Carlos Correa headed back to Astros in blockbuster MLB trade

Japan Times

3 days ago

Carlos Correa, a World Series champion and Rookie of the Year with the Houston Astros, is headed back to the club after a blockbuster deal between Houston the Minnesota Twins ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Thursday.
The Astros confirmed Correa was headed back to Houston, with media reports saying he had agreed to play third base.
Correa, who waived his no-trade clause, told MLB.com that he and the Twins had agreed it was time for him to move on.
"I had some conversations with the front office in Minnesota, and we were not moving (the direction) I thought we were after making the playoffs (in 2023)," Correa told the website. "And they agreed with me that it was time to move me.
"I let them know there was only one team I would allow that to happen ... I'm coming home and there's only one goal in mind and that's to win championships."
Correa was the American League Rookie of the Year with the Astros in 2015 and won a World Series title with the team in 2017.
Correa inked a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins in March 2022. He opted out of the final two seasons but, after failing to make a move as a free agent, re-signed with Minnesota.
USA Today reported the Twins will send the Astros $33 million to help cover his remaining contract.
Correa, 30, has had an inconsistent offensive season with seven home runs in 93 games.
A three-time All-Star as a shortstop, Correa said he had been wanting to make the switch to third base "for the past couple of years."
That move will be key for the Astros with third baseman Isaac Paredes dealing with a right hamstring injury.
In other major moves before the trade deadline, the San Diego Padres acquired right-handed pitcher Mason Miller from the Athletics.
Miller boasts the fastest pitches in the major leagues and reports indicate the Padres might transition him from a reliever back into the starting ranks.
The Seattle Mariners bolstered their offense with the acquisition of slugger Eugenio Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Suarez has 36 home runs in 106 games and returns to Seattle where he played in 2022 and 2023.
The New York Mets acquired longtime Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins in exchange for three prospects, MLB.com and The Athletic reported.
The Mets will send right-handed pitchers Raimon Gomez, Chandler Marsh and Anthony Nunez to Baltimore in the deal, per the reports.
Mullins, 30, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Orioles, who are in last place in the American League East and selling at the trade deadline.
An All-Star selection and Silver Slugger winner in 2021, Mullins is career .250 batter with 101 home runs, 327 RBIs and 139 stolen bases across 784 games in Baltimore. That includes a .229 average, 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 14 steals through 91 games this season.