The Astros suffered a major loss in free agency this week with the departure of outfielder George Springer, who agreed to sign with the Blue Jays. Next winter, they could see shortstop Carlos Correa follow Springer in exiting on the open market, though the 26-year-old told Astroline Radio (h/t: Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle) that he prefers to stick with the franchise for the long haul. “I love this organization. I love the Astros. I would love to be an Astro for life,” the one-time All-Star and former AL Rookie of the Year said. “I hope they’re on the same side I am. If they’re on the same side, I would love to be an Astro for the rest of my life.” For now, Correa and the Astros are gearing up for an arbitration hearing (he filed for a $12.5MM salary; they filed for $9.75MM), but he understands “it’s a business and you have to leave your feelings out of it.”
- The Tigers have shown interest in free-agent utilityman Marwin Gonzalez, Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets. Signing with Detroit would reunite Gonzalez with new manager A.J. Hinch, who was the Astros’ skipper during part of Gonzalez’s time in Houston. Gonzalez had his best year in 2017 under Hinch, which was also a World Series-winning campaign for the Astros. The success Gonzalez had as an Astro led the Twins to sign him to a two-year, $21MM contract going into 2019, but the club didn’t get great value from that investment. The switch-hitting 31-year-old batted an underwhelming .248/.311/.387 in 662 plate appearances with Minnesota, though he did continue to provide defensive versatility. He saw at least some action at first, second, third, short and both outfield positions as a Twin.
- Along with Gonzalez, the Tigers are interested in first baseman Mitch Moreland, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Moreland has been on the market since the Padres declined his $3MM option at the start of the offseason. The 35-year-old divided last season between San Diego and Boston, with which he combined for a strong .265/.342/.551 line and 10 home runs in 152 plate appearances. Moreland’s production did plummet as the year progressed, though.
- The Red Sox continue to have interest in utility player Enrique Hernandez, as Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports that the two sides have held talks “in recent days.” However, Cotillo adds that it’s unknown if the Red Sox and Hernandez are nearing an agreement. In Boston, the former Dodger would be a candidate to rack up plenty of reps at second base, where he has played frequently. The Sox currently have Christian Arroyo, Michael Chavis and Yairo Munoz as in-house candidates to handle the keystone.
Correa’s gonna get blackballed in free agency next season. All those shortstops hitting the market + he acted like an ass during this sign stealing saga. His only hope to get paid well is the Astros re-signing him. Maybe Detroit will offer him a contract since they don’t care about having cheaters on their team
lol no one is blackballing a 26 yo all star shortstop.
He might not get blackballed (by definition), but how can a team justify giving him a big contract? The only way he gets paid is staying with the Astros and he knows it by those quotes in the post
The only thing that will stop him from getting a massive contract is health and performance. You’re making silly nonsense assertions from 1 small article.
What do you mean “how?” By giving it to him. Springer just got $150 million, cheated just as much as Correa did. PED users get contracts. It amazes me that fans are naïve enough to think that teams care about anything other than how much a player can or can’t help them win.
Exactly. Correa is years younger than Springer, who just got paid in a down offseason. “Blackballed,” “his only hope” – lol! Cmon, grow up, wins and losses are what matter. Only thing that will prevent Correa getting a big deal is not staying healthy.
They can justify giving him a big contract by pointing out that he’s a very good, still young player.
Springer is more accomplished than Correa, has a better track record, and was the bar-none, top player at his position on the market
Correa could be seen as the 4th or 5th best SS next offseason, and that is not taking into account his off field comments. He’s facing a stacked market that will likely still be hurting financially
Correa will be in high demand next year. IMO, he is the third best option behind Story and Lindor. He will get paid way more than Springer. Nobody is going to care about his off-field comments.
By the blue jays, that with currency conversion issues have to play him more to get the money to jive. It’s more like a 130mil here. Correa is a sick, acted like an complete moron during the scandal. He’s stuck in Houston. What he deserves.
Seager?
You find the dark side of everything.
You find the dark side of everything.
You find the dark side of everything.
What will bring his payday down is the glut of SS on the market.
Blue jays don’t pay players in Canadian currency they pay in American like all the other teams.
@bigdaddyhacks
I thought Correa was awful to other players in MLB in the aftermath of sign stealing hoopla. I hope he stays an Astro for life, as they are a prefect for for each other.
I think it was the other way around
You think wrong.
It’s not that the Tigers “don’t care about having cheaters on their team.” It’s that these teams that accept former Astros don’t really care about the sign stealing as much as whiny fans like you. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because they all do similar things??
Springer is accepted because he put his head down and accepted the punishment (and also was the only Astro to rake this season). Bregman, Correa, Luthnow, Hinch, Cora, and Beltran should still continue to get all the hate coming to them
Correa stuck up for his team and willingly took the brunt of the hate for them. He was also arguably the Astros best player in the postseason. Springer took the same punishment as every other Astro. To give him a pass because he “put his head down and accepted the punishment,” is incredibly stupid logic.
He and the Astros hit well at Dodger Stadium because all those games were during the daytime in the heat, which is when the park plays small. Let me ask you this, do you really think someone is going to give Correa $100M next off-season?
Absolutely someone will. If you don’t think a 27 y/o SS that has the tools he has doesn’t get AT LEAST $100M, then I’d say you’re nuts.
Yeah, good luck to that team. It was just last spring training when everyone was crucifying him. It would have to be a young team, who’s players weren’t around in 2017-2018. And his market won’t have three of the highest spending teams in it because the Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees won’t touch him
You can hate those people all you want.. That doesn’t mean they aren’t or won’t get paid.
The Blue Jays just have a 31 y/o former Astro $150M dude. You can’t be so blinded by Astros hate that you believe what you’re saying.
You guys keep saying Springer but Beltran and Luhnow will never get baseball jobs again. Cora only got a job again because ownership wouldn’t approve anyone else.
So, 2 people throughout a whole organization? Wow.
@Fred Why would those two never hold jobs again if Cora and Hinch both have been hired? Jared Porter will probably get a job again; just not as GM.
You’re moving the goal post now. Who were the other front office executives banned for the year? Have they gotten jobs because I doubt they will. Josh Reddick was on the 2017 Astros and is a free agent. Do you think he will get a guaranteed contract?
Josh Reddick is not nearly on the same level as Correa or Springer. His production has fallen off recently, so he will probably struggle to get a contract. However, that is entirely because of his recent on-field production, and not because of the trash cans.
No, not 100MM… He’ll easily get north of the 150MM that Springer got for six!!!
You live in your own magic world.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s not.
Fred There’s no way any team refuses to sign him just because of the Astros scandal. Domestic Violence doesn’t stop talented athletes from getting another opportunity in pro sports, you think sign stealing will?
Yup, we Tigers will take him, thanks!
Springer is 31 and just got 150 million. MLB is a business.. Like him or not, Correa will get paid very well by somebody.
That is ridiculous. He is an elite talent that most teams would love to have on their roster. He is a stand up guy and will be paid well. I hope Houston breaks open the bank and retains him for the next 8-10 years.
A 26 year old SS with MVP potential getting blackballed? Please. Teams will bring on anyone if it helps them win games. What will hurt his free agency more than anything else is his inability to stay healthy. He hasn’t played a full season since 2016. That still might not stop one club from shelling out big money for him. He probably won’t get the term length he wants if he doesn’t stay healthy this year, but he’ll still likely get the AAV.
I agree, everybody should blackball him (so the Jays can get him at a discount)
He isn’t the top SS choice I would guess, but blackballed is a little extend. He will be paid handsomely.
*extreme.
Detroit has cheaters? Have you seen their record lately?
Carlos Correa – the cheater who actually got upset at other people for calling him out for his cheating.
No, he’s just mad at the hypocrisy.
He’s a baby that can’t handle being called out.
Actually he never got upset for being called out. He got upset because people kept accusing Altuve as being part of the cheating, when he wasn’t. Big difference.
I’m curious how this current contention window ends up for astros. Correa possibly gone next year. Verlander, greinke getting older. Maybe 2 years at most left, who knows. They have bregman signed long term.
Bregman will be traded to the Red Sox in the 2022 offseason, and he will help them to their 2024 WS.
With Alvarez as the only bat they’ll need and pitching coming out of their ears, Astros will be fine. They trotted out 15 rookies from the supposedly 28th ranked system (BS!), and they have another baker’s dozen set to go this season.
This team has lost *seven* Rule 5’s in two yrs, and they had Sanabria Bailey Tanielu and Mayfield — none ranked get picked up by other clubs. With Brantley and Castro, they now have to release Castellanos/Rodriguez, or make a trade to open space. Something like Nova and Jones for a AA ETA ’22.
They also crushed the undrafted portion last year, and brought on Intl #1 Pedro Leon.
On Correa, I would trade him. Jeremy Pena is ready mid-yr, they could pivot Bregs back to SS and start Toro at 3B. Reds are looking at Simmons, I’d rather get a shot at MIA Cabrera.
Correa knows his stock is in jeopardy if he enters FA on anything but an all star/MVP type campaign with how he’s conducted himself. He hopes he can stick with Houston because he won’t be well regarded especially amongst the crop of SS entering 2022 FA. And frankly, I think as new FO personnel enter Houston, they may feel it would be better to separate themselves from Correa and his image. He’s really pinned himself in a corner and another season of a sub 100 OPS+ will not help his cause.
I don’t think front offices give a hoot about the cheating scandal at this point. It’s over and done. Only some fans still have a bug up their butt about it. GMs/owners only care about future results. None of it will effect his ability to get a contract.
Where was the outrage by Brodie for JD Davis and Jake Marisnick? The A’s outrage for Tony Kemp? Twins for Marwin. Yanks go all of a sudden silent when Cole comes to town… bunch of johnny come latelys who think sign stealing hasn’t been around since dawn of time. Feeding your manufactured outrage. Yeah, I’m still pissed at those 1910-1914 A’s for using the weathervane. Lol
Dude what outrage am I showing? I gave an opinion of what I may feel would happen. I’m not sure who hurt you but I’m sorry my statement got you so riled up. Plus the difference between everyone on the Astros during that time and Correa is how Correa made himself out to be over the past season. Take a xanax my guy. You’re a bit heated
Gost1. I like your comments and common sense. Cole is the perfect example. Now implicated in the pine tar scandal that has gone on since pitchers started pitching. Dead silence in NY. How many teams did not have a sign stealing strategy in 2017? People get all riled up as if the Astros were unique. Far from the case. Productive players get contracts. I haven’t always been a Correa fan but I was proud of the way he stood up for his teammates last year and produced in the post season after a mediocre regular season.
I would argue that someone expecting to earn in excess of a nine-figure contract over the next 14 months would hardly be considered pinned in a corner. Whatever yours and my personal feelings are, Correa is going to get paid.
I can’t wait for Correa NOT to be an “Astro for life”, just to take irrational pleasure in him not getting what he wants after cheating the game.
I’m just here to find out why the Twinkies only play with 2 Outfielders…
Regarding Marwin – “He saw at least some action at first, second, third, short and both outfield positions as a Twin.”
Byron Buxton covers THAT MUCH ground!
I assume he meant both corner outfield positions. It’s a Connor Byrne article though and his WWAR (Writer’s WAR) has been down the past couple of seasons.
Seems legit, thanks!
Haha that was the logical assumption on my part as well. Cheers bud!
WTF is your problem? You’re constantly ragging on the writers yet continue visiting the site and make idiotic comments. Create your own site or shut up please.
Who, me? I don’t recall ever slandering a writer here… besides, this was all in jest. Loosen up buddy.
Not you.
I gotcha after I re-read all the posts. Enjoy the baseball chats my friend!
New Yorker always overreact. It’s who they are. It takes decades to get out of their system if they ever get smart enough to leave NY….
Eh, he probably meant both corner outfield positions. A mistake, not a big deal. It happens when you self-edit.
Gonzalez was one of the biggest abusers of the trash can system so it figures his best year came in ‘16
Whoops meant ‘17
Meanwhile,. NEWSBREAK at the Tiger camp, owner Chris Illich appears to be a shoe in for the Justin Bieber look a like contest…..by putting out a subpar product and watching the silly fans still buy it up……
Your post makes no sense. The Tigers are an interesting team with the young pitchers coming up. Justin Bieber?
Crime fighting beaver
Being in last place is….. interesting? I find that…… interesting. NOT. No guts. Have signed no one to flip. Right now, great players are available cheap for every infield position. The strategy is straight out to stink and to continue to stink….for years…..
I guess fans are supposed to be too stupid to realize……other teams get first round draft picks too!
So what’s the rush to sign FA’s to flip? You just finished saying there were all kinds available on the cheap. Thanks for letting the fans know all teams get first rounders. Several other teams have or are following the same strategy. Do the No Guys, Astros ring a bell.
Or by interesting pitchers you mean the Tigers’ equivalent to ChiSox Chris Sale and Quintanna? The guys they traded for a huge return? …….looks like years of “interesting” ahead for Tiger fans.
I prefer an actual HONEST attempt at putting a quality product on the field. Anything other than that is fleecing the fans. Yes. It is an investment. You get a return.
MLB and teams like the Tigers are OPERATING LIKE A MONOPOLY!
STEALING FROM THE FANS!
The last place teams s/b excluded from profit sharing! ?
The draft should have a lottery element to it so tanking team don’t automatically get rewarded.?
Pavlov says this is no good!
Any discussion on the subject/ideas?
The last place teams s/b excluded from profit sharing! ?
The draft should have a lottery element to it so tanking team don’t automatically get rewarded.?
Pavlov says this is no good!
Any discussion on the subject/ideas?
I didn’t mean to post so much but ….
Settle down pal.
well….I can tell you that more Tiger fans than not are NOT buying it up. Attendance has gone down and fans are tired of dumpster diving Al’s “rebuild”. Urena and Grossman ain’t going to appease them. No one says go over pay for Realmuto or Bauer. Not there yet but show some willingness to improve the on field product.
I’m a Dodgers fan and I love Carlos Correa. Fantastic ballplayer and a take-charge leader on the Astros infield. What’s done is done. Forgive and forget. People need to stop living in the past. Like Corey Seager, Corea is still young and figures to get even better. I have been a fan of both guys from the get-go. A Dodger fan but also a baseball fan. I enjoy watching good players. The negative stuff some posters are writing about Correa I just don’t see, I doubt people who work in MLB see it either.
Regarding free agency, Correa seems like a perfect fit for the Giants. A talented guy in his prime who would further spark the rivalry. Seager, Correa, and Tatis in the same division would be amazing. It would be great if Story joined them though that seems doubtful.
Hey Ron Cey Hey Kid, been enjoying your takes on a few different posts for a few days now. About those FA shortstops- how do you personally have them ranked? Who signs where and what do you think the contracts look like? Curious to see but also dreading how this inflates Tatis’ extension.
(Age at time of FA included)
Javier Baez (29)
Carlos Correa (27)
Brandon Crawford (35)
Francisco Lindor (28)
Corey Seager (28)
Trevor Story (29)
Chris Taylor (31)
Gwynning, Tough question. Gimme Tatis over all of them :) Seriously, I’ll be watching the Dodger game while at the same time tracking when Tatis’ next at-bat is due, just so I can switch over and watch it. Then I stick around and watch Manny hit as well. This extension stuff is gonna be interesting. Cornerstone player, one of those guys other players will want to play with.
A key to me is whether Grisham can take his offense to an all-star level. I thought Milwaukee was foolish to trade him. It is somewhat humorous that he was crucified for that playoff error because his glove is not a problem. Defensively, that team is darned good up the middle. In my opinion, starting pitching and up-the-middle defense is always the key to building a winner. The Padres have both.
Another key for me is if Paddack can bounce back. I know they have rotation depth, but long-term I was thinking that Gore, Paddack, and Patino would be their front three for many years. I realize Padres fans are happy to have Snell. Just wondering if at some point the organization doesn’t regret trading Patino. Rough debut in 2020, but it was a weird season. My hunch is that he’ll be really good really soon. What do you think?
I agree that Patino is going to come back to hurt us at some point. He has electric stuff, and I could see him becoming an ace in a few years. However, Snell is the better pitcher right now, and he definitely gives us a better chance at winning the World Series. Giving up Patino is tough, but building a championship team takes tough decisions.
Great takes again, Cey Hey! I pretty much agree with Dan-O above; Patiño hurt but you have to spend talent to receive talent. I have the whimsical thought that Patiño will be back one day. He remains best friends with Gore; that won’t change. Paddack should rebound well; he needs to throw his curve more often and get ahead of counts with the first pitch strike. Grish should be fine; his Gold Glove after his first full season was the cherry on top of that Milwaukee playoff snafu. Imo that ball was spinning hard left and may have even hit a sprinkler head. I cannot confirm that but I got the sense they wanted to move him after that play and I am ecstatic he came here. While Eric Lauer did dominate the Dodgers and Urias may still come through, it was a great deal for us. Zach Davies essentially netted us Yu on the flip-side and I am beyond happy with our offseason. After re-upping with Profar today I just want a closer, preferably Rosenthal. We are just about set though even if we don’t re-up him. Our Pen should be lethal enough. Stoked for the season and taking our “rivalry” to the next level for years to come! From your standpoint, how has the Dodger offseason gone? Poor, fair, middling, superb? You guys are pretty much set, too. Enjoy the chats and ST soon, be well Cey Hey!
This.
Correa & the entire Asterisks will go down in history as cheaters, just like Shoeless Joe & the white Sox. It’s a stigma they will live with for the rest of their lives, if you want to minimize it & try to rationalize it go right ahead, but nothing will change the fact that they tarnished the greatest game ever invented.
Along with Cole, Kutcher, Morton, Marisnick, Kemp, JD Davis, Gonzales, Springer, etc right?
The Red Sox can’t even get a deal done with Kiki Hernandez. John Henry must have his pocketbook under lock & key this year!
I do think the Sox will end up re-signing Moreland. They can’t give 1st base exclusively to Dalbec and his 40% K rate. Moreland would be the perfect platoon guy for him.
I thought Moreland was a sensible pickup for San Diego, even though it didn’t work out as planned.
Moreland isn’t a bad player but he’s status quo. Chaim Bloom is only making status quo deals.
When are MLBTR and other sources going to permanently attach an asterisk to any Astros stat from 2017? “Gonzalez had his best year in 2017” and no mention of the fact that he cheated!! Of course he had a great year! Correa, to a lesser extent, also should not be viewed so highly. Take out 2017 and he’s a slightly above average SS. Definitely not a star.
You are an idiot. When we going to see the Yankees memo? Oh that’s right, NEVER. Get off your high horse and stop pretending that most teams were not “cheating”. Change you damn signs if you don’t want them stolen. It isn’t rocket science.
I make one comment about Astros stats and of course there insecure Astros fans come crying.
There’s no evidence that the Astros were cheating during the Postseason. They had a get out of jail free card to admit the truth and said otherwise. Plus, the World Series was loud and the Dodgers were changing signs. But hey, if your life is better by hating my team, that’s fine. Flags fly forever.
I never said anything about the world series but clearly you have feelings of shame and embarrassment regarding that WS win, as you should because the Astros may not have even made it to the WS, let alone the playoffs, if they hadn’t cheated so much.
I don’t think the cheating had any effect on the season. You’ll ignore facts. But the Astros won the division by 20 games and analysis has shown that the trash can had a close to net zero effect. 10% of the time, the trash can bangs were wrong and these led to easy outs.
Again, there’s zero evidence they cheated in the postseason. So, the cheating was unfortunate, but it basically had no impact on the standings.
I think the hate really reflects worse on the haters than on the team.
I’d love to see his arbitration hearing.
I’d pay to watch it live. Arb cases get NASTY to begin with…
We could watch the Astros blow open the conspiracy, now that everyone has immunity! Let’s put this on public television.
Best idea of 2021 yet!
Only thing teams care about with Correa is that he can still hit without the trash can.
Its ridiculous to think that anyone from the Astros is going to be “blackballed” by the other teams when over a dozen players from the 2017 team are playing elsewhere already. As i said in another thread MLB front offices are not the moral police and if they cared about cheating they wouldn’t have been feeding the players steroids like candy more than 20 years ago
We need pitchers more than infielders. Where are you, Chaim Bloom?
In a Mexican cantina searching out a failed former top prospect.
DET could sign Mitch Moreland. The Tigers said early on they were seeking a corner IF. But they shouldn’t acquire him. Although an upgrade on the Tigers, I’m not convinced Marwin Gonzalez is a good option. The Tigers are assured last place as long as Miiggy is their feature player. This year should still be auditioning time for incoming players and Gonzalez may block other young players needing ABs. D. Lugo just tore up Winter ball and Moreland and Gonzalez will block his playing time
I’m hoping for Cron to come back to 1b and I wouldn’t mind Schoop to come back. I honestly thought Harold Castro played fairly well enough last year, not to sign a guy like Marwin.
Maybe/hopefully W Castro can figure out his defensive liabilities and stick to SS
I was just excited to see Correa and Tigers in the same headline! Tigers already have Goodrum (who I expect a rebound from) Harold Castro and Alcantara as utility pieces. No need to sign another. If healthy, Cron would be my first choice as well. He seemed to fit well before the injury.
Correa needs to stay healthy and produce results. He’s had difficulty bringing those two together in recent years. Last year he played regularly, but his hitting was below league average. Other years he’s hit but been injured. When was the last time Carlos Correa played like Carlos Correa? 2017? Springer got paid because he takes the field and produces. If Correa wants that $25-30M AAV, he’s got to stay healthy and produce results in 2021. Right now his name value exceeds his results.
If Lindor price gets too high. Mets could sign Correa. What made the Astros sign Altuve long term over Correa or Springer.
Altuve was about to become a free agent before Correa and Spinger. They had to make a decision. Perhaps, in-hindsight, Houston could have made a different decision at the time.
What made the Astros sign Altuve long term over Correa or Springer.
============================================================
Why wouldn’t they sign him? You can only sign the players that want to sign. Some players, like Betts, were pretty much intent on leaving. Others are content to spend their entire career in one place.
The last player Morosi said the Tigers were interested in, Jason Castro, ended up signing with the Astros. So maybe if the Tigers are interested in someone it might be a good idea to keep Morosi in the dark about it.
Don’t see Tigers being interested in signing both Moreland and Gonzalez. They already have two players, NIko Goodrum and Harold Castro that can play multiple positions. Signing Gonzales would give them three. Willi Castro is going to play, if for no other reason but to see if he can sustain production over a longer season. Would need 1b open for some playing time for both Niko and Marwin. Signing Moreland as well would likely mean someone has to go, Most likely that would be Harold Castro.
I think Harold deserves another opportunity before he’s let go. Especially if it’s for a player like Moreland. No?
IMO, he stepped up last year.
You’re right, Marwin Gonzalez would be a really puzzling sign, w/ all the utility players we currently have. In addition to the glaring need at Catcher, and “limited” budget, another hybrid player makes very little sense.
Starting to look more and more like we are going to see the third episode of Alex Avila behind the plate. Even Romine is no longer an option.
Kike hasn’t hit above .256 since 2016 and he is a career .237 hitter but I guess if he will sign a ONE year deal for under 2 million John Henry MIGHT pull out his wallet. Why not just bring back back Pokey Reese ??
Brock Holt wasn’t good enough, but now they admit a need for hernandez?
My guess is they eye him as a one year deal to try and flip at the deadline as a utility guy to a contender.
One season isn’t enough to educate bloom as to the error of his ways. This isnt about 2021, its a gambit to buy prospects at the deadline.
If the Tigers sign Moreland then Candelario goes back to 3B if not they could go with Candelario at 1B with Isaac Paredes at 3B the Castro’s at 2B/SS and Goodrum and Lugo moving around the field. Still need help in the OF though. JaCoby Jones is solid in CF but the corners need work even with the addition of Robbie Grossman
Lugo isn’t with the organization anymore ( I think). The Tigers need to start spending cash or it’s another long year. The rebuild is over
FA
Don’t worry Red Sox fans Chaim Bloom us on the case awaiting instructions from John Henry as we are several weeks away from pitchers and catchers.