Correa wins arbitration case
In his first season of arbitration eligibility, Carlos Correa won his salary hearing against the Astros on Tuesday, meaning the 24year-old shortstop will make $5 million next season.
Correa’s hearing took place on Jan. 31 in St. Petersburg, Fla., but a decision was delayed until Tuesday so it would not influence another hearing.
The former American League Rookie of the Year requested a $5 million salary from the Astros, while the club countered with a $4.25 million offer. Correa made $1 million last season, one marred by a lingering back injury that limited him to a .728 OPS and 15 home runs.
“It was a good case,” Correa said Saturday while attending a charity event. “It was smooth. The team was very professional with everything that went on in that room. They presented a good case; I presented a good case. They didn’t say anything bad. They were very professional.”
Correa tweeted his verdict Tuesday afternoon, again praising the Astros for being “true professionals throughout this process.”
Correa’s victory, coupled with Chris Devenski’s oneyear contract that was made official on Monday, leaves Gerrit Cole as the only Astro without a salary for 2019.
Among their three players who filed for arbitration, the Astros were farthest apart with Cole.
The 28-year-old righthander, who finished fifth in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season and is set to enter free agency following this season, asked for $13.5 million. Houston offered $11.425 million.