What a Carlos Correa Return Would Mean For The Astros

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.