HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- The Astros mostly watched from the sidelines as other teams pursued Gerrit Cole and George Springer in free agency the last two winters, but that will not be the case as Carlos Correa hits the open market.
“We’re going to try and sit down and put our best foot forward, give him something that we think fits into our formula, and hopefully, it fits into his formula.” Astros owner Jim Crane said at an end of season press conference on Friday.
Correa is rated by most analysts as the prize of a loaded free agency class, especially at shortstop. He turned down offers of six years, $120 million and five-years, $125 million during spring training and responded by having the best year of his career. He led all position players in wins above replacement, was selected to the American League All Star team, and named a finalist for the Gold Glove.
“I love Carlos just like everybody else,” Crane said. “He's been a great player for the city. He's a fine young man. He does a lot of charity work around town, and I admire the way he handles himself. So hopefully, we'll be able to get something done.”
In the 10 years Crane has owned the team the Astros haven’t guaranteed a player more than five years in any free agent contract or contract extension and it is still to be determined if they are willing to move off that philosophy.
“Carlos Correa has been a huge part of this organization, and obviously we are going to put our best foot forward to try to make sure that that continues,” Astros general manager James Click said. “The nature of free agency is that there are 30 teams out there, and Carlos is going to make the best decision for him and his family. We obviously hope that that's Houston.”
If Correa does not return expect 24-year old prospect Jeremy Pena to get a shot at replacing him. The Astros drafted Pena in the third round three years ago, but has only played one full minor league season. A wrist injury in April limited him to 30 games with Triple-A Sugar Land.
“He's had some fits and starts to his career, obviously, with the lost season in 2020, and then with some injuries, it's been difficult for him to sort of get momentum and get in a rhythm,” Click said. “You could tell that he took that time to really get himself in tremendous physical shape. He's always been a natural athlete, but he has really dedicated himself to getting stronger.”
Pena hit 10 home runs and finished with a .944 OPS with the Skeeters and earned a spot on the Astros postseason taxi squad, where he impressed while working with the Major League coaching staff. He hit a home run off Zack Greinke to straightaway centerfield at Minute Maid Park before the World Series.
“Whether he's ready or not, that's ultimately up to him, and we'll assess that and determine how that fits into the roster going forward,” Click said. “There's no question that he has worked himself into being a very real factor for us.”