Astros: Five Replacement Options for Carlos Correa

The Astros could explore the trade market.

There’s really not a lot available that the Astros could trade for that would be much of an upgrade over a Jeremy Pena/Pedro Leon experiment. The best shortstops who have one or two years left on their contracts are all on contending teams.

There’s not a lot of chance the Atlanta Braves would move Dansby Swanson after having just won the World Series nor would the Dodgers trade Trea Turner considering one of the main reasons they traded for him was insurance in case Corey Seager left.

Brandon Crawford’s San Francisco Giants had the best record in the MLB last season and despite Buster Posey’s retirement I don’t see the Giants suddenly becoming sellers.

And while Xander Bogaerts has a player option he’s sure to decline next year, the Red Sox are also not going to look to unload him unless at the midway point of the season they’re far out in fourth place as the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Tampa Rays are crushing them.

So who is available? It’s not pretty. Elvis Andrus and Alcides Escobar play for teams that are closest to being non-competitive as it seems the Seattle Mariners may have leapfrogged the A’s and the Royals are still a bit away from contention.

But neither of those guys profile any better than a Jeremy Pena or Pedro Leon so it would seem silly to trade away even low level prospects when you can most likely get comparable production from your prospects.

In the end, there’s no one that can replace Carlos Correa. He’s the entire package when healthy. Offense, defense, leadership, comes up big in big situations.  But considering it looks less and less likely he re-signs with the Astros, these are the best alternatives.