With their lineup decimated by injuries, the Astros could consider reuniting with a familiar face before Thursday’s Trade Deadline. A source told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart that Houston is showing interest in Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Astros. The club’s interest in Correa was first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
The Astros recently lost third baseman Isaac Paredes for an extended period of time due to a right hamstring strain. Paredes joined Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, Jake Meyers and Brendan Rodgers among the notable Houston hitters currently on the injured list.
Correa, 30, left the Astros as a free agent after the 2021 campaign, signing a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins. He opted out of his contract following the 2022 season, but he ended up returning to Minnesota on a six-year, $200 million contract that includes vesting options for each season from 2029-32. His deal also includes a full no-trade clause, so he’d have to give his approval to be moved.
A three-time All-Star, Correa is having a down year at the plate, hitting .265 with seven homers and a .701 OPS over 92 games. However, he is only one season removed from slashing .310/.388/.517 (152 OPS+) over 86 games.
With the Twins in selling mode, pending free agents Harrison Bader, Willi Castro and Danny Coulombe are the most likely to be dealt. But Minnesota is also reportedly willing to listen on Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, each of whom is controllable through 2027. Presumably, the Twins would be open to trading Correa, too, to gain some more payroll flexibility, though they’d likely need to eat some money to facilitate a trade.
The Astros, meanwhile, aren’t strictly focused on Correa in their search for roster upgrades. On the position-player side, they’ve also been linked to the D-backs’ Eugenio Suárez, the Orioles’ Ryan O’Hearn and even the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, who used his trade veto power to block a deal to Houston in December. Padres starter Dylan Cease is another reported target for the Astros, whose pitching staff has dealt with its share of injuries as well.
