MLB trade deadline: Astros reportedly reunite with Carlos Correa in deal with Twins

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The Houston Astros’ big move at the MLB trade deadline involves a familiar face.

The club has reached a deal to acquire Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, reuniting with a player who spent his first seven MLB seasons in Houston.

Per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Correa will move from shortstop to third base to replace Isaac Paredes, who is feared to be out for the season due to a torn hamstring. It will be the first time in Correa’s MLB career that he plays a position other than shortstop.

There were whispers a day earlier that the Astros and Twins were discussing a deal, only for the talks to later be reported dead, with the Twins reportedly unwilling to cover around $50 million of the money left on Correa’s contract. Apparently, something changed between Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.

Correa began his career with the Astros as the first overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft and was a star for the team from his Rookie of the Year-winning 2015 season to his Gold Glove-winning 2021, earning a since-tainted ring in the 2017 World Series. He was a franchise pillar for the Astros but opted to leave after 2021 for a short-term, high-salary deal with the Twins.

His current deal includes three more years after this season that will pay him an average of $32 million per year. He has four more years of team options after 2028, meaning this deal could keep him in Houston for a very long time.

Few teams have been reported to be in on more impact players at the trade deadline than the Astros, who sit in first place in the AL West with a 62-47 record. They entered trade season with a lengthy to-do list and have now made a few significant moves.

Houston appeared to address the hole left by Paredes by trading for Baltimore Orioles infielder Ramón Urías, but it now appears they have more of a utility role in mind for him. Minutes after the Correa deal, the Astros also acquired Jesús Sánchez from the Miami Marlins to add another bat to their outfield, per Rosenthal.

With less than two hours until the deadline, the Stros probably still aren’t done. They’ve been reported to be pursuing one of Merrill Kelly, Dylan Cease and Sandy Alcantara, all of whom would add a big-time arm to their rotation.

The prodigal son returns.

Carlos Correa returning to the Houston Astros is a massive move. And it makes perfect sense for the Astros, as they had a huge need at third base with Isaac Paredes being out for the rest of the season. Correa, who knows Houston better than any player on the market, will go back home to the place where he made his name and became one of the franchise’s heroes.

This move makes Houston better in the short term, giving them the infielder they were working hard to acquire. And it also gives them a third baseman for the future, as Paredes could move across the diamond to first base when he returns in 2026. Correa was going to play third base when he signed with the Mets before failing his physical back in 2022.

Now, he can play third in Houston next to shortstop Jeremy Peña, whom he helped mentor prior to his departure. — Dorsey

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MLB trade deadline: Astros reportedly reunite with Carlos Correa in deal with Twins

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