Crane: Still a ‘chance’ to keep Correa
Owner insists shortstop’s exit not done deal, and he plans qualifying offer for Verlander
Astros owner Jim Crane said the team will be “in the mix” to resign Carlos Correa this winter, rekindling faint hope for a reunion with a superstar shortstop who wants a contract unlike any Crane has ever approved.
“I think we have a chance. It just depends on where we end up on that and what Carlos wants to do,” Crane said before Game 1 of the American League Division Series. “Certainly dollars are a factor.”
The owner also said the team likely would give a qualifying offer to injured pitcher Justin Verlander, who is also set to become a free agent, and that is hasn’t had any talks about a new contract for manager Dusty Baker.
Correa turned down two extension offers during spring training: one for five years and $125 million and another for six years and $120 million. Both proposals forced Correa to specify what is obvious — he’s looking for “a big, long contract” in his first foray into free agency. According to Correa, Astros officials told him in spring training “we don’t believe in long contracts. We don’t believe in big contracts.”
“I never count anything out,” Crane said Thursday. “We haven’t done it in the past. 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. Things can change. We’re not counting it out.”
The longest free-agent deal in Crane’s 10-year ownership tenure remains the four-year, $52 million deal Josh Reddick took before the 2017 season. Crane allowed two marquee free agents to leave in the past two offseasons, too — ace Gerrit Cole in 2019 and outfielder George Springer in 2020. Both signed for at least six seasons.
Crane gave starter Lance McCullers Jr. a five-year, $85 million extension this spring — McCullers’ final before entering free agency. Two years ago, Crane consummated a high-dollar deal with starter Justin Verlander, too, with a contract that paid him $33 million in both 2020 and 2021. At the time, it represented the highest average annual value ever given to a starting pitcher.
As the youngest player in a freeagent market flush with shortstops, the 27-year-old Correa expects an enormous — and lengthy — deal.
A terrific 2021 season only grew his value. Correa hit a career-high 26 home runs, played in a teamhigh 148 games, and led the team with a 7.2 bWAR — higher than any American League position player.
“I (prepared) in the offseason, preparing in spring training to have this type of regular season,” Correa said Wednesday. “That's why I bet on myself, and I knew I was ready. I knew I was healthy.”
Correa has maintained a love for Houston and the Astros throughout his final season under team control. Fans showered him with praise during the team’s final regular-season game last week at Minute Maid Park. Baker removed him in the middle of the ninth inning for one final ovation.
In September, Correa said that “if it was up to me and I could just, you know, go out there and sign my own contract here, obviously I would stay here. But that’s not up to me.”
Enter Crane.
“Carlos is great,” Crane said.
“He made a decision to wait until after the season is over. We’re certainly very appreciative of how he played and how he leads the team. He’s a great guy. We’ll definitely be in the mix as the season gets over and it’s time to address that.”
Giving Verlander a qualifying offer affords the Astros draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.
Presuming Verlander declines the Astros’ qualifying offer, he is primed for a fascinating free agency. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2020 at age 37. He won the American League Cy Young Award in his last full major league season and has said he plans to pitch until age 45.
Whether he can garner a multiyear deal on the open market with so many variables is a compelling question.
“I talked to him yesterday and he may show up here to say hi at some point,” Crane said. “He’s been working out. I know he’s in shape because I’ve seen him once a couple months ago, working out five (to) six days a week. With his background and his drive, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t pitch.”
“He’ll be looking for a contract of some length, and we’ll certainly have the option to give him the qualifying offer, which we’ll probably do. We’ll do that after the season and then see where it goes.”
As for Baker, Crane said the decision will include input from general manager James Click.
Baker is managing the postseason without a contract in place for the 2022 season. He signed a oneyear contract with a club option upon his arrival in January 2020. Houston exercised the option early in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Baker said multiple times this month that he’d like to return in 2022.
“We’re going to wait for things to get over with here,” Crane said. “We have to keep our focus on playing baseball right now and playing baseball well. I think he’s focused on that.”