HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Astros owner Jim Crane left open the possibility of his team re-signing Carlos Correa when he hits free agency this winter.
"We'll definitely be in the mix as the season gets over and it's time to address that," Crane said on the field at Minute Maid Park before Thursday's ALDS opener.
Correa, 27, was the Astros first draft pick of the Crane era that started 10 years ago. He's become the leader of an Astros team that is making its sixth postseason appearance in seven years. This season, Correa led all position players with a 7.2 bWAR.
"He plays plays hard," Crane said. "He's very infectious with his leadership and he's a great guy and he's been a brand here since he got here. He's a heck of an athlete."
The Astros shortstop broke off extension negotiations with the team in spring training after he was first offered a six-year, $120 million contract and then a five-year, $125 million deal. Correa said the team told him they don't hand out big contracts or long contracts, but Crane said their may be some wiggle room in this one case.
"I never count anything out. We haven't done it in the past. We have a history of doing something in the neighborhood of five (years), I think is the most we've ever done since I've been here but things can change. We're not counting it out."
Josh Reddick's four-year, $52 million contract is the largest the biggest the Astros have given to a free agent, but they did sign Jose Altuve to a five-year, $150 million extension after his MVP season in 2017. The Astros signed Lance McCullers to a five-year, $85 million contract during spring training. He was set to become a free agent after the season as well.
The money and length Correa wants will dwarf every other contract Crane's Astros have handed out. The team did not make a run at free agents Gerrit Cole and George Springer the last two offseasons, but Correa could be different.
