MINNEAPOLIS — Carlos Correa mentioned discussions a couple of commerce from the Minnesota Twins again to the Houston Astros earlier than Thursday’s deadline aren’t “critical,” however he did not rule out the opportunity of returning to the town the place he gained a World Sequence.
“That is not one thing that is, I do not assume, critical proper now,” the shortstop mentioned after sitting out Minnesota’s 13-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday with a migraine. “We’ll see the place all the things goes, however my aim has all the time been to be right here and win right here.”
The three-time All-Star has a no-trade clause within the six-year, $200 million contract he signed with the Twins in 2023, so he would wish to log off on any deal. Correa mentioned he is been in frequent communication with Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and supervisor Rocco Baldelli and added that he has “full management” over what occurs between now and the 6 p.m. ET Thursday deadline.
The Astros is likely to be in want of an infielder, with third baseman Isaac Paredes persevering with to battle a strained hamstring. Correa is a beloved fixture in franchise historical past who led Houston to a 2017 World Sequence crown and batted .277 with 489 RBIs in seven seasons.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who stays shut with Correa, was requested in Houston on Wednesday if he had heard about the opportunity of him returning to the workforce.
“Correa’s a man with plenty of historical past right here in Houston,” Altuve mentioned. “He is an awesome participant, nice human being, nice teammate. So I feel — if something [were] to occur, I hope it is the perfect for him and for us.”
Altuve mentioned he hasn’t talked to Correa about it and that he most likely would not get in contact with him till after the deadline.
The 30-year-old hasn’t been fairly the identical participant since signing a three-year take care of Minnesota in 2022. Correa opted out of that contract and agreed to affix the San Francisco Giants after which the New York Mets, however each offers had been negated after his physicals.
He re-signed with Minnesota, the place he has hit .271 whereas battling a number of nagging accidents which have had him out and in of the lineup.
After buying and selling starter Chris Paddack to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, the Twins have indicated they plan to maintain shedding contracts at this 12 months’s deadline. A workforce that anticipated to compete for the AL Central is fourth within the division, 4-8 for the reason that All-Star break and an AL-worst 20-31 since June 1.
Whereas Falvey and the entrance workplace proceed to consider in a core that features All-Star Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis and ace Pablo Lopez, the workforce would possibly begin getting ready for subsequent season and past by maximizing the return worth of expiring contracts.
It is the primary time in his profession Correa has performed for a workforce in “promote” mode.
“I have been having plenty of dialog with gamers and simply attempt to maintain them centered on the issues that they will management and the every day work that we do right here, to go on the market and attempt to win video games and no matter occurs occurs,” Correa mentioned.
Correa additionally left Tuesday’s loss to the Purple Sox with a migraine. An MRI on Wednesday revealed no critical considerations.
Correa is not the one Twins participant whose identify has swirled within the annual commerce deadline rumor mill.
The Twins agreed to commerce nearer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies for 2 prospects Wednesday, sources advised ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
As well as, reliever Griffin Jax, outfielder Harrison Bader, catcher Christian Vazquez, reliever Danny Coulombe, outfielder Ty France and utility man Willi Castro, amongst others, are set to change into free brokers or arbitration-eligible after the season.
“This recreation has type of thrown me all over,” mentioned France, who signed with Minnesota in February. “I have been traded a couple of instances, been DFA’d, I have been by all of it. So it is simply a part of the enterprise. It is not a enjoyable half, however it’s what it’s.”
Jax mentioned he is by no means handled this earlier than.
“A few years in the past in ’21, I used to be the man that was going to get known as up if we made some trades, and that is what ended up occurring. So, now being on this aspect and seeing the opposite sides of feelings and what it is actually like from the enterprise aspect, it is simply completely different.”
Castro exited Wednesday’s loss to Boston early and was seen shaking palms with lots of his teammates within the dugout.
“I used to be planning on taking Willi out of the sport,” Baldelli mentioned. “Willi hasn’t gone anyplace. I simply needed to provide him just a little pat. He performs laborious for us every single day.”
Castro, a 2024 All-Star mentioned afterward he was “nervous” concerning the 24 hours main as much as the deadline.
“They have not advised me something but,” he mentioned.
The Related Press contributed to this report.