Correa: Trade Rumors with the Astros, but Focused on the Twins
Shortstop Carlos Correa has addressed rumors about a possible trade from the Minnesota Twins to the Houston Astros, his former team, before the trade deadline. Although Correa does not rule out the possibility of returning to Houston, where he won a World Series, he states that the conversations are not “serious” at this time.Correa, who has a no-trade clause in his six-year, $200 million contract with the Twins, needs to approve any deal. The player has been in constant communication with Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli, assuring he has “total control” over his future. The Astros could need an infielder due to the hamstring injury of third baseman Isaac Paredes. Correa is a beloved figure in the history of the franchise, where he led Houston to victory in the 2017 World Series. The Astros’ second baseman, Jose Altuve, who maintains a close relationship with Correa, commented that, in case something happens, he hopes it will be the best for both. Altuve added that he has not spoken with Correa about the subject and probably will not until after the deadline. Correa, 30 years old, hasn’t performed the same since he signed with Minnesota. After opting not to continue with the previous contract, he tried to join the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets, but both agreements were canceled after medical examinations. Finally, he re-signed with Minnesota, where he has batted .271, dealing with several injuries. After trading pitcher Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers, the Twins appear willing to shed more contracts at this year’s deadline. The team, which hoped to compete for the American League Central Division, is in fourth place, with a 4-8 record since the All-Star break and the worst record in the league since June. Although Falvey and the management trust key players like Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Pablo Lopez, the team could be preparing for next season, maximizing the value of expiring contracts. It’s the first time in his career that Correa plays for a team in “sell” mode. Correa also left Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox due to a migraine. An MRI taken on Wednesday revealed no serious concerns. Other Twins players are also at the center of trade rumors. The Twins agreed to trade closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies for two prospects on Wednesday. In addition, reliever Griffin Jax, outfielder Harrison Bader, catcher Christian Vazquez, reliever Danny Coulombe, outfielder Ty France, and infielder Willi Castro, among others, will become free agents or be arbitration-eligible after the season. “This game has given me a lot of changes,” said France, who signed with Minnesota in February. “I’ve been traded several times, I’ve been DFA’d, I’ve been through everything. So it’s part of the business. It’s not a fun part, but it is what it is.” Jax commented that he had never dealt with this before. Castro left the game early on Wednesday against Boston and was seen shaking hands with many of his teammates in the dugout. “I was planning on taking Willi out of the game,” Baldelli said. “Willi hasn’t gone anywhere. I just wanted to give him a pat. He plays hard for us every day.” Castro, a 2024 All-Star, said afterwards that he was “nervous” about the 24 hours leading up to the deadline. “They haven’t told me anything yet,” he added.“It’s not something that, I think, is serious at the moment. We’ll see how things develop, but my goal has always been to be here and win here,” Correa commented.
Carlos Correa
