The Houston Astros brought back Carlos Correa at the trade deadline Thursday, acquiring their former shortstop from the Minnesota Twins in a move that’s got people talking for all the wrong reasons.
Correa spent six seasons in Houston from 2015-2021, winning AL Rookie of the Year honors and helping deliver the franchise’s first World Series title in 2017. He’s a familiar face who knows the organization inside and out.
But here’s the thing – this reunion might feel good, but it doesn’t address Houston’s biggest need.
The Astros went into the deadline looking for rotation help. They needed a reliable No. 3 starter, and that box remains unchecked. With injuries piling up for the AL West leaders, adding depth made sense. Just maybe not this kind of depth.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter didn’t mince words about the deal, calling it one of the deadline’s worst moves.
“It’s not often that a trade deadline deal looks like a true lose-lose from the second it’s announced, but the trade that reunited Carlos Correa with the Houston Astros looks like just that for all involved.”
The numbers back up those concerns. Correa’s hitting .264 with seven homers and 31 RBIs through 94 games this season – a far cry from his Houston heyday. His time in Minnesota never quite clicked the way both sides hoped it would.
Then there’s the money. The Astros are taking on three years and $70 million for a 30-year-old shortstop whose injury history raises durability questions. That’s a significant commitment for a player who hasn’t been his prime self since leaving Houston.
What makes this different is the opportunity cost. Houston had clear rotation needs heading into October, and they chose nostalgia over necessity. That’s a gamble that could backfire when they’re facing elimination games with the same pitching depth they had before.
The reunion will play well with fans who remember Correa’s clutch moments in 2017. But championships aren’t won on sentiment, and this trade feels more like an emotional decision than a strategic one.
We’ll see if bringing Correa back to Space City works out better the second time around. For Houston’s sake, they better hope it does.
