Of course he doesn't need to apologize but he knows his organization is taking a hit right now. If the cheating turns out to be true I have no doubt Crane will issue some kind of apology to Astros fans. I don't care or need to hear that, show you care about the fans and winning by adding top players (do what you've been doing). Doing something significant in free agency deflects some of that crap they've been getting. I said shorty after the Greinke trade he might be a rental in that the Astros flip him for prospects to free up money to resign Cole but I didn't think he'd be getting upwards of 300-350 million.
Correa trades are fun to speculate about, but it’s hard to imagine it actually happening. Most contenders are set at SS and both Cleveland and Boston might be shopping superstar SS. Mets, Braves, and Brewers are decent fits, but the Reds standout as the best match. If Houston were to trade Correa and Reddick in order to sign Cole and rebuild the farm, I would be happy.
The defending American League champion Astros, facing mounting challenges with their payroll, almost certainly will not keep all of their stars long-term. Among the ideas they have entertained in an attempt to alleviate their payroll crunch, according to major-league sources: A trade of shortstop Carlos Correa, the player they selected with the top pick of the 2012 draft. No deal appears close, and the timing might not be right for such a move, considering that most teams are set at shortstop and Correa’s trade value is down. But at some point, the Astros will need to make difficult decisions, and Correa might be the odd man out. A trade of Correa might help the Astros address their pitching shortage at a time when they want to sign center fielder George Springer to a long-term deal, sources said. The Astros’ projected payroll for 2020 stands at $213.7 million, according to rosterresource.com. Their projected luxury-tax payroll stands at $231 million, a number that would put them over the second threshold at $228 million. And they still need to add a starting catcher and multiple pitchers in their rotation and bullpen. The payroll crunch already has prevented the Astros from attempting to retain right-hander Gerrit Cole, the prize of this year’s free-agent market. Catcher Robinson Chirinos and relievers Will Harris and Joe Smith — all significant contributors to the 2019 club that came within one game of winning the World Series — are among the team’s other free agents. Trading Correa would not save the Astros much money short-term, unless they also required a team to take a more expensive player — say, right fielder Josh Reddick — in the deal. But such a choice effectively would signal that the Astros prefer Springer as a long-term target and third baseman Alex Bregman as their long-term shortstop. Bregman played short last season when Correa was out with a fractured rib he said he suffered while receiving a massage at home. Correa, who is under club control for two more years, is projected to make $7.4 million in his second year of arbitration, according to MLBTradeRumors.com. His number is relatively low because he has averaged only 98 games the past three seasons due to injuries, and posted a career-worst .728 OPS the year he entered the process. Reddick will earn $13 million in the final year of his contract before becoming a free agent. Springer ($20.4 million projection in arbitration), first baseman Yuli Gurriel (signed for $8.3 million) and left fielder Michael Brantley ($16 million) also are eligible for free agency after the 2020 season. Astros owner Jim Crane said in early October he would “prefer not to” exceed the lowest threshold at $208 million. The Astros, as a first-time payor, would incur a 20 percent penalty for every dollar they spent over $208 million, an additional 12 percent for every dollar they spent between $228 million and $248 million. The Astros’ multi-year commitments include second baseman José Altuve ($130 million from 2020 to ’24); Bregman ($90 million from 2020 to ’24), right-hander Justin Verlander ($66 million in 2020-’21) and right-hander Zack Greinke ($43.4 million in 2020-’21, with the Diamondbacks paying the other $20.6 million). The Astros might still be unable to keep Springer, especially when he is only one year away from hitting the open market at a time when elite free agents are again earning monster dollars. Either way, Correa might not be long for Houston. Perhaps the only remaining questions are when and how he and the team will part ways. Jake Kaplan contributed to this story. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Good portion of this board could write for the Athletic. That story is nothing but speculation. Not saying there’s no truth to it, but no sources or quotes.
Correa will be had for peanuts the next 2 years. If we are trading Correa, I'm afraid it would be to keep our budget happy. Seriously doubt this would be done in conjunction with a mega contract to Cole.
Honestly that dude get A LOT of inside scoop, but in no way in hell am I buying that. They'd want a lot more than Correa and Reddick.
Who is this guy? He also said Astros looking at Josh Donaldson and relief help from the Orioles. If they trade Correa and move Bregman to SS looking at Donaldson makes sense. Who does the Orioles have to trade? Givens?
That’d be a great deal for Houston. Might be fair if Houston also sent a good prospect or two with Correa/Reddick; maybe Urquidy and Nova. The idea of flipping Correa/Reddick for Castillo/Donaldson sounds great.
None of this earth shattering. The Astros intended to shop Correa this winter regardless, to see what they could get for him. The Astros also have wanted to extend Springer at a fair number. Right now they are looking into a lot of different options to add players that can contribute now at low costs financially. Unless something has changed in the last month, Urquidy isn’t being dealt. Astros and Cubs both looking at some of the same guys. Both want Brandon Morrow for example. Both have spoken to the same teams regarding Correa/Bryant. Orioles and Mariners both being very aggressive with making guys available. Astros among teams with some degree of interest in Mitch Hanniger.
