Astros: Carlos Correa and AJ Hinch spotted at breakfast together

A handful of Major League Baseball teams are in on Carlos Correa this offseason, as the 27-year-old is the best shortstop on the market. The Houston Astros haven’t been reported out of discussion with the shortstop, but other teams are more openly pursuing Correa.

On Thursday, Correa and Detroit Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch were spotted at a local Houston restaurant. Hinch, former manager of the Astros of course, is embarking on his second year with the Tigers, after being suspended in 2020.

Carlos Correa’s outing with AJ Hinch might not mean much right now for free agency talks.

The offseason is long, and as Jeff Passan on ESPN said, “it does not mean Correa is close to signing with Detroit.” This wasn’t a full report from Passan, while he was just confirming the meeting between the two, but it does re-instill that Correa can sign anywhere.

The New York Yankees and the Tigers, among other MLB teams, have been rumored in talks with the free agent shortstop. But, it feels like we are seeing more open discussion from Detroit this offseason.

Of course, there is a relationship there between Correa and Hinch. Correa’s first and only major-league manager before Dusty Baker was Hinch, as they both came on the scene in Houston in 2015.

Correa is likely going to be the highest paid player in total salary this offseason based on his ability to play elite defense at one of the most valuable positions and hit at an All-Star line. But in the case the Astros re-sign him, it will be interesting to see if one side ponies up on the annual average value or the other takes a discount to keep the core intact.