The more I think about it…adding Correa makes a ton of sense. Paredes cannot say no to 2B with Jose and Correa agreeing to play out of position (and if he does, fine, we can trade him in the offseason and he should retain a lot of value as an All-Star 3B with control). Add in Correa’s NTC and maybe we can finagle a KD-like haul as far as price is concerned (maybe not that low…Suns are cooked).
Ok with MacT weighing in, I would put the odds of Houston getting Correa better than 50/50. He wouldn’t address it if it weren’t expected to happen. No way Crane wants fans thinking they could have brought back Correa and then didn’t make it happen.
As a disc golfer, Cease is good friends with Paul McBeth (iCYMI most popular disc golfer) and during the off seasons when they play together they've talked smack about the Astros on IG, Paul played baseball too for awhile. It just sticks in my head some of Cease’s comments from a few years ago. I know who cares, probably nothing.
Really hard to tell what the prospect cost would be for a Correa trade. Hard to imagine the Astros would be willing to absorb his entire contract. That factor and if there are any other Twins players involved will determine price.
My assumption: Correa plays 3B the rest of this season. 2026 The Astros would have Walker, Paredes, Pena, Correa, Altuve, and Dubon all on the roster (with only Dubon not back in 27) so Matthews is probably trade bait. Altuve probably plays more LF and DH. At this point, I seriously consider trading Yordan. Give Paredes and Correa practice reps and ST starts at multiple positions. One becomes primary 2B and one 3B but each start at both positions. Paredes plays some 1B, Correa plays some SS. Best injury insurance in MLB and infielders never get overworked.
There is no way the Astros absorb all of Correa's contract but the Twins will be motivated to pay some in order to get a better return.
Paredes has 67 MLB games of experience at 2B. He can play there and in LF and be merely below average; Dubon would be available as a plus defender off the bench. With his arm Paredes would probably be above average in LF once he got acclimated.
Oh my gosh no. You are literally trying to kill me trading away my guy Yainer, Arrighetti who I think is a 2, 3 at the worst, Ullola who I think is a TOR starter at best and Bryan Abreu at worst for a couple rentals, a relief pitcher and Carlos Correa who the twins want to get out of that business. Hardest possible pass. I assume Correa could get done for Matthews by himself and then the question becomes how much money comes back with Correa and that's it. Mullins could get done likely with something like Gordon and another non highly regarded arm or Blubaugh and the same level prospect. Lets just stop there if it means I get to keep Ullola, Arrigehtti and Diaz. That's literally insane price for another reliever and walk year Cease.
Correa isn't a rental. He has 3 more years for 105M or something like that after this year. He also has 4 option years that you would only see vest if the Astros wanted them to vest.
Maybe the Astros are thinking they could trade Parades in the off-season. Get some prospects right back.
One of Paredes, Matthews, or Yordan would likely need to be traded in the offseason to add a SP and clear the logjam. Not required but probably the best play if Crane doesn’t want to go over the tax again.
Outline what you think the possible deal for Correa looks like from a talent perspective. I assume I'm more or less dead balls on with Mullins. Matthews for Correa would work I'm almost positive, but if that's not the way they wanted to do it then what? Correa has 3.25 years at 115 or so. Assume 25 coming over so that basically that's 4 playoff runs for 90M- 22.5 per. I don't care about the Cease thing and don't believe there is anyway they would do that deal on the terms you talked about.
