The former Mariner, Indian, and Red is on his way to Texas.
According to multiple reports, Shin-Soo Choo has signed a deal with the Texas Rangers for 7-years and $130 million. Although the length and value of the contract are by no means unexpected, it is perplexing that Choo decided to play the market after being offered a 7-year, $140 million deal with the Yankees just a few weeks ago.
Choo was the envy of some Mets fans this offseason, and deservedly so. The 31-year-old Choo, as Jeff Kopman described, has been an on-base machine in his career, having posted a .423 on-base percentage in his first season in the National League. Choo, however, was likely out of the Mets price-range from the start, as Sandy Alderson did not seem to have any interest in giving a 7-year contract to anyone.
In hindsight, Choo likely should've taken the money from the Yankees, but with the contracts that players like Jacoby Ellsbury and Robinson Cano received, it is not hard to understand why Choo chose to play the market. Despite the Mets being unable to pay the big-money for a player like Choo, the Mets brought in another high-end free agent in Curtis Granderson to hopefully give them similar production on a smaller deal.
