Carlos Correa is open to long-term deal after all with the Astros

Upon further review, Carlos Correa is not opposed to signing an early long-term deal with the Astros.

Apparently, there was some miscommunication between Carlos Correa and his agent. Thursday, Correa’s agent, Greg Genske told Fan Rag Sports that Correa was not interested in signing a long-term deal. Andrew was able to write about it. The idea that he would never sign an early long-term deal is silly. A better interpretation would be that Correa will never sign a low-ball deal. Do you hear Mike Trout complaining about his deal?

The 22-year-old Astros shortstop won the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Award. Correa did not break out as people expected, but he still had a decent 2016 season. He had a slash line of .274/ .361/ .451/ .812 with 20 homers and 96 RBIs. Correa also teased us with his talent during the World Baseball Classic playing for team Puerto Rico.

In 2017, Correa hot off to a hot start, leading the team with a .310 batting average at one point. He is now batting .250 with one homer and three RBIs. He was making some solid contact recently, especially last night where he had two hard outs. Correa also reached on two errors in yesterday’s game. Carlos Correa will be one of the big bats in the Astros lineup for a while, but how long.

Correa’s future in Houston.

Getting back to Correa’s future contracts talk, what did Correa’s agent say? From Fan Rag Sports, Genske said that, “Carlos is never going to do an (early) multiyear contract.” Before Friday’s game, Correa was told of the comments. It was the first he heard of them according to Jake Kaplan. Correa said he’s not worried about the extension now, free agency is still five years away.

If you look at it from a financial perspective, Correa is not desperate for money after signing endorsements with Adidas and Topps. Correa also received a $4.8 million signing bonus when he was drafted. He will get his money when he becomes a free agent, but the question is will it be with the Astros? Correa told reporters, via Kaplan, that he wouldn’t be opposed to signing an extension with the Astros, “if the price is right.”

No bad contract.

Via Kaplan, Correa told his agent that he would sign a bad contract. Jose Altuve probably has no regrets in signing his long-term deal. The Astros bought out Altuve’s arbitration years. He has two more team option years after 2017 for $12.5 million total. If the Astros are going to retain Altuve’s services, they will have to show him the money.

Not saying that Correa is referring to Altuve’s situation, but he told his agent that he would not sign a bad deal. Correa is not opposed to signing a long-term deal sooner than later. In Kaplan’s article, he hints that the Astros would have to extend him before his arbitration years. Like Dallas Keuchel (his first year) and George Springer (next year), Correa will command more money through arbitration.

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Correa is being paid the MLB minimum this year, $535 million. The Astros have a say on his salary this year and next year before his salary will jump after 2018. The problem that the Royals faced all those years of having the top prospects come up is being able to afford them all later. With the presence of Springer, Keuchel, and Altuve, the Astros will have to decide who stays.

***Stats and salary information from Baseball-Reference***