correa’s medical. He still needs to pass his Mets physical.

The news of Correa heading to Queens on a 12-year, $315 million contract dropped just before 3 a.m. PST. A true stunner to wake up to. A devastating way to start the day for Giants fans who just went through the whole “Arson Judge” debacle earlier this month. If you thought your favorite team’s offseason was a disaster, Giants fans would like a word.

Before Correa, Cohen and the Mets already signed:

• OF Brandon Nimmo: 8 years, $162 million

• RP Edwin Diaz: 5 years, $102 million

• SP Justin Verlander: 2 years, $86.7 million

• SP Kodai Senga: 5 years, $75 million

• SP Jose Quintana: 2 years, $26 million

• RP David Robertson: 1 year, $10 million

Here’s what the Mets lineup could look like with Correa in the mix:

1. Brandon Nimmo, CF

2. Francisco Lindor, SS

3. Carlos Correa, 3B

4. Pete Alonso, 1B

5. Starling Marte, RF

6. Jeff McNeil, 2B

7. Daniel Vogelbach, DH

8. Mark Canha, LF

9. Tomas Nido, C

It’s World Series or bust with this group. Even in a stacked National League East.

Assuming the Correa deal goes through without another hiccup, the Mets’ payroll for 2023 is slated to be around a whopping $384.4 million. The New York Yankees currently have the second-highest at $290 million. Over the last three offseasons, the Mets have spent $1.6 BILLION.

Greg Harvey @BetweenTheNums

Top Team Spending over last 3 Offseasons per @spotrac: 1️⃣ NYM - $1.6 Billion 2️⃣ NYY - $833 Million 3️⃣ TEX - $830 Million 4️⃣ SDP - $824 Million 5️⃣ PHI - $794 Million 6️⃣ TOR - $600 Million 7️⃣ LAD - $584 Million 8️⃣ CHC - $479 Million 9️⃣ HOU - $404 Million 🔟 MIN - $355 Million

Sure, it’s absurd, but the sports world needs more Steve Cohens: super rich fans who buy their favorite teams with their minds set on a championship. It’s the anti-Oakland A’s approach. Replace franchises run like the A’s and replace them with Steve Cohen clones. There’s no point in the A’s even existing with teams like the Mets in the same league. They simply serve as a farm system for teams that are actually trying to win.

I guess that’s a fitting way to finish this off. Credit to the Giants for trying. You’re still not the most embarrassing team in the Bay Area. You can hang your hats on that one.