Longtime Astros shortstop Carlos Correa — MLBTR’s top-ranked free agent — was spotted having breakfast with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch at a Houston cafe on Thursday morning (photo taken by Astros blogger Zach Hablinski). Hinch was, of course, Correa’s manager in Houston from 2015 to 2019.
It’d be dangerous to read too much into the meeting. Beyond his previous relationship with Hinch, Correa is widely considered the top free agent this winter and is likely to meet with quite a few teams. Still, it’s easy to draw the connection between the two-time All-Star and the club. The Tigers have made it very clear they intend to open their pocketbook this winter, and Correa makes lots of sense for a club with money to spend and a desire to push themselves into a contention window. Indeed, the Tigers, who have already added starter Eduardo Rodriguez (the biggest free agent signing of the winter so far) and catcher Tucker Barnhart, are widely expected to be among the most active teams.
Were Correa to make his way to Detroit, he’d less upgrade than revolutionize the Tigers’ outlook at the position. The position was something of a black hole for the club in 2021; Niko Goodrum, Zack Short, and Harold Castro each saw significant time, but none came particularly close to even league-average production. Each of the three (particularly Goodrum) has enough positional versatility to provide some value, but none are likely to be in the Tigers’ long-term plans. Combined with the acquisitions of Rodriguez and Barnhart, adding Correa wouldn’t necessarily vault the Tigers (who finished eight games below .500 in 2021) into contention, but he’d clearly make a team with a lot of promising young starting pitching better for years to come.
Very much in the prime of his career as he enters his age-27 season, Correa is coming off a platform year that saw him slash .279/.366/.485 (not to mention an astounding 20 Defensive Runs Saved) that more or less matches his career .277/.356/.481 line. Given both his offensive pedigree and his stellar glovework at a premium position he’ll likely be able to play for years to come, Correa is a pretty safe bet to demand a contract that at least approaches the market-setting 10-year, $341MM extension the Mets gave Francisco Lindor just ahead of this year’s Opening Day. MLBTR projects he’ll ultimately sign for $320MM over ten years.
Though any effect it will have on his market will be negligible, whichever team signs Correa will be required to forfeit a draft pick, as he received (and rejected) a qualifying offer from the Astros. Only the handful of teams shopping in free agency’s premium aisle will have a shot at getting his name on the dotted line, but the Tigers will hardly be alone in pursuing his signature. The Yankees — who’ve made clear they intend to replace Gleyber Torres at shortstop — have explicitly put to rest any speculation that they’d avoid Correa due to fan resentment stemming from his role in the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, and will have plenty of money to spend after dipping below the luxury tax threshold in 2021. Beyond the Tigers and Yankees, MLBTR lists the Phillies, Rangers, Angels, Mariners, and Cardinals as potential suitors in the Correa sweepstakes.
This really isn’t news. Slow off-season
Slow off-season? It isn’t even Thanksgiving and we’ve already had 4 top 50 FA sign. What are you talking about?
I find it to be news because I wasn’t aware if they were on speaking terms after the players’ actions got Hinch suspended.
Complete opposite, Hinch was mad when he found out, but didnt’t drop a dime on his team, and even though that was wrong, he would have lost all respect by any players. And he served his time. A baseball clubhouse is a protective environment.
So not the complete opposite then
Definitely not a slow off-season
Let’s get the whole gang back together! Hinch and Carlos ‘Bang Bang’ Correa!
Sure…..
And if Correa signed with the Pirates you’d be wetting your seat with delight.
Well duh dude. Still doesn’t change the fact.
Bro relax
Nobody denies the talent of the player. Anyone would love, or wet their pants, to add a talent like that… it’s just the whole trash can thing that left a bad taste in the mouth of some. And considering he got booed heavily in probably every visiting stadium, I think a lot of people feel that way about him and that Astros team.
Until their team signs him. Then they become happy happy fans.
That fact, Samuel, is that Correa was involved in the Astros cheating scandal, in a year in which they won the World Series. That’s all. Not a big deal. But that did happen, that’s all I’m saying. But yeah, I’d be stoked if my team signed him.
No way? Did it really? Haven’t heard anyone talking about it.
Google it.
I’m not even a stros fan, but seriously, get over it. It was 4 years ago. Correa is still an amazing player even without cheating.
4 years ago? You mean like just 2 years ago? Because they still banging those trash can in 2019. Correa was a great ball player. But might not a honest person
ok but still, 2 years ago was a while ago. Only a few remain on that team, and now everyone blames the team for cheating every scenario. For example, Ryan Tepera. Just get over it….
black sox are still banned, you know.
They weren’t doing anything in 2019. The illegal sign stealing ended midyear 2018. Everything else is fiction made up by a yankees fan to drive idiots to his site.
Can you present us actual facts on them doing so in 2019? Or are you just saying it with zero evidence? Please, enlighten us.
Just get over it? It doesn’t work that way, these players, you know the ones that cheated, received no punishment and lacked any contrition in their “apology”. Although I personally couldn’t care less it’s completely understandable and within the rights of any fan to continue to point it out. That is how getting caught cheating on such a grand scale works. I think you need to get over the idea that this is a stain that will wash off anytime soon, as far as most fans are concerned once a cheater always a cheater.
It does seem like you care, though.
It’s called empathy – “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another”
Bang bang into the room, I know you want it
Enjoy the cellar of the nl central for another 20 years bucs fans. Hey when was the last time your team was relevant ?? Oh ya when you had bonds probably before you were a fan. bang bang that sucka
Lol I think you posted on the wrong story Buddy. This isn’t about the Pirates.
Hey pal I was just responding to bucs fan
Chill Randy.
I’m chill I got this amazing holiday special y’all should try it. Only available here at tegrity farms
They had this righty named McCutchen and he raked and won and MVP and carried them to a wild card and some other post season stuff (I think) that they only lost due to some amazing teams in the way
I made a funny comment and some people get so triggered. Believe me, i don’t care one bit about Marwin Gonzalez or Evan Gattis getting help in July of 2017 from a trash can. People who make it into more than that should really read The Athletic article where they document every instance where the trash can was used.
Sorry speaking the truth made some of you cry. It was a real question when was the last time the bucs were relevant? Oh the wild card what an accomplishment!!!! Mccutchen winning the mvp doesnt equal being relevant as we just saw ohtani win the mvp on a team that wasn’t even close to the playoffs.
You’re the only one crying, dude.
Your sad little *Astros tears are seeping through all of our screens. Enjoy the accomplishment of your teams tainted “title” that 29 of 30 teams fan bases discount. For good reason. Hell. Plenty of *Astros fans do too! So you cheated better. Not much of an “accomplishment”, bud.
Bang that.
I’m a white Sox fan who is still angry about being eliminated by the Astros, but I got over the cheating thing a long time ago. It’s part of baseball, you gotta move on and not hold things of the past against players/coaches who have learned their lesson and have moved on.
10 yrs at 32 per? Cant see it and will handcuff any team for 1/2 that term. Has a cannon for an arm though
10/$320? Tigers can afford that.
They can, but hoping they are smarter than that.
Yes they do
I know MLBTR guessed that, but I’d be surprised if we see many 10 year FA contracts again. A long extension for a young player? Sure. But a FA 27 year old to take him into his age 37 season? I’d be surprised.
So you expect the market to do something it has never done before (without extenuating circumstances) and go backwards?
I don’t know what that means. What I do know is that the free agents are still getting paid, but with shorter terms and higher AAV. Sure we may see a 10 year free agent contract, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good front office move nor does it mean it’s the market norm.
And note that I’m saying “free agent” contracts. Locking an in house all star for 13 years like a Fernando Tatis Jr is not included in my argument. Those contracts include eating up their arb years. That’s where we’ll see the longer contracts, not so much in free agency. This is under the current CBA and one of the reasons the players want free agency to kick in younger.
You’re going to be surprised at least twice this offseason
They can absolutely afford that.
I met with my ex-wife today.
Well then, obviously you’re getting back together.
I met my future ex-wife today. I hope to be just like you someday!
Oop
You only have one, @lordd99? Huh.
Kate Upton owns a Yankee hat so Yankee fan swore Verlander was going to the Bronx. Correa enjoying an omelette with his former manager (in Houston no less) must mean he’s going to Motor City.
Tell her I said hi.
Tigers are going to announce the signing tomorrow my sources say
“It’d be dangerous to read too much into the meeting”
*makes an entire article about it*
Of course, you have made a good point and me laugh. But don’t we love this site because of it?
Gruß,
BSHH
I really hope he signs with my Yanks. I want as many of Houston’s guys as possible in nyc.
Seeing this take coming from a NY fan is so bizarre, I can’t help but root for that to happen.
I want it to happen so Yankees fans completely flip their script on the Astros hate and cheer heavily for a player that clearly despised for years. It’d be soooo Yankee fan.
He may, with a NY Yankees welcome jacket with Jeter picture with his 5 Gold Glove on his back and Judge smiling on his front.
Correa stops by tiger stadium to ask for directions to Yankee stadium
Damn, is he that bad at navigating?
No, chitizen is too decrepit to realize Tiger Stadium was demolished 20 years ago. The Tigers play in Comerica Park.
Talking about how they can cheat together again, and continue to be smug morons in Detroit?
Feel better ?
A friendly reunion, like old times!
Reunited… and it feels so good!
Correa is a glory hound.. he doesn’t fit Yankee mode
LOL
Right……
Yankee players are so timid, humble, soft spoken and classy…..just like their fans.
The unnecessary Jeter comments were a clue he is NOT going to the Yankees ( and I thought he would). Why? Between that, the cheating and the contract, he would get roasted every time he screwed up by the fans and the media ( and he knows it).
Yankee mold? What’s that pompous entitled jerks who can’t get it done even though they get paid tons of money?
Hinch is a great manager, wouldn’t blame him for going to Detroit.
More like MLBTMZ amirighttt
To me, its obvious that zn extended breakfast means that there were some negotiating going on and that they are close to agreement. Just close though. Doesn’t mean a signing is imminent. Just that they are much in agreement.
Personally, I’m over the whole Astros cheating scandal.
Correa is a very good player, but I still think he is an *ss.
He’s going the Tigers !!!!
If Cashman signs him it will just handicap the team financially. They already have albatross contracts on the books in the form of Stanton, Cole, and Judge will be due for a big pay day.
Correa is still an elite SS and the trash can scandal doesn’t matter imo because the Yankees have employed numerous cheaters like Cano, A Rod, and Melky. This is coming from a Yankee fan.
Correa will most likely be good for the first 5 years of the contract and that’s it. Sign Semien instead. Trade Voit, Sanchez, Torres, and German to the As for Matt Olson. DJ can play 2nd.
George says move Bo to second and bring Carlos to me
Rodriguez is not the biggest FA signing so far
Oh. Ok, thanks.
Oh please, oh please, oh please!
“ Very much in the prime of his career as he enters his age-27 season, Correa is coming off a platform year that saw him slash .279/.366/.485 (not to mention an astounding 20 Defensive Runs Saved) that more or less matches his career .277/.366/.485 line. ”
That would be because those aren’t his career numbers, you copied the OBP and SLG from this year…..
Nice catch! Should have been .277/.356/.481. Article updated, cheers mate.
The Tigers need to stay away from these types of contracts. This is the exact thing that could derail their progress. Yeah let’s sign a diva SS to a $300 plus million 10 year contract so they can be in a spot in two years where they have to try to dump it. For all that money they could sign another starting pitcher, some bullpen pieces, and a couple more decent bats to go with the youth they have on the horizon.
or sign him for what he wants, but include a player option after 2 years. He’ll opt out and the Tigers will be free of the contract.
Going from a trash-can team to a city that’s a literal trash-can.
Trash can up there will be really full