(David Berding via Getty Images)
The Houston Astros’ big move at the MLB trade deadline involves a familiar face.
The club has reached a deal to acquire Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, reuniting with a player who spent his first seven years in Houston.
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Per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Correa will move from shortstop to third base to replace Isaac Paredes, who is feared to be out for the season with a torn hamstring. It will be the first time in Correa’s MLB career that he plays a position other than shortstop.
There were whispers a day earlier that the Astros and Twins were discussing a deal, only for the talks to later be reported as dead, with the Twins reportedly unwilling to cover around $50 million of the money left on Correa’s contract. Apparently, something changed.
Correa began his career with the Astros as the first overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft and was a star for the team from his Rookie of the Year-winning 2015 season to his Gold Glove-winning 2021, earning a since-tainted ring in the 2017 World Series. He was a franchise pillar of the team, but opted to leave after 2021 for a short-term, high-salary deal with the Twins.
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His current deal includes three more years after this season that will pay him an average of $32 million per season. He has four more years of team options after 2028, meaning this deal could keep him in Houston for a very long time.
Few teams have been reported to be in on more impact players at the trade deadline than the Astros, who sit in first place in the AL West with a 62-47 record. They entered trade season with a large to-do list and have now made a few significant moves.
Houston appeared to address the hole left by Paredes by trading for Baltimore Orioles infielder Ramón Urías, but it now appears they might have more of a utility role in mind for him. Minutes after the Correa deal, they also acquired Jesús Sánchez from the Miami Marlins to add another bat to the outfield, per Rosenthal.
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With less than two hours to go until the deadline, they probably still aren’t done. They’ve been reported to be pursuing one of Merrill Kelly, Dylan Cease and Sandy Alcantara, all of whom would add a big-time arm to their rotation.
