TODAY: Correa tells Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle that he wasn’t aware of his agent’s comments and provided a somewhat different outlook, noting that he’d be “more than glad to listen” if approached with an offer. While Correa said that he has an open mind, and emphasized that he isn’t focused on a long-term deal, he did suggest that there’s something of a time limit on his willingness to consider signing away free-agent years.
“I’m not shutting the door,” he said. “The price has got be right, you know what I mean? And it’s got to be early. Once I get to arbitration there’s no turning back.”
YESTERDAY: Carlos Correa “is never going to do an [early] multiyear contract,” agent Greg Genske tells Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. The 22-year-old, who has already established himself as a star, is instead content to go year to year for the time being. Indeed, a “friend” tells Heyman that Correa’s “mentality has always been that he’s going to play it out.”
The organization’s decision to renew Correa at the league minimum in each of the last two years probably doesn’t help things, but that doesn’t seem to be the main driver here. (Per Heyman, Houston was offering around $565K this year and might have gone a bit higher, but Correa was willing to take the hit rather than agreeing to a price tag with which he didn’t agree.) Instead, as Heyman notes, the fact that he has already lined up significant sponsorship deals helps ensure that there’ll be plenty of earnings even if he suffers an injury or surprising performance downturn.
It’s worth noting, too, that Correa took home a $4.8MM bonus when he was taken first overall in the 2012 draft, which means he had already locked up life-changing money before reaching the majors. And though he probably won’t reach arbitration eligibility until 2019 — with 1.119 years of service entering the year, he’s unlikely to qualify as a Super Two player next winter — his early performance levels all but assure he’ll be richly compensated from that point forward.
Perhaps it’s still possible that the sides could end up exploring an extension at some point in the future, when Correa reaches arbitration and begins nearing free agency. Whether or not the minor salary squabbles impact that remain to be seen, but in all likelihood future arb discussions will be of greater import. Most important of all, of course, will be the willingness of Correa to forego a chance to test the open market when he’ll be entering only his age-27 season in 2022.
For the time being, Correa and the ’Stros will continue to enjoy what has thus far been a highly productive relationship. Correa carried a .276/.354/.475 batting line with 42 home runs in just over one thousand plate appearances entering the current season, making him one of the best-hitting shortstops in all of baseball. While there’s currently a bumper crop of shortstops sprouting around the game, some of whom rate as more talented defenders, Correa is undeniably a top-quality all-around talent who rates as one of the best young players in baseball.
Smart guy. He will be playing shortstop for he Yankees in the future.
The Yankees probably actually hope he won’t since they’ll want that to be Torres
Wasn’t Matt Weiters cashing in to play catcher for the Yankees?
And Bryce Harper too…
Don’t forget Manny Machado. Yankees fans had him playing in NY in 2019 several years ago.
Well genius since it’s only 2017…
don’t forget about the hopes of getting tulowitzki as well
I doubt it. He likes it here in Houston. Yankees will need to find some one else.
No they won’t. The Yankees have the best SS prospect in baseball.
Thanks for reinforcing what I was saying.
Wonder if he would go down to MIA???
I have no idea but he played for Puerto Rico in the WBC
What does MIA have to do with being from Puerto Rico?
The only risk here is injury. Other than that, the guy has had All-Star talent written all over him for years, even when he was at PRBAHS.
He will be the cornerstone of that franchise. Springer, Correa and Altuve could be a core like the Yankees had with DJ, Posada and Mo.
I’d add Bregman as well
In addition to injury, the other risk is going somewhere just because of money, and winding up in a bad situation. This has happened countless times, so Correa would be smart to carefully weigh both sides of the coin.
Correa is over rated. Lindor is better
I mean, Lindor is a year older, and they’ve been fairly similar through their first 260 games or so. Correa has higher upside because of power.
I wouldn’t say Correa is overrated, Lindor is slightly underrated.
I agree 100%, can’t go wrong with either one. Lindor is as advertised as far as defense goes and has been swinging a much bigger bat than expected. Correspondent and Baez will show more power, but Lindor’s glove is incredible.
Seager is better than both.
Sure, better as in a couple more HRs but nowhere near the glove Lindor has…
Yeah but James Loney is better than either one
Correa’s glove is actually just as good as Lindor’s.
So he got the Gold Glove and didn’t get bumped to 3B for the WBC…okay.
No, it actually isn’t, and it’s not even particularly close.
Lindor had 17 defensive runs scored, second in the league…Correa just a tad bit behind with 3, make that minus 3
Lindor is/was better by UZR, DRS, scouting, objective eye test, whatever method you want to use that isn’t “I’m an astros fan so correa is just as good”, pegs lindor as a better defender.
DRS = defensive runs saved, not scored btw.
Lindor is better defensively but I feel Correa will be better on the offensive side. Additionally, IMO, correa didn’t get bumped. He was better suited for third than lindor and prob will end up there anyway.
” Additionally, IMO, correa didn’t get bumped. He was better suited for third than lindor and prob will end up there anyway.”
How is this not getting bumped? He plays ss in mlb. He got moved to 3rd in the wbc because he’s a worse defensive ss than Lindor. He’s better suited for 3b because he’s a worse defender and he’ll end up there anyway, again, cuz he’s a not a great defensive ss.
Either way you slice it you can’t go wrong. Correa have more power numbers but Lindor is the better glove man and both will be studs for a long time.
Meant saved, scored showed up…I know what it DRS stands for.
Only smart if he doesn’t get hurt.
He has five million in career earnings aka five million reasons to not worry too much about career threatening injury.
But he could be risking 30 mil. I’d still not take an extension right now that would take me past my arb years if I was him though.
Getting hurt is just an unfortunate thing. It would be smart regardless. Injuries are a risk for all Major Leaguers.
Nice to know he won’t be staying in Houston a second longer than he has to
2023 Yankees starting lineup:
C: G Sanchez
1B: G Bird
2B: C Correa
SS: G Torres
3B: M Machado
LF: C Frazier
CF: M Trout
RF: B Harper
DH: R Refsnyder
Bench: A Judge, B Rutherford, J Mateo, P Goldschmidt
(This was meant as a reply to the first comment)
You forgot betts in left field, posey at catcher and Myers at first
That’s a 400mil lineup when you include pitching. Keep dreaming.
And why would refsnyder DH over goldy and judge?
and why is g bird playing 1b over goldschmidt. It seems like this had to have been sarcasm, but the over rating of the current yankees players in that situation make me question whether or not he’s just a super homer.
Goldschmidt could also be trash in 2023 though
He could be, but you assume that if they sign him, they wouldn’t be holding on to bird who will be 30 by that time and baring spending time in the minors or an extension, have exhausted his team control.
Goldschmidt will be a free agent in 2020 at the age of 32. So the yankees are going to sign him and put him on the bench after 3 years while letting Bird just hang around while Goldy starts for 3 years?
It was sarcasm. I think.
Too optimistic
Don’t forget the rotation of:
Syndergaard
Otani
Urias
Bumgarner for that veteran leadership
Kopech
You forgot Harvey.
And the kershaw trade in the offseason.
what about Kershaw, he might have to be a long relief guy it seems
what about Kershaw, he might have to be a long relief man it seems
You forgot the ghost of Ted Williams.
Ever hear of taxes? I’m sure he didn’t take all 5 million home.
No state tax in Texas though.
Correa is doing the smart thing. If he was reasonably careful with his bonus money, and the endorsement contract pays decently, he can wait for arbitration. Continued good performance and he will catch up pretty fast.
No no no no and no.
If he gets paid each time they air that Blast Motion Sensor commercial on MLB Network, he’ll be fine.
And that’s how you as an agent gets fired
That was my first thought too. It’s probably dysfunctional communication between the agent and Correa.
But now I wonder if they’re playing Bad Cop / Good Cop with the Astros FO to sweeten the pot.
I’m sure he’d consider an extension… if houston were to offer him 9 figures
I get a little tired of agents openly running their mouths off trying to jack around with the market.