The Astros have renewed the contract of star shortstop Carlos Correa at $1MM, reports FanRag’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). That comes in just shy of the record for a pre-arbitration player, set by Kris Bryant last offseason when the Cubs agreed to a $1.05MM salary. Correa’s $1MM mark ties the previous record holder, Mike Trout, who earned $1MM in 2014 as a pre-arb player before agreeing to his $144MM contract extension the following offseason.
It’s worth noting, though, that the Astros renewed Correa’s contract. That indicates that, in spite of the near-record-setting nature of Correa’s pre-arbitration salary, the two sides did not see eye to eye on his 2018 earnings. Teams can negotiate with their pre-arb players, and the two sides will often agree to terms on a salary — typically within the vicinity of the league minimum for most players but sometimes a few hundred thousand or so greater for higher-profile players that have not yet reached salary arbitration.
However, if the two sides cannot agree to a negotiated salary, then the team can renew the player’s contract at any amount at or above the league minimum. In this instance, the fact that Correa’s contract was renewed could mean that he and his representatives at the Legacy Agency were hoping to set a new record and simply elected to let the team renew the contract.
Certainly, though, it’s nothing new for this player and team. A renewal also occurred in each of the past two seasons. Most notably, the ’Stros gave Correa only the league-minimum salary for the 2017 campaign. Of course, there’s still no real indication whether the failure to agree could hint at underlying discord that might impact future contractual matters.
The deal isn’t a straight MLB contract, it’s also worth noting, per a tweet from Bob Nightengale of USA Today (Twitter link). Houston elected instead to make it a split deal, providing a $267,500 rate of pay in the exceedingly unlikely event that Correa is optioned down. Clearly, as with Correa’s own decision not to agree to the offered amount, the sides have elected to stand on their rights — even if there’s no reasonably anticipated practical difference.
Well deserved! This guy’s been taking paycuts all his life.
Remember the paycut Correa took when got drafted, below the recommended signing bonus slot for the #1 overall pick. Recommended slot bonus was 7.2 million he signed for 4.8.
He deserves much more than this for the kind of player he is. The Astros also made it a split contract. They paid him only the minimum last year. Astros as showing so much disrespect for Correa.
They pay him minimum because he is pre-arb. That is around the norm, as the top is around 1M.
Yeah, just short of the revord for pre arb is disrespect, right. ….not
Well AUTiger what should they pay him?
He does deserve more. Maybe Correa should ask for a team-friendly extension.
Here is the definition of “Pay Cut” – A pay cut is a reduction in an employee’s salary. Pay cuts are often made to reduce layoffs while saving a company money during a difficult economic period. A pay cut may be temporary or permanent, and may or may not come with a reduction in responsibilities.
Correa has never gotten a pay cut in his life.
Minor semantics? Pay cut from his recommended slot bonus, for the #1 overall pick of the draft.
“It was the lowest guarantee for a top selection since the Kansas City Royals gave pitcher Luke Hochevar $3.5 million in 2006”
This is the definition of paycut to me. Under CBA, the recommended slot value for top pick that year (2012) was $7.2 million, and he accepted $4.8 million. Usually, top picks take cuts from their recommended slot for #1 overall pick, but never that steep.
To put things into perspective, last year’s #1 overall, Royce Lewis was 18 year old prospect. He accepted $6,725,000 bonus, below the $7,770,000 recommended slot for 2017 #1 overall pick.
Its not semantics its the English language. And its not a pay cut, he has gotten paid more every single year. No pay has been cut. Leaving money on the table is not a pay cut. His agent could of gotten more money but they chose to sign quickly instead. THATS NOT A PAY CUT.
You can come up with what ever wrong definitions for what ever words you want, you’re still wrong.
technically, that would be taking less money, not taking a pay cut, but we get your point.
So you made up a new definition to make a point. Anyone could do the same and this becomes pointless to discuss.
Correa will earn more than he’ll ever need. Astros are treating this like a business with a really young talent. Both sides want to come out on top.
As long as we are talking about semantics and wrong definitions of words: It is “could have.” Not “could of”
Don’t forget it’s* ^^ Thanks, David.
Sorry for using “paycut” incorrectly. I still think it was quite the steep discount to slot
Yet he ACCEPTED it. It was not FORCED on him. Slot values are arbitrary numbers selected by someone.
Yeah, the fact that he was willing to accept it, was why they picked him.
In hindsight, I never figured he’d end up one of the best overall players in the draft. Good pick all around. I think the willingness to take that discount (for lack of better word) shows excellent character. Correa is someone you can easily root for.
Correa had very little choice but to accept the offer. Draft picks have little leverage except wait three years or go play in Indy-league ball, which has never worked out for most. The draft is an artificial limitation of the labor market and earnings potential and should be abolished. You want to eliminate tanking? Get rid of the draft.
Geez, take some midol already.
He wouldn’t have been the #1 overall pick had they not known they could get him for cheaper than slot value. That’s why many top prospects fall in the draft, as they have certain “requirements”, and also why some “less” talented players go higher.
Correct… you have to have received it to have it cut. Correa wasn’t expected to go #1, but was willing to accept what he got to go #1. Appel was projected #1 and he slid because of his demands, he wanted upwards of $8M and tops was $6.5M.. Another Boras hook up…
^^^Exactly. He was projected to go between picks 3 and 8 or something. He cut a deal with the Astros where the team didn’t have to pay recommended slot for the first pick and he was guaranteed more money than he would have received had he been picked where he was projected. It was a win-win for both player and team. Not a pay cut.
That is not the definition of a paycut
Perspective? You omit perspective in your rant. While the slot has a recommended value, you don’t include the player variable. If you are not ranked in that #1-2 range you will get less…. so as he was at the time targeted in the 5-8 range by most, he got more by accepting the $4.8M at #1 rather than falling to an expected lower slot. So by using your basic argument but using all of the variables, he got a pay raise! This is what the recommended $$’s were for that range…
4 Orioles $4,200,000
5 Royals $3,500,000
6 Cubs $3,250,000
7 Padres $3,000,000
8 Pirates $2,900,000
Both can be used. It’s
and it is are both correct!
Because you know every job he has ever worked
He wasn’t supposed to be picked number one. They picked him because he would take a lower rate
STILL ended up performing like the number one pick
Like I said, someone, easy to root for : )
As I recall, Appel and Buxton were the “gems” of that draft… First from PR to go 1-1 at 17? He didn’t get hurt signing under-slot. Just smart drafting by Luhnow.
Xabial you have no clue. There is NO recommended signing slot. They allocate a max amount. Big difference! He did not take a paycut at all
I’m trying to say, There is no max amount, per pick.
What max amount? Teams can go over-slot, by signing others to below-slot deals, ironically what they did with Correa using nearly $3m they saved from the 7.2 slot for #1 pick to sign other players to over-slot deals, should they fall due to signability issues, or prior college commitments.
This is exactly what they did with Lance McCullers Jr.
They used the money saved from Correa, and signed McCullers for $2.5 million signing bonus, way above $1.24M slot for 41st pick. (McCullers was selected 41)
In 2012, there were prescribed bonus levels for each draft slot. There is a budget for the first 10 rounds. While you can pay over-slot, it usually doesn’t happen in the first round if a team wants to sign over-slot players later in the draft where more money is needed. You have to have under-slot signings to achieve over-slot signings and if a pick doesn’t sign you lose that prescribed amount from your budget.
Loyalty will help him in the long run. Get rid of verlanders $ and then start talking. But the kid deserves it all, more than trouts deal.
Hes getting paid like Trout, and while hes good, hes not Trout. Absolutely nothing to be upset about here.
The only thing to be upset about is that players who have that much impact are forced to play for the minimum for so many years. If someone is performing like an MVP on their rookie deal, they are being severely underpaid. While these contracts are the structure on which great teams are made, and these contracts being the reason that some teams become relevant or the only reason some teams can compete, there is something to talk about in terms of rookie deals, extensions, bonuses etc. for young players, it’s just a very complex conversation that is important for the next collective bargaining agreement.
And the players agreed to it.
They often get over paid later on.
Let it go.
This is not football. There is no such thing as a rookie deal
He’s not Trout but he is the best shortstop in the game.
would other teams get on the Astros case if they gave him, say, 2 million since they appreciate that he had a great year and they won the World Series?
Probably, because it would ratchet up salaries
Dude’s gonna win MVP this year.
He’s going to jump from 17 last year to number 1? I don’t think he will replicate the same year.
WOW is all I can say. It’s a slap in the face to him, he should be making a whole lot more. Just WOW!!!!!!!
It’s about double what he he made last year..
Yeah. Just hope he has enough in his pocket to last until next year’s $200 million extention
He will. Next year. The Astros treated him well as they could have renewed for much less. Shouldn’t compare to Trout because that was a few years back. Look at Bryant and Betts now. Things balance out.
It’s close to a record for a pre arb deal. It’s nowhere near a slap.
Why should he be making a lot more. He is a second year player under control of the team per the CBA that the players negotiated
And you wonder why players get huge contracts when they don’t deserve them? MLB needs to change the rules so these players can make there worth during there prime not ask for hundreds of millions as they decline.
he will get his.
do you want him making 20 mil per for the next 15 years.
It’s no different than working at a job and increasing pay over the years
By the way, they gey huge conteacts in their prime, too
Oh pay them more? And then as they decline the players promises to not ask for a big contract? Dream on.
Dream on? How about dreaming about a system where the superstars of today might have a halfway believable shot at earning what they’re worth, rather than getting squeezed because the team is stuck paying $25m a year to a guy who can’t perform between his DL stints anymore.
Enjoy it while it lasts. He starts becoming expensive next year.
Remarkable how the business of baseball has grown such that $1 million equates to minimum wage. Correa won’t be underpaid for long.
Minimum wage in the major leagues is now $500K+, minor leagues is a whole different story
“Seven Years a Slave: The Life of an MLB Player.”
It used to be lifetime as a “slave”.
Hyperbole: The Life of an MLBPA Shill
Please don’t use the term slave in this context ! It’s idiotic !
This is a player who has averaged over 1 WAR per 100 PA. Reminds you how much of a hammer the teams have in the early part of even the highest quality players career.
and the hammer switches in a short time.
And the Altuve contract?
Tony Clark and the union decided it was a priority to negotiate for an executive chef in every clubhouse.
Tony Clark and the union decided it was NOT a priority to renegotiate a system that allows teams to pay pre-arb players, like Carlos Correa, peanuts with no raise.
Tony Clark and the union decided it was a priority to negotiate for an empty seat next to each player on team buses during spring training trips.
Tony Clark and the union decided it was NOT a priority to renegotiate a system that set a luxury tax at $197 million when even the owners were ready for a $215 million limit.
But…”COLLUSION!!!”
The MLBPA was the most powerful union in sports by a country mile. And what did they use their leverage for? Exploiting baseball’s already-slanted financial system for the exclusive benefit of the very top tier FA. Heck with everything and everyone else. And what is the end result?
I don’t think anyone saw this offseason working out exactly the way it did, but I and plenty of others have been bellyaching about how baseball’s financial system has been on an unsustainable course for years. The league cannot continue to work if the majority of the league serves as a little more than a hatchery for future big market superstars.
When the entire market depends on a small handful of teams spending unreasonable amounts of money, and a small handful of teams realize that regardless of their resources, they don’t have to spend like crazy buying a bunch of age 39 free agent years.
And boom. There goes the market. But at least the bus isn’t crowded.
I always hate the reaction of people who don’t understand the renewal process. CC will make plenty more money in endorsements in the short term and this will lead him to a big extension, which Houston should try to work out ASAP for their sake. At least they gave him a significant raise above the minimum. The split contact is an empty message. They’re essentially just saying that they can do it without both sides agreeing, so they did.
Can you name the endorsements?
Adidas
The Astros are going to have some very difficult decisions soon about which players to keep and whom to let walk.
He’s never had a WAR below 4 and they’re paying him 1MM? This will end well.
It’s hard to read too much into this as there’s almost zero incentive for a player in Correa’s position to agree to anything short of a massive multi-year extension.
What the stroes are going to pay him for this season is what Kershaw makes per start. Who would you rather have for 162 games?
I will enjoy Correa for the next four years bc I doubt the Astros resign him.
Your $18 baked potato at Enron field is paying for the savings account that is set to pay this man.