They would take on his contract because the Astros would include surplus value in the form of prospects. There are also other factors at play as to why the Twins would consider it. First off, Correa's own contract is underwater, but unlike Walker who is only owed 40 million after this season, Correa is owed another 96 million guaranteed. Correa has another 70 million in vesting options based on plate appearances which descends in value (25, 20, 15, 10). The next problem for the Twins is the lack of teams that would take on his contract in combination with Correa's full no trade clause. I can't imagine any team but the Astros willing to take on his contract. I don't see Correa waiving his NTC for most teams as well. If the Twins want to get rid of Correa then the Astros are their only ticket out. Yes, the Twins could just say no or want a ludicrous prospect haul, but I'm merely noting the reasons why the Twins would be willing to take Christian Walker in a Correa trade.
The Rays accept cash. Maybe Crane can offer to fix their roof. I’m only half joking… and the Rays do have new ownership… but I’m sure they can work a roof contract into the equation. Free A/C from Daiken? equivalent to the soda money scene in moneyball.
If Crane really wants a reunion to happen, he’d pay the cash. It’s not that far off from what he would have been on the hook for if Correa had taken the original offer. But no team takes on the full value… and the Astros don’t have a trove of high value prospects anyways… so any possible deal would be somewhere in the middle.
Lowe and several starting pitchers have been discussed - and the quality of pitcher depends on the return.
Players I’ve heard discussed have been better than Bradley and Matthews hasn’t been mentioned unless pitcher coming back to Houston is under team control beyond 2025 to go with Lowe.
Cool. So that sounds like it’s Littell and Lowe being targeted and if Matthews is out that probably means Ullola, Melton, Arrighetti, Brito, and Kevin Alvarez are also out. In that case the headliners would probably come from Janek, Dezenzo, Whitcomb, Sullivan, Mayer, Pecko, and Blubaugh. I am very high on Mayer and Pecko, but I’d actually be ok with any 3 of those names for Brandon Lowe and Zach Littell.
I could see Dana trading Yanier before Janek…. But other teams could also see the same things and the same reasons why, so here we are.
