Correa Dismisses Trade Talks Amid Deadline Speculation

Carlos Correa, the Twins' shortstop, addressed speculation regarding a potential trade back to the Houston Astros, stating that discussions are not "serious." This comes just days before the trade deadline, as he recovers from a migraine that kept him out of Minnesota's recent 13-1 defeat against Boston.

"That's not something that's, I don't think, serious right now," Correa remarked, emphasizing his commitment to the Twins. "We'll see where everything goes, but my goal has always been to be here and win here."

Correa, a three-time All-Star, holds a no-trade clause in his six-year, $200 million contract with Minnesota, meaning he would need to approve any trade. He has maintained regular communication with Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli, asserting that he has "full control" over his future as the 6 p.m. ET deadline looms.

The Astros are reportedly seeking an infielder due to third baseman Isaac Paredes' ongoing hamstring issues. Correa remains a cherished figure in Houston, having played a pivotal role in their 2017 World Series victory and accumulating a .277 batting average with 489 RBIs over seven seasons.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve expressed his thoughts on the possibility of Correa's return. "Correa's a guy with a lot of history here in Houston," Altuve said. "He's a great player, great human being, great teammate. So I think — if anything (were) to happen, I hope it's the best for him and for us."

Since joining the Twins in 2022, Correa has faced challenges, including injuries that have affected his performance. After opting out of a previous contract, he briefly agreed to terms with both the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets, but those deals fell through following physical examinations.

Currently batting .271, Correa's season has been marred by injuries that have limited his time on the field. The Twins, who traded starter Chris Paddack to Detroit earlier this week, are signaling a shift towards shedding contracts as they sit fourth in the AL Central, struggling with a 4-8 record since the All-Star break.

In addition to Paddack's departure, the Twins traded reliever Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies for two top prospects. A source confirmed this transaction on condition of anonymity as it awaited medical review.

Despite their struggles, Falvey and the front office remain optimistic about their core players, including All-Star Byron Buxton and ace Pablo Lopez. However, they may begin strategizing for future seasons by capitalizing on expiring contracts.

This marks the first time in Correa's career that he finds himself on a team in "sell" mode. "I've been having a lot of conversation with players and just try to keep them focused on the things that they can control," he said. "Whatever happens happens."

Correa also left Tuesday's game against the Red Sox due to a migraine. Fortunately, an MRI revealed no significant issues.

He is not alone in facing uncertainty; several other Twins players are also mentioned in trade rumors. Relievers Griffin Jax and Danny Coulombe, outfielder Harrison Bader, catcher Christian Vázquez, and utility man Willi Castro are among those who could become free agents or arbitration-eligible after this season.

"This game has kind of thrown me all over the place," said France, who joined Minnesota in February. "I've been traded a few times, been DFA'd; I've been through it all. So it's just part of the business."

Jax reflected on his own experiences with trades. "A couple of years ago in '21, I was the guy that was going to get called up if we made some trades," he noted. "Now being on this side and seeing the other sides of emotions and what it's really like from the business side, it's just different."

Castro exited Wednesday's game early and was seen exchanging handshakes with teammates in the dugout. "I was planning on taking Willi out of the game," Baldelli explained. "Willi hasn't gone anywhere. I just wanted to give him a little pat. He plays hard for us every day."

As a potential 2024 All-Star, Castro admitted feeling "nervous" about the impending deadline. "They haven't told me anything yet," he said.