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Carlos Correa acknowledged ongoing trade discussions between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, but downplayed the possibility of a deal.
Echoing sentiments from multiple sources from both teams, the Twins shortstop said the likelihood of a deal manifesting before Thursday’s 5 p.m. CT trade deadline seems far-fetched.
Twins sources said the Astros approached them to discuss Correa, who reiterated he’s in “full control” because of a no-trade clause included in the six-year deal he signed with the Twins in 2023.
Even so, the Twins believe the Astros are the one team Correa might approve for a trade because he maintains an offseason home in the Houston area. The two sides have discussed parameters, but people with knowledge of the situation indicated the teams initially were far apart.
“That’s not something I think is serious right now,” Correa said. “We’ll see where everything goes. But my goal has always been to be here and win here. I’ve been talking to Derek (Falvey) and Rocco (Baldelli) and I’ll be ready for the next series.”
The Astros’ interest in Correa was first reported by USA Today.
Correa is in the third season of a six-year deal that guarantees him $96 million through the 2028 season. He is making $33.3 million this year — a figure that, even if paid down by the Twins, would launch the Astros over the luxury tax for a second consecutive season.
This winter, team sources indicated Astros owner Jim Crane did not want to cross the luxury threshold, but he’s been known to alter his outlook if a notable name is available. Houston also has interest in San Diego Padres starter Dylan Cease, another player who would fit that bill.
During his weekly appearance on the team’s flagship radio station Wednesday morning, Astros general manager Dana Brown said the club is seeking “impact first.”
“You want to impact the major-league team,” Brown said. “If the impact is a bat, you take the bat. If the impact is an arm, you take the arm. You look for impact because whatever impact you get, that’s going to help the major-league team the most.”
Crane has long remained a fan of Correa, to whom he offered a five-year, $160 million contract after the 2021 season. After Correa rejected it and signed with the Twins, Crane took the rare step of issuing a statement thanking Correa and his wife Daniella for their contributions to the city and franchise.
The Astros still employ two of Correa’s closest friends: Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. McCullers is the godfather of Correa’s oldest son, Kylo.
“Correa is a guy with a lot of history here in Houston,” Altuve said after the Astros’ 9-1 win against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. “He’s a great player, great human being, great teammate. Anything that happens, I hope it’s the best for him and for us.”
Asked if he had spoken to Correa about the possibility of a reunion, Altuve replied “not yet” and “maybe when the trade deadline is over.” He then politely ended the interview.
How involved Crane becomes in the discussions is crucial to the viability of any potential deal involving Correa. Crane remains an influential voice in baseball operations decisions, though ownership of any team would be looped into these sorts of conversations.
If the Astros did acquire Correa, he would play third base in the wake of Isaac Paredes’ “significant” right hamstring strain. Paredes is seeking a second opinion on the injury, which could sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Shortstop Jeremy Peña, also on the injured list with a fractured left rib, was playing his second minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday. He could return to the Astros’ lineup as early as Friday in Boston.
Both Peña and Paredes have two more years of club control, inviting speculation about where Correa would play after this season should the Astros acquire him. There is serious doubt within the organization that Paredes could handle second base.
Isaac Paredes is hurt.
He pulled up after a long single, and is coming out of the game.
The Astros lead the league in players on the IL. pic.twitter.com/xUx11N3g1f
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) July 20, 2025
Correa was out of the Twins’ lineup on Wednesday after exiting the previous night’s game with a migraine headache. He spent the morning undergoing an MRI after feeling the effects of a headache for three straight days and was given the all clear.
Correa thought he’d be ready to play Friday when the Twins open a series at Cleveland.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli wasn’t aware of the Correa rumors, noting he doesn’t have an active social media account.
“I don’t get wound up by much of what goes on,” Baldelli said. “There will always be things floating around this week. Nothing is really surprising to me.”
Though the Twins are enamored with Correa, believing he’s a difference-maker on the field, the team’s financial picture has changed drastically in the 30 months since he signed his six-year deal. The club has been up for sale since October, which is limiting how much the team can spend on players. Correa’s salary represents 25 percent of the Twins’ current $141 million payroll.
Though the Twins added $15 million to the budget this season, the majority was spent on players who signed one-year contracts, many of whom are expected to be traded.
Still, in January, Correa said the impending sale wasn’t a worry and the team’s inability to spend was a reality.
“We’re in a spot now where we cannot invest — it is what it is,” Correa said. “You’ve got to live with that, and you’ve got to go out and play with the players that you have. I feel like the talent is in this clubhouse, we’ve just got to put it all together.”
Despite featuring a roster with at least 10 players whose names have appeared in trade rumors, the Twins are a mess. A major-league best 13-game winning streak aside, they are 51-57, one of the worst records in the American League.
A week ago, Correa noted this is the first time he’s played for a team which is in a position to trade players away rather than add to the roster.
“I’ve been having a lot of conversations with players and trying to keep them focused on the things they can control in the daily work we do,” Correa said. “Whatever happens happens. That’s the front office’s job and it’s not an easy job. You let them figure out that part and we figure out the baseball part. You deal with whatever happens after that.
(Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
