Mark Berman: Astros offering Carlos Correa a 5 year/160 million dollar contract

If he goes to Baltimore, *** it… we tried.

 

I'd just as soon be sentenced to Gitmo.

 

He does have the longest home run in Camden Yards history.

 

It’s usually about the money, but I can’t see Correa going to Baltimore. It would be less dollars than Seager, Nevermind the tax issue. With the Astros, Boras/he can get highest AAV trophy. It’s going to be houston with opt out. The question is whether it’s a one or two year opt out. The AAV will be generous.

also, I wonder if crane requires a structure where the third year is a lower AAV, so that he avoids the onerous repeater tax. It would make sense.

 

dont be a d-ck, at least not in the Astros section. Plenty of that in D and D.

 

I think it's fascinating that people think that others should make life decisions based on how they might be perceived by random people they don't even know. Making decisions on legacy seems silly unless one's happiness is based on that.

 

Agreed. Some people are happy with the most money or the biggest market… some people are happy making a little less but being on a team or living in a city they prefer or have roots in.

The decision is up to each person… I will just say that the narrative has been pushed that any sane or smart person will always choose the most money and I don’t think that would make everyone happy. I personally figured that out as I have gotten older.

As far as legacy or being “loved” by fans and people you have never met…. I think it matters to some more than others.

 

Is there an echo chamber in here?

 

Of course you realize calling me a dick puts you in the same category.

 

I am one who said it’s foolish to take $30M-100M less to stay in Houston vs somewhere like Baltimore, simply because I have an idea of what can be done with $30M-100M, and leaving that on the table seems insane when the trade off is something as abstract as sentiment/legacy.

Of course I have no idea what it’s like to have that much money so maybe I’m not at all qualified to speculate what Correa’s decision should be based on. But Correa has already banked generational wealth. If he doesn’t care about money then why didn’t he just sign an extension with the Astros years ago? So whether it’s simply making what he’s worth (soothing his ego with cash), or he actually values the power additional money brings, it seems to me he is likely to sign for very nearly the highest bidder, which I think is the smart move.

 

Let's get one thing straight. If Carlos is after the ego issue of being highest paid then taking the 10/300 from Baltimore is not going to do it. He's better of signing with the Astros and playing the "this is where I want to stay" narrative. Otherwise, he'd look like he gave in, not just for the money but less money than other short stops.

Unless some team offers him $35 mil a season or $330+, I think he signs back with Houston if the offer is north of the $200 mil range for at least 6 years.

 

I mean- has he really made generational money? I’d argue no- he’s at what- 30 million earned in his career. that’s not nothing but the government gets a pretty big hack out of that, and it’s not cheap to be a big league ball player married to a beauty queen man. That **** gets easy to spend when you are young, rich and famous. I’m not saying he’s going broke or anything but if he stopped earning tomorrow I’m going to bet that money doesn’t make it past his lifetime.
I’m not saying he’d go broke- the dude strikes me as pretty savvy. But he probably hasn’t piled up as much as you think he has yet.

 

I think it's pretty clear at this point. This has gone on for long enough to see that it's either going to come down to the most money wherever that may be or staying in Houston for a little less than he wants but gets to compete for championships.

So here's to hoping that Crane makes an offer that is extremely fair and competitive with the highest bidder that is out there.

 

Let him go and sign some more arms.

 

It’s not a perception question. Carlos shouldn’t care how his decision is perceived.

He should recognize that life is complex and you only get to do it once. Legacy is what you build and enjoy in this life, not just what you leave behind for others when you’re gone. To ignore it is foolish and shortsighted.

 

The link between money and happiness, especially at the level we’re talking about with Carlos, is dubious at best. It strokes the ego, but hollows out the soul if it’s not in conjunction with a bigger mission or purpose.

“Being loved” is similar in value, in my own estimation, to going for the money…an ultimately empty pursuit if not in service of something bigger.

Of course I don’t know Carlos, or what’s important to him. But money, as an end pursuit, ends in misery.

 

I'm getting Carlos Beltran vibes from this.

Never miss out on other priority free agents waiting on a Boras client, and I feel like the Astros already have.

 

Maryland does have a state income tax. Of course, Texas does not.

It is about if he wants to win. Orioles are at least 3 years away from Contending. Does Carlos want to waste 3 prime years on a losing team?

 

You assume that he cares about the same things you care about. Maybe some players value money. Maybe others value legacy. Or just want to live their prime years in South Beach. Maybe a player's best friend lives in Baltimore and he wants to spend more time there. Who knows - but it's not really our place to tell people what they should or shouldn't value in life.

 

I don’t assume anything. Legacy isn’t some discretionary asset we can discard, and money isn’t a healthy endgame. Those aren’t my opinions…they are truths, or as close as we can get to them.

I don’t know what Carlos wants. Maybe he wants south beach, or to play with friends or any number of other things. Life is complicated, and realizing it to its fullest is hard. Money is simple and narrow.