Trade Gives Carlos Correa Long-Desired Position Change Twins Couldn’t

The Minnesota Twins just completed the most shocking trade deadlines in franchise history. They traded a whopping 11 players in nine different deals. While there is legitimate talent they got back, it was also a sizable salary dump that can only make the Pohlad’s grin.

The most jarring move of the day, one initiated by the Houston Astros and Carlos Correa, sent the shortstop back home. Minnesota paid $33 million to get rid of him, and effectively got nothing in return.

Correa though, got his wish, both on and off the field. He returns to an organization clearly willing to spend, and he’s going to make a position change to facilitate it.

Hot corner for Carlos Correa as he leaves Minnesota Twins

When Carlos Correa signed a free agent contract with the New York Mets, he was going to move to third base. Francisco Lindor was already on the roster, and the veteran knew that time would come anyways. After the deal got ripped up and he landed in Minnesota, shortstop was back on the table.

The Twins have struggled to develop the next talent at short, and that had Correa playing the position at 30 years old and with bad feet. He’ll move to a less demanding role with Houston and told The Athletic that has been the goal.

“I’ve been asking the Twins to play third base for the last two years. But it was not aligning because of how we were constructed. When (Twins general manager Derek Falvey) told me the Astros wanted me for third base, I was like, that would be perfect.”

Carlos Correa – The Athletic

Correa opened the door to the hot corner two-and-a-half years ago during free agency. That at least had to get the wheels in motion. As he’s gone through injury since, especially to his lower body, it only has to have increased that desire.

The Twins saw Correa play 135 games during the first season of his new contract. He did it playing through pain and it resulted in just a 94 OPS+. Last year he managed the issue better, owned a career-best 151 OPS+, and was named an All-Star. The downside is that he was available for only 86 contests.

Related: MN Twins Shock the World: Carlos Correa Back to Astros

Houston now gets a guy that hasn’t had any foot issues this year, and can play alongside of a star shortstop that took over his position in the first place.

Correa teams up with protege Jeremy Pena

The only reason Houston opted to let Carlos Correa walk in the first place was because of the emergence of Jeremy Pena. A former third round pick, Pena reached the majors in 2022. He earned rookie of the year votes and immediately won a Gold Glove.

Pena is returning from an injury now, but across 82 games this season he is hitting a career-best .322/.378/.489. Pena was named to his first All-Star Game, and is still playing Gold Glove level defense.

Related: Details Behind Red Sox’ Failed Attempt to Pry Joe Ryan from MN Twins

At 30 years old Correa can continue to mentor the 27-year-old. He’ll get to do so standing next to him on the left side of the diamond. There was one place the former Twins shortstop was willing to go, and this represented the perfect fit.