While Astros owner Jim Crane is focused on his team’s ALDS matchup with the White Sox, Crane talked about several impending offseason topics with FOX 26’s Mark Berman, The Houston Chronicle’s Chandler Rome (all multiple links) and other reporters today.
With several major names scheduled to hit free agency, Crane said his team plans to “definitely be in the mix” to sign Carlos Correa, and “I think we have a chance” to retain the shortstop’s services. Of course, “it just depends on where we end up on that and what Carlos wants to do. Certainly dollars are a factor.”
The Astros made attempts to sign Correa to a contract extension last spring, reportedly making offers in the range of five years/$125MM and six years/$120MM. Those numbers seemed low even before Correa delivered an All-Star performance in 2021, and the 27-year-old now seems likely to land at least twice as much money on the open market.
Re-signing Correa would require the Astros to make the biggest financial commitment in franchise history, which Crane at least sounded open to, if a little guardedly. “I never count anything out….We have a history of doing something in the neighborhood of five (years) is the most we’ve ever done since I’ve been here,” Crane said. “Things can change. We’re not counting it out.”
Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Lance McCullers Jr. have all signed five-year extensions with Houston during Crane’s stewardship, and it isn’t as if Crane has been unwilling to spend. Altuve’s five additional years gave the second baseman $151MM in new guaranteed money, Bregman’s extension was worth $100MM, and McCullers landed $85.5MM. That said, Correa said back in April that the Astros “made it clear to me they don’t believe in long contracts, they don’t believe in big contracts,” which could indicate that his contractual expectations go far beyond any commitment the Astros are willing to make.
Crane didn’t bring up the qualifying offer in regards to Correa, in all likelihood because it seems a foregone conclusion that Houston will issue Correa a QO and he’ll reject the one-year offer, leaving the Astros in line to receive draft pick compensation if Correa did sign elsewhere. Justin Verlander is a bit more complicated qualifying-offer case given that the veteran ace has missed virtually all of the last two seasons with injury, but Crane said “we’ll probably” issue Verlander the QO “and then see where it goes.”
Even after two lost seasons and now on the verge of his age-39 season, Verlander is still “looking for a contract of some length,” according to Crane. This would imply that Verlander would reject the one-year qualifying offer (though it would pay in the neighborhood of a $20MM salary for 2022) in search of a longer-term deal, and given Verlander’s track record, it certainly seems possible that at least one or even multiple teams would be willing to sign the future Hall-of-Famer to such a multi-year contract.
If Verlander did reject the QO, the Astros would at least benefit via compensatory draft picks. However, Verlander has 10 days to decide whether or not to accept a qualifying offer, and if he doesn’t get wind of any teams showing interest in a multi-year deal, Verlander might choose to take the QO and remain in a familiar situation in Houston. The Astros and Verlander’s camp could then negotiate a longer-term extension after the QO had been accepted, similar to what Jose Abreu and the White Sox did in the 2019-20 offseason.
There appears to be much less controversy surrounding Yuli Gurriel’s 2022 status. The Astros hold an $8MM club option on Gurriel for next season, which looks to Crane like “a pretty easy decision. I’m sure we’ll execute on that.” The 37-year-old Gurriel is coming off a strong season that saw him hit 15 homers and win the AL batting title as part of an overall .319/.383/.462 performance in 605 plate appearances.
Beyond the player roster, manager Dusty Baker isn’t under contract beyond this season, as Crane said “we haven’t really talked about it. We’re going to wait for things to get over with here” in the Astros’ playoff run. Baker has led the Astros to the postseason in each of his two years in Houston, and the veteran manager has indicated that he would like to continue with the team.
Though Crane noted that GM James Click has authority over the manager’s job, “I’ll certainly weigh in on it and we’ll make a decision probably together on that one because I did hire [Baker] to begin with.” Crane did give Baker some measure of a vote of confidence in noting that Baker “has done a great job for us. I like Dusty a lot.”
With Verlander’s age and recent injury history I’ll guess he takes the QO.
I would say there is a good chance he does take the QO. Verlander is a great pitcher, but at 39 and coming off TJ hard to imagine a team will give him 2-3 years at anything close to the AAV he has become accustomed to, especially if it causes the team to lose a draft pick. The QO system will likely go away, but the current CBA does not expire until 12/1 so it will still be in place when the decision on Verlander is required. A lot of Tiger fans would love him back but no way Avila is going to give a up a draft pick over sentiment.
Well said. A QO gives him a year to prove he’s healthy and effective. If he wants to sign for multiple years, ie more than 2, he’ll need the QO year. JV’s always compared himself to Nolan Ryan so I’m sure he’s thinking he’ll play for another 5+ years, so 1 yr shouldn’t be a show stopper, especially when he realizes nobody will give him multiple years and sacrifice a draft pick.
There is a good chance that foreign substance enhancement along with the Stros approach impacted his heightened performance. As I recall, and I could be misremembering, his spin rate increased after he joined the team. We won’t know until his pitching is examined under the brew rules.
New rule
Did any of the current Stros pitchers suffer a noticable drop in spin rate?
Nobody cares about Crane and this poverty franchise and their ******* Series
A few more people than “nobody” care. And poverty? They’ve dished out some decent contracts in recent years.
This is an Astros article, not Yankees.
Awwwww. Are you still angry?
Must tear you up inside that the Astros are still successful years after they did what every other team did.
You must care otherwise you wouldn’t be here Einstein
You commented on it, so you must care. Sounds like you are still angry 4 years later. That its still eating at you.
It’s hilarious how trash town fans try to spin the truth, I’m not sure who’s more pathetic the asterisks or their uncouth fans. Welcome to Houston – “Home of the cheaters AND the village idiots.” Ahahahahahaha!
Astros were a far superior team on the Road during their “cheating” seasons. Their antics did not yield substantial results.
Astros tried and failed to match the Yankees system. In June 2020, A judge ruled that the MLB hid a significant sign-stealing cheating scandal – The Yankees argued against releasing the contents of a memo since it would result in “significant prejudicial injury”.
The hypocrisy in the blatant hatred against the Astros while other teams that are linked to cheating (and trying to hide it) get a pass.
The Yankees were linked again to cheating in September 2021.
In order to spin the truth, the truth must be shared. I don’t see any truth shared here, do you? Then again, that’s a stupid question because for trolling purposes, you’ll see what you wanna see.
It’s not a poverty franchise.
By redirecting the rubbermaid/trash can budget and siphoning cash away from the dark arts and code breaker programs the franchise is flush with cash and able to support record payrolls.
Unless Dusty is secretly playing ball in NC, you’ve linked the wrong BR page.
That kid wasn’t even born when the “real” Dusty Baker last played!
Interesting to see how the SS FA market winds up this year. Think 120-125m was kind of light to expect Correa to sign for, unless he was willing to give serious discount and not remembering heard tell of him in the past telling that, like Bogaerts had before his deal in that area.
Seagar, Correa, Story.. Who winds up where and how much does each get?
Correa is the best of the bunch on both sides of the ball and actually manages to stay on the field most of the time.
Correa is lucky If he plays more than 111 games in a season. Only happened twice in seven seasons.
Polishuk saying “the 27-year-old now seems likely to land at least twice as much money on the open market.” Is a scary thought.
I would say maybe 5/150 (similar to Springers deal with Jays), but he can’t stay healthy enough for any kind of $220m-250m deal.
No way he signs for anything under $200 MM
He’s super talented for sure, but he can’t stay healthy. That’s a ton of $$$,$$$,$$$ to spend on a player that consistently misses 1/3rd of a season.
I don’t disagree, but that’s not how baseball works.
You are living in the past.
Correa has lead the team in games played each of the last 2 seasons,playing in 93% of the games despite Dusty Baker’s insistence of giving players days off.
The last time he missed extended time injured or was on the injured lust was as a 24 year old in 2019.
Now, the 2021 season is over and again he was not injured.
There is a big difference between a 24 year old still developing and a 27 year old finished product in MLB
He has proven he can stay healthy.
He has earned a $250 mil+ contract.
Let’s see who gives it to him.
My money is on Detroit.
Correa wants Lindor money and he will get it. His lifetime WAR is significantly better than Lindor’s.
Translation of Jim Crane’s comments on Carlos Correa: He gone.
What a waste of time. Crane wasn’t going to say anything regarding the players to disrupt whatever harmony the team has. He wasn’t going to give any sign of the team’s intentions.
If Verlander wants a multi-year deal and fully believes he is still peak Verlander, then why not take the QO, have a great season, then enter free agency showing every team he’s still one of the top pitchers in the game, while also having zero draft compensation attached? He’ll get an even better contract at that point.
They say he never sleeps.
It’s understandable.
Zach greinke is gonna sign with the giants and look pretty good over there ! Dodgers will beg verlander somehow
Dodgers don’t need to beg, just offer him 3+ yrs at a premium starter AAV and give Houston a draft pick. Simple. However, Dodger fans should realize the JV repeatedly heard thru his career that he was good, but not Kershaw good. Unless he gets paid well, I don’t see him playing 2nd fiddle to Kershaw. He may play for the Dodgers but they won’t get a discount just because Kate likes LA.
Next year May will be back along with Gonsolin, Buehler, and Urias. And either/and Kershaw and Mad Max. Why would Verlander fit into the equation?
Bullpen. Please. He can close like a boss.
Kerhsaw never won an MVP.
goatros- One thing I love about this site is the wealth of misinformation. Like your claim that Kershaw never won an MVP.
I was wrong. We all make mistakes. Life goes on.
I imagine the starting price in talks for Correa will be 8 years $250M. If that’s the case he will not be playing in Houston next year
Ummm ya I dunno about that. If the cba changes quite a bit and the luxury tax line is gone or raised significantly then maybe. Under the current agreement I doubt he would get that.
Last year Tatis got $340M and Lindor got $341M and they were extensions. Correa is the top player in this free agent class. All it takes is 2 or 3 teams to start a bidding war and he’ll be securing the bag as the kids say
I’m curious… which teams will be bidding that high?
Tatis was playing off the charts and extended $340m age 21-31 buying out his arb years and a few FA years… a safe bet/investment.
Lindor was runner up ROY to Correa but has played 150 games more than Correa, had 4 all-star seasons, 3 top 10 finishes for mvp, multiple gold gloves and silver sluggers.
Correa has been the victim of injury but with a solid walk year. Does the solid walk year merit Tatis/Lidor type $$$, we shall see.
I think teams start at $30m AAV x 5-6 years and he signs in late January early February for 6/198m – $33m Aav with a year 3 or 4 player opt out
I’m not necessarily saying Correa gets as much as those 2 but I think he gets somewhere around $300M. As for teams who could target him I would say the Tigers and Mariners stand out as the most logical suitors and I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least 1 other team in the mix
Read that Correa has been talking to Lindor. Correa wants 340M…that puts him out of the budget of at least 20 MLB teams.
Sports I don’t even see 20 teams who need or could afford him. Remember there are several free agent SSs coming onto market. Which teams do you see who could afford or need him?
If that is the starting price, he may waiting a long, long time for any calls. Because of his injury history 8/200 will probably be his asking price before negotiating down in AAV.
And negotiate down to 6/$150MM? The doubters prior to this spectacular season pointed to his durability. He’s starting at 10/$350MM but probably winds up 7/$210
“Thank you everyone for attending the press conference I called to interject multiple unneeded distractions into the start of our playoff run. Good to see you.”
I want to know what their buzzer and trash can budget is.
Yawn
Would you rather have Correa or Verlander? If you had to choose, both cost the same, which one do you go with?
Verlander coming off TJ is very risky. That first year back is usually pretty rough. I could see him being used like smoltz was and being a closer. Less stress on the arm.
Correa will be a long contract and those usually end up bad. I would go JV with a short deal as closer in 22 / starter in 2023.
Whoever signs Correa will regret it. Guaranteed.
Read that Correa has talked to his friend Lindor.
He wants a similar deal and is shooting for 340M.
Astros and many other clubs will not pay that.
After Lindor signed his extension, then his skills went into the toilet
batting ..230 with 20 home runs in ’21?!
Long term contracts don’t work for the teams. It didn’t work for the Angels or the Tigers. I like the postseasons more than Correa. I’d take a chance on Jeremy Pena.
Dusty is 13 wins from 2,000, and I wonder if that plays into an extension as well. Of course if he wins a WS this year he might choose to go out on top.
You are living in the past.
Correa has lead the team in games played each of the last 2 seasons,playing in 93% of the games despite Dusty Baker’s insistence of giving players days off.
The last time he missed extended time injured or was on the injured lust was as a 24 year old in 2019.
Now, the 2021 season is over and again he was not injured.
There is a big difference between a 24 year old still developing and a 27 year old finished product in MLB
He has proven he can stay healthy.
He has earned a $250 mil+ contract.
Let’s see who gives it to him.
My money is on Detroit.
Detroit is not going to give Correa over 300M
That is his asking price.
Detroit should have learned its lesson with crazy, overpaid contracts, too long contracts for past performance for players in their 30’s
after getting burned by multiple veteran contracts.
I agree Seattle would be good spot for 1 if not both Correa and Verlander.
Crane said the same thing about Morton a few years back. They offered $8/m for one year. Rays signed him for 2 years at $15/m per. Then Crane says they tried. What an insult.