Carlos Correa, the star shortstop who helped lead the Houston Astros to a now tainted 2017 World Collection title, has discovered an sudden residence: the Minnesota Twins.
As a substitute of touchdown the huge long-term deal that was as soon as predicted for him, Correa agreed to hitch the quickly rebuilding Twins on a three-year $105.3 million contract. The main points of the contract had been confirmed by a private conversant in the negotiations who was not licensed to debate it publicly as a result of it was pending a bodily examination.
Whereas the deal is way smaller in size and whole worth than some handed out earlier than the lockout, the advantages to Correa are clear: It has opt-outs after every of the primary two years, permitting Correa to re-enter the market as quickly as subsequent season, and it has a median annual worth of $35.1 million, which supplants the deal Anthony Rendon of the Los Angeles Angels signed two years in the past, which was beforehand the very best mark for an infielder.
Solely pitchers Max Scherzer ($43.3 million) and Gerrit Cole ($36 million), and outfielder Mike Trout ($35.5 million) have larger common annual values of their contracts than Correa, in response to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
Whereas Correa’s new crew had not formally introduced his arrival as of Saturday morning, Correa modified the picture on his Twitter profile to one in all Goal Subject, the Twins’ residence stadium in Minneapolis.
Correa, 27, joins a crew that has been overhauled this low season. After an 89-loss 2021 season, the Twins entrance workplace remade the crew’s infield by buying and selling away Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Yankees for catcher Gary Sánchez and third baseman Gio Urshela. In addition they traded for beginning pitcher Sonny Grey.
And now the Twins went far bigger, including the top-ranked free agent of this low season and top-of-the-line general gamers in baseball. A cornerstone of an Astros infield that led the crew to 3 American League pennants in 5 years, Correa had maybe his finest season in 2021.
He hit .279 with 26 residence runs and an .850 on-base plus slugging share, whereas additionally main the key leagues in defensive wins above substitute, in response to Baseball Reference. He received the A.L. Platinum Glove, an annual award given to the most effective defender in every league, no matter place.
Whereas accidents slowed Correa at occasions all through his seven years in Houston, he hit .277 with an .837 O.P.S. and smashed not less than 20 residence runs in 5 seasons. He was a vocal crew chief, residing as much as his hype as the primary general decide within the 2012 draft.
Correa’s quick and versatile contract in Minnesota stands in sharp distinction to the one Corey Seager bought when he agreed to go away the Los Angeles Dodgers this winter. Seager, a extra polished hitter than Correa who’s a far much less achieved defensive participant, landed a 10-year $325 million take care of the Texas Rangers.
The information of Correa’s departure reverberated by the Astros’ spring coaching facility on Saturday morning. First baseman Yuli Gurriel, who was Correa’s teammate for six years, stated Correa was “very lively” sending messages to Astros gamers on Friday night time and that Correa was having hassle sleeping given the massive determination on his plate.
Gurriel stated Astros gamers had been stunned and so they had hoped that Correa would return. He stated he by no means imagined Correa would find yourself in Minnesota however he understood the enterprise aspect of the game.
“We’re going to overlook him,” Gurriel stated. “He helped me loads right here, not solely on protection however with numerous features that I wanted to get higher at, like sabermetrics.”
Astros Supervisor Dusty Baker stated he heard the information from his spouse on Saturday morning. He didn’t wish to speak about it a lot till Correa’s deal was formally introduced, however he stated, “It’s not very nice information if it’s true.”