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.

Why a one-year contract would make sense money wise for both sides.

The options for where Correa can go are narrowing. He turned down the Detroit Tigers’ 10-year $275 million offer and there seems to be no more movement with those negotiations.

The Yankees have now traded for a brand new left side of their infield in Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa and have burgeoning middle infield prospects making the need for a long term mega deal less pressing, not to mention they already have one with Gerrit Cole and you really don’t want to hamstring your team with two decade long mega-contracts running concurrently.

The Mets could afford him but they just shelled out 10 years and $341 million to Francisco Lindor last year not to mention their splurges on Max Scherzer and Starling Marte.

The Dodgers are another team that could afford him but they have Trea Turner. The Cubs seem to be the biggest competitor at this point but they’re also not currently in a competitive position, something that seems to mean something to Correa especially in his prime years where he can be most helpful and productive to a team on the rise, not on the build.

The Rangers already have paid for their middle infield, so who’s really left?

The Astros.

But, they aren’t willing to go to the 10-year mark on a contract. So the one year contract option where Correa runs it back for an exorbitant amount could be the best of both worlds for both sides.

Correa gets the chance to prove his mega-deal value beyond one fully healthy season and the Astros don’t get locked into a long term deal that could hurt their prospects of staying competitive in the future.

If the Astros do give out $45 million to him for one year their roster is already pretty set as is. It wouldn’t be preventing them from signing anyone else they want and it gives the Astros what they should have had these past two years, which is a monster offense headlined by soon to be Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.

We forget this team made it to within a game of the World Series in 2020 and two games of winning the World Series in 2021, all without their reigning Cy Young winner.

Add Correa to the 2022 Astros and it seems hard to see why they wouldn’t be favorites to win another AL pennant considering the bullpen and rotation improved and now the best offense in baseball remains in tact and prospects we once needed can now be trade bait.

While it’s possible they hammer out a long term deal, Correa needs to sign sooner rather than later as Spring Training starts on March 17, and you really don’t want to miss any prep time if you’re potentially taking a one year deal to prove your value again.

The one year mega deal is a quick solution and Correa still will be in his prime if he so chooses to leave the Astros next year while the Astros will then not be locked into big money long term.

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.