Correa, Twins agree to deal
Star shortstop Carlos Correa agreed early Saturday to a three-year, $105.3 million with the Twins, according to reports Saturday.
The agreement is subject to a physical.
The move ends Correa’s seven-season tenure with the Astros. He will earn $35.1 million annually and can opt out after the 2022 and 2023 seasons to become a free agent again.
Correa, 27, picking the Twins was a surprise, given they have lost 18 consecutive postseason games and finished last in the AL Central a year ago at 73-89.
His average salary becomes baseball’s fourth-highest behind Mets pitcher Max Scherzer ($43.3 million), Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole ($36 million) and Angels outfielder Mike Trout ($35.5 million).
A two-time All-Star who was the first pick in the 2012 amateur draft, Correa led the Astros’ turnaround. The club lost more than 100 games each year from 2011-13, then won its first World Series title by beating the Dodgers in seven games in 2017.
The Astros went on to AL pennants and World Series losses in 2019 and last year, gaining infamy for their cheating scandal that was revealed after the 2019 season.
Correa had a career-best 26 home runs last year to go along with a .279 batting average and 92 RBIs. He finished fifth in AL MVP voting and won his first Gold Glove. He has a .277 career average with 133 homers and 489 RBIs in seven e seasons.
Correa, the 2015 AL rookie of the year, also has been a stellar postseason performer with 18 homers and 59 RBIs in 79 games.
Since the end of the lockout, the Twins acquired right-hander Sonny Gray from the Reds and catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela from the Yankees.
Before the work stoppage, the Twins signed pitcher Dylan Bundy to a one-year, $5 million.
Phillies land Castellanos:
Free-agent slugger Nick Castellanos and the Phillies agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract, according to reports Friday night.
It was the second big free-agent splash this week for the Phillies, who are beefing up their lineup to compete with the busy Braves and Mets in the NL East. Kyle Schwarber agreed Wednesday to a four-year contract worth about $80 million.
Castellanos, 30, a corner outfielder, batted .309 with 34 HRs, 100 RBIs and a .939 OPS last year for the Reds, making his first All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger Award.
The Phillies were 82-80 last season, extending their postseason drought to an NL-worst 10 years.
Marlins add Soler: The Marlins have been seeking a big bat, and they’re hoping reigning World Series MVP Jorge Soler fits the bill.
The Marlins and Soler agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal, according to reports Saturday. Soler, 30, can opt out of the contract after 2022 and 2023.
Soler, 30, is a two-time World Series winner, after helping Cubs win the 2016 title and then making a major splash last fall when the Braves captured the crown. He batted .300 in the Braves’ six-game win over Astros with three HRs.