Correa likely to test free agency
OAKLAND, Calif. — The philosophical chasm between the Astros and Carlos Correa is wide, inviting serious doubt whether retaining the former first overall pick is even possible. Correa’s self-imposed deadline for a contract extension came and went Thursday with nothing resembling a middle ground, meaning another Houston superstar will wade into free agency.
Dallas Keuchel, Gerrit Cole and George Springer have departed in the last three winters. Correa sounded like he could be the fourth.
“We didn’t get close at all,” Correa said before Thursday’s opening-day game against the A’s. “There were not really any negotiations.”
Correa said the Astros offered him two deals: a sixyear extension worth $120 million and, after that, a
five-year deal worth $125 million. Neither approached Correa’s asking price.
Both offers are within the realm of what owner Jim Crane has doled out to his superstars in the past. Jose Altuve received a five-year, $151 million extension before the 2018 season. A year later, Alex Bregman signed a sixyear, $100 million pact.
Correa is looking at another stratosphere, one the Astros informed him they never intend to occupy.
“They made it very clear to me. They said, ‘We don’t believe in long contracts. We don’t believe in big contracts,’ ” Correa said. “Once I hit free agency, I’m going to look for a big, long contract. They made it very clear that they did not believe in that.”
Crane can not be accused of not spending money. Houston exceeded the $210 million competitive balance tax threshold last season and is perilously close to doing it again in 2021. Most of the money, though, came via trade acquisitions, contract extensions or homegrown talent. The longest and most lucrative free-agent deal in Crane’s 10-year ownership tenure remains the four-year, $52 million deal Josh Reddick signed before the 2017 season.
Correa commands a contract far larger than that. He is the youngest member of a star-studded shortstop class this winter that includes Corey Seager, Javy Baez and Trevor Story. Francisco Lindor set a benchmark for all of them Wednesday night, agreeing to a 10-year, $341 million extension with the New York Mets.
Correa called Lindor, his Puerto Rican countryman and close friend, Wednesday night. The two spoke for nearly an hour. In February, Correa said he and Lindor were the only two soon-to-be free agent shortstops “that can do both, offensively and defensively, at a high level.”
“He deserves every penny of it,” Correa said. “I talked to him for about an hour last night and congratulated him. He set the market for every shortstop coming after him. It’s always great to see a great player get rewarded like that.”
In January, Correa told an Astros-run radio show he “would love to be an Astro for life.” He reiterated the desire in almost every appearance since, but not for anything he considered below his value. Correa established opening day as a deadline for any contract extension negotiations and said he would “absolutely not” soften the deadline.
“He’s been very up front, obviously publicly and with us, that once we get to opening day he wants to focus on winning another championship for the city of Houston, and we respect that,” general manager James Click said Thursday, before Correa spoke.
Correa said there are “no hard feelings” toward Crane, Click or the Astros’ front office. He spoke Thursday with his usual affinity for the city, club and fans, claiming Houston “will always be my second home.”
“Hopefully, we can pick it back up at the appropriate time,” Click said concerning a reunion. “Our door is always open.”
Correa seemed to not view it that way.
“In terms of a long contract and a big contract, they closed it right away,” Correa said. “It depends on what that means. I’m focused on playing baseball. It is opening day, and I could not be more excited.”