Carlos Correa Is Forcing the Houston Astros Into a $120 Million Dilemma
Over the last several years, the Houston Astros have secured the future of a few of their prominent key players. Houston is now faced with a tough financial dilemma with star shortstop Carlos Correa. The situation has put a pressure-filled $120 million question on the table ahead of the 2021 season.
Astros make critical offseason decisions
The Houston Astros fell a win shy of reaching the 2020 World Series, which sent the franchise into a critical offseason.
Houston has secured the long-term future of many of its keys pieces over the last couple of years. However, the franchise allowed All-Star outfielder George Springer to exit via free agency on a six-year, $150 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Astros did manage to retain All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley on a two-year, $32 million contract. Houston is facing another major financial decision that could alter the future of the franchise.
Carlos Correa is forcing the Houston Astros into a $120 million dilemma
The Houston Astros have gone through some significant roster changes this offseason, putting another situation front and center.
The organization is faced with an unresolved contract matter with star shortstop Carlos Correa, who is in the final year of his deal making $11.7 million for the 2021 campaign. Things have ramped up in a concerning manner as Correa recently put the team on blast after voicing that he believes the six-year, $120 million was a “really low” offer.
“I don’t know,” Correa said of his future in Houston. “Their first offer, I thought, was really low. If that’s how they feel about me, I guess I’ll go out and play and try to win another championship for the city of Houston and then explore free agency.”
What makes matters worse is that he’s sticking firm to his April 1 deadline for an extension. Correa further voiced that there will be no wiggle room to negotiate a deal after that point.
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman voiced that there haven’t been any additional offers since the first one. The Astros clearly value Correa as a critical piece of the puzzle, but the contract comes nowhere near what he believes he’s worth.
Despite being a part of the team’s sign-cheating scandal, Correa has been a significant piece of the puzzle, helping lift the Astros toward sustained success. He has become one of the most productive and reliable players at his position throughout his career.
The question now becomes whether the Astros view him in the same light to offer him a historic contract that rivals some of his peers.
Houston holds all the cards
Carlos Correa’s intentions are crystal clear as he views himself as an elite talent that deserves pay as such.
Correa’s vantage point has become more firm after seeing Fernando Tatis Jr. recently secure a 14-year, $340 million deal from the San Diego Padres. Meanwhile, Francisco Lindor remains in ongoing talks with the New York Mets to work out a $300 million contract.
Although each of those situations is quite different, Correa believes he should be fielding massive contract offers that would put him among the league’s top-paid players. The 26-year-old views what he’s accomplished so far in his career with a Rookie of the Year award, All-Star Game selection, and World Series champion put him in that conversation.
What may also be factoring into the equation is that Correa has had his fair share of struggles with injuries. He has experienced nagging injuries over the last three full seasons before the 2020 campaign, playing north of 110 games just once since his rookie year.
Correa’s self-imposed extension deadline is undoubtedly a ploy to force the Astros’ hand, but he is also more than comfortable to roll into next offseason as a free agent. Ultimately, the ball is in the Astros’ court to unload the type of money their star shortstop is looking to land.
Contract numbers courtesy of Spotrac.
