SEATTLE – With the regular season now in its final month, shortstop Carlos Correa’s days with the Astros could be drawing to a close. The Puerto Rican, one of the five remaining members of the team that won the 2017 World Series, will be a free agent at the end of the season, although he has not ruled out returning to Houston.
Correa told the Astros during training that he did not want to negotiate a contract extension during the regular season. That was after he revealed that he had turned down a six-year, $ 120 million offer and a five-year, $ 125 million offer. The shortstop recently claimed that he has not spoken to the Astros since.
“I was very clear that once the season started, I didn’t want to have any conversation,” Correa said. “Obviously, they have respected that. We’ll see when the season ends. We will see where we stand ”.
The Astros are undoubtedly going to try to re-sign Correa this winter, but he believes there will be several teams interested in his services. That will make it harder for the Astros to meet their salary demands. In any case, Correa does not close the door to the possibility of staying in Houston beyond 2021.
“You never know,” he said. Obviously, I don’t have a contract with the Astros for next season. Who knows? If you want me to stay here, I’d be happy to stay. If they don’t see me here in the long run, I’ll go play for another team. The decision is out of my hands. The only thing in my power is the way I play on the field and the way I help my team win games ”.
Correa acknowledged that he will get a little sentimental as the season draws to a close, knowing that his days playing in front of Minute Maid Park fans could be ending.
“Oh, 100 percent,” he said. “Knowing it’s my last year on my contract and I don’t know if I’m going to come back, obviously I’m going to get emotional, especially about being here at Minute Maid with the fans. We’ll see”.
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