Carlos Correa agrees to record-breaking deal with Twins

Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms to for the start shortstop’s services for possibly the next three years. As reported by Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, Correa agreed to a three-year, $105.3 million deal with opt-outs following the first two years.

The deal contains the highest average annual value for an infielder in Major League Baseball history.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Astros were prepared to make a new offer Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, Marly Rivera of ESPN reported that both sides were “still working on it.” Only a few short hours later that the deal was reported by …

It was widely expected that the 27-year-old Correa would be leaving the Astros, as the team has had a pretty hard stance on the type of lucrative, long-term deal Correa was seeking.

While there is the valid question of Correa’s ability to stay healthy throughout an entire season, there is no question that from a talent standpoint he is a once-in-a-generation player. Correa has been an offensive mainstay throughout his time in Houston.

As a first-overall pick, expectations were high for the Puerto Rican shortstop. He was to be a franchise player that, coupled with Jose Altuve, would lead this team for years to come — Correa exceeded those expectations.

From the time he entered the league as a wiry, slap-hitter, Correa has gone from winning rookie of the year to seeing an evolution into a bonafide superstar, World Series champion and Platinum Glove Winner.

With Carlos Correa signing with the Twins, where does the future of the franchise lie?

Are the Astros fine without Correa? Sure.

With general manager James Click’s commitment to the analytical side of the game, the ball club can identify talent to make up the loss of Correa’s offensive and defensive production with little drop-off.

However, it’s very difficult to value the intangibles Correa brings to the Astros day-in and day-out. That made him invaluable to this ball club.

Correa’s value relative to his career statistical production has been well discussed and documented. While he may never hit 40 plus home runs like Fernando Tatis Jr. or steal 25 plus stolen bases like Bo Bichette, one could argue that he brings more value to a team for one big reason — his deep playoff pedigree and resume, which is nearly unmatched amongst active players in the league.

Correa is the epitome of clutch, leading the Astros to three World Series in the last five years, including a World Series title in 2017. In their latest trip to the postseason, Correa increased his stock value even more, if it was possible, delivering a go-ahead two-run double in American League Division Series Game 4 against the Chicago White Sox and his game-winning home run in American League Championship Series Game 1 against the Boston Red Sox.

There would be no way to replace the leadership that Correa brings to the team either. With elder players like Altuve, Justin Verlander and Martin Maldonado, there was no clearer leader on the Astros than Correa.

He had become the first line of defense for the Astros after their involvement in the sign-stealing scandal.

“If you don’t know the facts, then you’ve got to shut the f–k up,” Correa told Rosenthal in response to Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger’s comments about Altuve “stealing” the 2017 MVP Award from Aaron Judge.

Quietly, the leadership that Correa brings off the field shows more about the type of man that he is than anything he has ever done on a baseball field.

Whether it’s the charitable work that Correa has orchestrated through the Correa Family Foundation, which provides support to children battling cancer, all the efforts to support citizens of Houston and his native Puerto Rico during their devastating hurricane and flood disasters, or all the numerous charities and benefits Correa has partnered with, Correa has proven time and time again that he is capable of using his platform for things to help improve the communities he is a part of.