Carlos Correa looked to be as good as gone from the Houston Astros earlier in the offseason, but that may no longer be the case.
Correa and the Astros have begun to talk since the MLB lockout ended. The two sides have reportedly discussed a potential return by Correa to the team.
The Astros reportedly are preparing a contract offer for Correa. There is uncertainty over whether the offer would be for a 1-year deal or in the multi-year range.
Hearing the Astros/Correa talks are focused on whether the possible agreement would be for one year, or, failing that, if it would be a multi-year deal in the range of 5-10 years. https://t.co/ybQ0H1aEo6
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) March 14, 2022
There apparently is enough speculation about the situation that Astros players are buzzing about a potential Correa return.
Astros plan to make new offer to free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa shortly, source tells @TheAthletic. His potential return is creating buzz in camp. “Players can’t stop talking about it,” one source said.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 15, 2022
Correa did not sign before the lockout even though many of the other top free agents had done so. He saw Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Javier Baez all sign big deals. Correa ended up switching agents to Scott Boras. Correa’s motivation for the agent switch is unclear.
There are a few factors at play to consider though.
There was some chatter that Boras wouldn’t receive a ton of commission if Correa were to sign a long-term deal now.
As agents have noted: Given the offers Carlos Correa got before the lockout, his previous agency would be in position to claim a majority of whatever he gets in a multi-year deal. If Correa signs for for one year now, new agent Scott Boras gets all $ of a new deal next winter.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 14, 2022
However, it’s unclear whether that rumor is accurate.
For those commenting, not clear Boras would benefit more from a one-year arrangement more than a long-term deal. Removed sentence from previous version that raised possibility one-year scenario might be more lucrative to him as far as commissions. https://t.co/gLN2JlWu7y
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 14, 2022
Some thought that Correa might now be open to exploring a 1-year deal for two reasons. One, much of the market/competition for shortstops is already gone now that Semien, Seager and Baez have signed. Correa might want to retest the market next year when there is less competition at shortstop and a more settled labor situation. Such a scenario might possibly have the added bonus of helping Boras claim a larger share of the commission too.
Photo: Aug 4, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
