What a Carlos Correa Return Would Mean For The Astros

The Astros have re-engaged with Carlos Correa and the talks are picking up momentum according to multiple sports writing sources.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has suggested why a one-year, $45 million deal isn’t out of the realm of possibility (I suggested this three months ago but I guess Rosenthal has slightly more pull than me), while Buster Olney of ESPN claims agents predicted a six year deal with the Astros with an opt out after the first season is a realistic prospect as well.

Astros fans have seen more big name free agent departures than returns. Losses of George Springer, Charlie Morton, Dallas Keuchel and Gerrit Cole have just become the norm.

There was not an expectation but more a blind hope the Astros could re-sign Correa and avoid the fate Astro fans have become all too familiar with. But it was more hoping he just didn’t sign with a team loathed by the fan base and rather one that could be tolerated seeing him in their uniform rather than ours.

But now the winds seem to be shifting and with so few openings at shortstop on teams that can afford him it looks as though Correa could be re-signing with the Astros, even if for only one more year.

Since it’s all still speculation, we’ll just look at the different facets of how having Correa back for one year would affect the team.

Correa’s return would have a trickle down effect.

Prospects such as Jeremy Peña and Pedro Leon have been considered possible front runners to replace Correa. If he returns they’ll now have to wait for their shot, but realistically both could use another year of seasoning in the minors to get a better picture of what kind of players they are.

But a Correa return also allows for some flexibility and could address two needs at once. While Leon has been getting more playing time at shortstop, his natural position is center field, another hole on the Astros offense.

While Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers did a fine job holding the position down, Leon is a highly rated prospect out of Cuba who’s ceiling is all-star potential. If Leon could go back to playing center field with Correa at short and hits like he’s projected to be able to hit, he could be up by summertime and the Astros already potent offense would somehow get more lethal.

It also allows even more lee-way for Martin Maldonado’s offensive deficiencies as catcher. He would pretty much be the only offensive liability on the team at that point but it would be a small price to pay for what he provides defensively and with pitch calling.

It doesn’t hurt that the top Astros prospect is a catcher who can hit so if for whatever reason the tag team of Maldonado and Jason Castro isn’t working Korey Lee could be a boost and it would be a formidable one through nine lineup.

This is all of course if Pedro Leon and Korey Lee play up to a level they’re projected to, but the idea of Correa at short, Leon in center and Lee at catcher all producing alongside Altuve, Brantley, Bregman, Gurriel, Alvarez and Tucker?  Even if Correa is only here for one year, imagine that lineup performing up to its potential.

The front office now has less needs to address.

One of the biggest things a one year Correa return would do is give the front office some breathing room in terms of what they need to trade for to improve the team.

If you’re already returning the league’s best offense from 2021 you now don’t have to potentially trade for a shortstop should Pena or Leon not be ready. Any prospects you’re trading away can be used for another top tier starting pitcher, top tier reliever or a centerfielder.

It also may make prospects like Pena expendable if Leon makes major strides at shortstop both offensively and defensively. Now you have two guys who can replace Correa but only need one. Pena can now be used in a trade rather than as our starting shortstop in 2022.

That isn’t meant to be a knock on Pena, but if the Astros do have two shortstop prospects, Correa returning to give another season to judge who really deserves to fill his shoes if and when he departs through free agency would then mean one can be sent in a trade to bring in an impact player that puts this year’s team over the edge.

One thing that analytics can’t define is leadership and what a veteran presence brings to the clubhouse.

There are no numbers to quantify team chemistry.

One need only look at the San Diego Padres from last year to show how talent can’t combat an abrasive dysfunctional work environment where players don’t get along and don’t want to play for each other.

Correa took the brunt of the hate on his shoulders from the Astros 2017 sign stealing scandal and he did it on purpose. He knew he could handle it and having someone like that on your team with that kind of mental toughness can only rub off on other guys.

Correa has displayed leadership moments over and over again. Astro fans remember how he calmed Framber Valdez down in game six of the 2020 ALCS.

Yandy Diaz tried to rattle Valdez by yelling at him after taking a breaking ball down for a walk. Correa went over and confronted Diaz, then went to Framber, gave him a pep talk and pounded him on the chest to pump him up. Valdez proceeded to get a double play ball to get the Astros out of the inning.

Another moment of leadership from Correa came in game four of the 2021 ALDS after Jake Meyers slammed into the center field wall and wanted to stay in the game despite pain in his shoulder. Correa ran out to center field and told him if he’s not 100% he’s hurting the team, not helping it so don’t be a tough guy. If you’re hurt, come out. Meyers listened and the Astros won.

These are the things that would come back to the Astros and be a huge boost for the mentality of the team as they try and win another World Series.

What a Carlos Correa return could do, if the Astros do in fact win it all in 2022, is vindicate themselves from all the chirping about 2017.

The Astros say they weren’t motivated by the boos, the hate and the vitriol that was thrown their way this past season. But when you’re getting quotes from Blake Taylor saying “It takes a special player to put an Astros jersey on,” if you’re not willing to put up with criticism in every stadium we walk into. It’s a tough gig,” it’s hard to believe otherwise.

Carlos Correa has heard all the hate and went so far as to refute point by point in an interview with Ken Rosenthal the validity of the 2017 World Series championship.

Even if the Astros were to win the World Series this year without Carlos Correa, it wouldn’t feel as sweet. Having as many members from that offense, that’s been told they can’t win without cheating, even though for some reason fans were clamoring for Springer and Correa as soon as they could possibly add them to their roster showing their hypocrisy but that’s for another article, hoisting the trophy to quiet all the nay-sayers would be a dream scenario.

Carlos Correa coming back, even if it is for just one year, does so much not just for the Astros as a team, but for Houston sports overall. Between the trade of James Harden who was the face of the Rockets franchise for so many years leading to a team rebuild and the Houston Texans-Deshaun Watson never-ending nightmare scenario, a Carlos Correa return would be a lift Houston sports fans desperately need.

Astro fans continue to keep their fingers crossed in H-town. Hopes have never been higher then since that last at-bat on Nov. 2, a deep fly to right field, that Correa could get one more at-bat as an Astro.