As free agency resumes, one big question remains unchanged from the initial market four months ago.
Where will Carlos Correa sign?
Aside from a few notable incidents — we know the Texas Rangers are no longer involved — Korea could be pursuing a number of options that existed for him last fall.
Perhaps most interestingly, the Chicago Cubs are set to play a major role in Korea's courtship as the baseball industry comes back to life.
The Cubs were among the teams that had the heaviest talks with Korea's camp hours before the lockdown began in early December, and there is every reason to believe those conversations are resuming.
While the Cubs weren't a popular pick for landing the superstar shortstop last, there's a logical fit between parties.
The Cubs have the payroll flexibility to add a significant multi-year contract. Jason Hayward's contract expires after the 2023 season, and newly signed starter Marcus Strowman is the only player on the team under contract beyond '23. The Cubs' bandwidth to add superstars is further compounded by the fact that Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Anthony Rizzo were fired last summer rather than extended.
Strowman, Kyle Hendrix and Wade Miley rely on a substantially stronger infield defense than many modern starting pitchers. American League Platinum Glove award winner, Korea, may affect the Cubs' race prevention as much as their lineup. Nico Horner, the top internal candidate to be the Cubs' primary shortstop in 2022, started only 12 games last season and may be best suited for the multi-position role.
Even after a fourth-place finish, the Cubs aren't starting a rebuild similar to the one they started a decade ago under Theo Epstein. If anything, they expect to compete for a post-season berth for most of the next 10 seasons - a time horizon roughly equal to the length of Korea's hypothetical contract.
In terms of personal appeal, Correa is a careful student of the game's history and will embrace the opportunity to play at Wrigley Field - the site of his best personal workout - before the 2012 MLB Draft.
"I was like, wow, I'd love to play here every single day in the big leagues," Correa told NBC Sports Chicago's Gordon Wittenmaier last year, reflecting on that '12 workout.
Of course, the Cubs aren't the only ones chasing Korea. The Astros, whom Korea led the World Series last year, cannot be ruled out as a possibility and will likely remain a part of the talks until the very end.
Correa is aiming for a bigger guarantee than Corey Seeger's $325 million 10-year deal with the Texas Rangers. Both shortstops are 27 years old, and Korea is coming off a healthy and statistically better season.
Another important reference point is a proposal rejected by the Tigers by Korea late last year. As first reported by ESPN's Buster Olney, Detroit offered Korea a 10-year contract worth $275 million. Had Korea accepted the deal, it would have become one of the five biggest free-agent contracts in MLB history.
A source said that the Tigers have included at least three opt-out clauses in their 10-year offer; Half of the contract was covered by a provision in which Korea would have received a $10 million bonus each time they were among the top five in the Most Valuable Player vote.
Correa turned down the Tigers' offer, in part because he and his representatives at WME were confident he would receive a bigger contract from Seager. Korea preferred to sign after Seeger, who agreed to his contract several days after the Korea Tigers declined the offer.
Correa, who plays Tigers manager AJ in Houston. Hinch was Detroit's first choice among free agents. After Korea rejected their offer, the Tigers struck a deal with Bays on a six-year contract worth $140 million.
Even though many in the industry believe that Korea will offer the greatest guarantee of any remaining free agent, its market may be influenced by the destination of first baseman Freddie Freeman. The Yankees are a top boyfriend for Freeman - in the event that he doesn't return to Atlanta. The Yankees have also shown interest in Korea; It is unlikely that they will sign both.
The Braves gauge the markets for several top free agents, but are unlikely to sign Korea and displace Dansby Swanson after winning the World Series. The Braves had detailed talks with Justin Verlander in free agency before opting to re-sign with the Astros.