SAN DIEGO — The scars have clearly not healed.

As usual, the Dodgers have been linked (wrongly, so far) with nearly every one of the top free agents on the market this offseason. But Carlos Correa is not the usual case.

Correa’s connection to the Houston Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal and World Series victory over the Dodgers loads some heavy baggage on any rumor that the Dodgers might sign him to replace the departed Trea Turner.

Correa is seen by fans as one of the more unrepentant members of that Astros team and any time his name is mentioned in connection with the Dodgers, social media swells with angry fans swearing they will drop allegiance to the team if Correa wears the Dodger uniform. Privately, the Dodgers’ decision-makers are concerned about the reception Correa might get from their fan base in the real world of Dodger Stadium – particularly if he doesn’t immediately meet the outsized expectations his contract would no doubt create.

But would there be the same reaction in the Dodgers’ clubhouse? Only three players who played in the 2017 World Series are still with the Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw, Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor. Justin Turner would be a fourth if he re-signs with the team.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is as deeply scarred by the 2017 World Series as anyone. As recently as this October, he referred to that championship as being “stolen from us.”

Roberts said there has been no internal discussion about “the potential narrative” that would come with Correa joining the Dodgers and he is not sure what the reaction might be.

“I don’t know that answer,” Roberts said. “What I do know is that we’re about winning baseball games. Our fan base is about winning baseball games.

“But he’s a heck of a ball player. … That’s all I’m going to say about that one.”

General Manager Brandon Gomes declined to comment about Correa as the Winter Meetings wrapped up on Wednesday. But at the GM Meetings last month, he did acknowledge “other factors” when hypothetically evaluating a free agent like Correa.

“I think it’s taking into account the talent level, kind of figuring out where the market is, what the contract will ultimately look like, and do we feel like that’s a fit for us? And then layer on and sift through those other factors,” Gomes said. “From the talent-level piece, we’ll try to stay objective with the talent level. And then the other stuff we’ll take on as it becomes more real or not. Then we’ll start to sift through what is what.”

Correa’s talent is undeniable. The 28-year-old is a Gold Glove Award winner and a two-time All-Star who finished fifth in the AL MVP voting with the Astros in 2021. There are no indications that the Dodgers are actively pursuing Correa but his agent, Scott Boras, is certainly not willing to write off any potential bidder.

“I think fans care about winning,” Boras said earlier this week when asked about Correa. “They care about winning the right way. They want the best players. I think anybody who knows Carlos Correa understands his leadership and his commitment and the rare skill level he brings to any team.”

The San Francisco Giants are considered a possible landing spot for Correa – which would give Dodgers fans frequent opportunities to boo him without regret each season.

COACHING CHANGE

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed that co-hitting coach Brant Brown will be leaving the team to join new manager Skip Schumaker’s coaching staff with the Miami Marlins.

Assistant hitting coach Aaron Bates will be promoted to fill Brown’s role alongside Robert Van Scoyoc with Bates’ former role likely being filled by a rotating group of coaches from within the organization.

Bates has been a part of the Dodgers’ trio of hitting coaches since 2019, spending some time in the minor leagues (particularly when major leaguers were on rehab assignments) but working extensively with the big-league roster.

RULE 5

The Dodgers lost three players from their Triple-A roster in Wednesday’s Rule 5 draft. Two of the first three picks – first baseman Ryan Noda (Oakland A’s) and left-hander Jose Hernandez (Pittsburgh Pirates) – were Dodgers farmhands. Later in the first round, the Milwaukee Brewers took right-hander Gus Varland.

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Teams have to keep Rule 5 picks on their major-league roster for the entire next season or offer them back to their original teams.

Noda was part of the August 2020 trade that sent Ross Stripling to the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit 25 home runs for Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2022. Hernandez had a 3.32 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 59-2/3 combined innings with Class-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa last year. Varland was part of the February 2021 trade that sent Adam Kolarek to the A’s and brought Sheldon Neuse to Los Angeles. Varland was 5-8 with a 5.98 ERA over the past two seasons at Double-A Tulsa.

In the minor-league phase of the draft, the Dodgers lost two more players – Double-A catcher Kekai Rios (to the Blue Jays) and right-hander Jose Martinez (to the St. Louis Cardinals).

They also chose three players in the minor-league phase – Class-A right-hander Yon Castro (from the New York Yankees), right-hander Carlos Reyes (from the Philadelphia Phillies) and outfielder Josh Stowers (from the Texas Rangers).