Cubs 'among the favorites' for Carlos Correa originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Baseball's lockout is over and free agency is officially reopened after a three-plus-month transaction freeze.
And the Cubs are already making noise in the rumor mill.
MLB.com's Jon Morosi reported Friday the Cubs are "among the favorites" to sign free agent Carlos Correa with the market reopened.
Take it for what it's worth. Correa, the All-Star shortstop, is the top free agent on the market and will generate the most rumors in the coming days, or even weeks, before the season.
Where Correa lands is the biggest question — or $350 million question — with free agency back open. He could command a record contract for a shortstop.
The Cubs were linked to Correa before the lockout. One report said there was "mutual" interest, and another suggested they could target him on a seven-year deal.
That was before Correa switched agents; he hired Scott Boras during the lockout, and Boras clients historically set the market, if not records, in their free agencies.
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The biggest question before Correa hired Boras was whether the Cubs would go to the top of the market for him, both in terms years or average annual value.
That said, they've had eyes on him since his impressive workout at Wrigley Field before his 2012 draft, when the Astros took him first overall.
Marcus Stroman has been openly courting Correa, sending his latest recruiting message on Twitter after the lockout ended Thursday.
Correa has been candid about his openness to playing for the Cubs.
MORE: How Carlos Correa sees possible fit with Cubs this winter
“I was like, wow, I would love to play here every single day in the big leagues,” Correa told NBC Sports Chicago in October.
Stay tuned.
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