Houston Astros: 3 landing spots for Carlos Correa
By David Hill
One could argue that Carlos Correa is the best free agent left on the market at this point. The Houston Astros shortstop for the past seven years, Correa had been considered by some to be the best player available when free agency began. And yet, he remains on the market, waiting for what his representatives feel is a reasonable offer.
That did not need to be the case. Correa had reportedly turned down an offer from the Tigers for $275 million over ten years. Once that happened, they quickly pivoted to Javier Baez, landing their shortstop on a far less expensive deal. Correa may be the best player available, but he has yet to find a home.
Three landing spots for Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa
It may not take long for Correa to find a home. Even though transactions are frozen, teams are still looking for the right pieces. There are plenty of teams on the hunt for a shortstop, especially amongst those with designs on contending in 2022. It is just a matter of time.
Which of those teams will Carlos Correa end up with? Let’s take a look at three possible landing spots.
Houston Astros
It appeared as though Carlos Correa had said goodbye to the Houston Astros at the start of the offseason. However, that may not be the case.
The Astros are still in need of a shortstop. While Alex Bregman has been working out at short, just in case he is needed there, he would rather that Houston brings in an alternative. Specifically, he wants them to bring back Correa.
There are some issues. The Astros are generally loath to go beyond five years in terms of any contract, even with their own players. They also will not come close to the overall dollar amount that Correa would want.
But that five year deal worth north of $30 million per may not be a bad option. Correa would hit free agency once again at 32 years old, presumably putting him in line for another significant payday. He would have familiarity with the clubhouse and organization, making a return to Houston an intriguing possibility.
A return to the Houston Astros did not seem likely for Carlos Correa at the start of the offseason. Now, they seem like a viable landing spot.