TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY
Here's how Astros, Correa saga could take an unexpected turn
Mar 24, 2022, 2:20 pm
Could Correa return to the Astros in 2023? Composite image by Jack Brame.
Nobody’s calling anybody a liar, but somebody’s not telling the truth. Or there’s been a whole lot of misunderstanding. Or maybe Kellyanne Conway was right, there can be “alternate facts.”
Carlos Correa says the Astros never made him a contract offer after the owners and players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement two weeks ago.
Astros general manager James Click says the team was “engaged throughout the process,” which could be interpreted as the Astros continued to negotiate with Correa until the bitter end – right up to Correa agreeing to a deal with the Minnesota Twins.
Who you believin’?
If you strapped a lie detector machine on both sides, probably it would say that both sides are telling the truth – as they see it.
Either way, it was a cluster you-know-what of monumental proportions that may haunt the Astros for years to come.
Or one year if Correa opts out of his ridiculously player-friendly contract with the Minnesota Twins and comes back home to Houston. Correa will make $105.3 over three years, but he can skip out of town after each year.
Way back last year before team owners shut down baseball, the Astros offered their star shortstop $160 million dollars over five years. That’s $32 million per year, not exactly chump change. We’re assuming there were no player opt-outs after each season like the Twins’ contract.
That’s how the Astros operate. Owner Jim Crane doesn’t like to go beyond five years with a player contract. That’s because most long-term deals turn out disastrously for the team. As legendary Yankees manager Casey Stengel used to say, “you can look it up.” Crane is prudent and smart with his money. That’s how he built a team that’s appeared in three of the past five World Series.
Correa reportedly turned down the Astros deal thinking he would be offered $300 million-plus over 10 years by some desperate, money-loaded, pennant-hungry team, say the Yankees or Mets or who knows what team could be lurking, nobody saw the Twins coming.
From what is reported, and nobody really knows anything, the Baltimore Orioles were the only team dangling 300/10. If that was the offer, it was a non-starter. It was the Orioles.
Late last Friday night Saturday morning, the announcement came that Correa had agreed to terms with the Twins, with Correa allowed opt-out after each season. The baseball world was shocked, Astros fans went into deep mourning.
Click said, “It’s always hard to know, are you in it or are you not in these types of negotiations. One phone call can change anything. We were engaged throughout the process. Ultimately, he did choose to go to Minnesota. It’s a tough blow for all of us but that’s how these things go sometimes.”
True. Teams, not even the Dodgers and Yankees, get every player they want. But Click should have stopped at “That’s how these things go sometimes.”
But he added, “Nothing’s a deal-breaker.”
If nothing’s a deal-breaker, Correa would be wearing an Astros uniform in West Palm today. Obviously the deal-breaker was the number of years Correa wanted. Both sides stuck to their guns and now Correa’s a Twin.
On loan, hopefully.
Most baseball analysts believe that Correa will chill out one season in Minnesota before diving back into the free agent market. The Astros could be an interested party. Crane and Click, now vilified for letting Correa go, would be heroes if they could get the band back together.
The NFL playoffs are finally here, and the Texans will kick off the postseason by hosting the LA Chargers this Saturday at NRG.
And while the Texans are only 3 point underdogs, the national media is making it seem like Houston has no chance against Justin Herbert and company.
ESPN's Rex Ryan has gone as far as calling the Texans a "bye" week for the Chargers, giving the team no chance to win despite playing at home.
However, the Texans are no stranger to this situation, as they were given little chance to win against the Browns in last year's Wild Card game. And we know how that ended, with the Texans thrashing the Browns 45-14.
It's certainly fair to predict the Chargers will come away with a win this Saturday, they have been playing much better football than Houston in recent weeks.
But it's important to remember that home underdogs have performed well in the Wild Card round. In fact, home underdogs are 16-14 all-time in the Wild Card playoffs, and both home underdogs won last year (Texans, Buccaneers).
Speaking of last year, many credit the Texans defense for securing the win over Cleveland, with two pick sixes in the second half helping to seal the deal.
But the real reason Houston won the game was because of CJ Stroud and the offense. Stroud threw 3 touchdowns before halftime and the team was leading 24-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter. That's when the defense tacked on two interceptions for touchdowns and put the game out of reach. Stroud and the offense also went on to score another TD on a Devin Singletary run.
If Stroud and the offense didn't put so much pressure on Joe Flacco and the Cleveland offense to score, he may not have forced those passes that were picked off.
Now, many will point to the Chargers having the best defense (points allowed) this season, but it's worth noting the Browns had the number one defense (yards allowed) last year as well.
Bulls on Parade
Houston's defense will have its hands full against a strong rushing attack led by JK Dobbins. And Justin Herbert has been terrific this season, spreading the ball around to his top two targets, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.
Fortunately for the Texans, they are extremely healthy on defense this week. While Jimmy Ward and Jalen Pitre are out for the year, we'll finally get to see linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris play together for the first time this season.
The defensive line is expected to be at full strength as well, keep in mind Jonathan Greenard was injured and unable to play against the Browns last year.
Outlook on offense
We should see the best possible version of the offensive line this Saturday. We're all aware how many hits Stroud has taken due to poor o-line play. But with Tytus Howard and left guard and Juice Scruggs at right guard, Stroud should have more time to get the passing game going, featuring Nico Collins.
Speaking of the receivers, it's pretty amazing that this receiver group is almost identical to last year's in the Wild Card round. Stroud didn't have Stefon Diggs (on the Bills) or Tank Dell (injured) to throw to last year, either. But he does have one big addition in Joe Mixon this year. Hopefully, they can get Mixon involved in the passing game, and the shuffling of the o-line provides Mixon with some holes to run through.
X-factor
At least there's a possibility newly acquired receiver Diontae Johnson could provide a spark to the offense. Last year John Metchie and Robert Woods were the main targets besides Collins and Dalton Schultz.
What does Vegas think?
The Chargers are favored by 3 and the total is set at 42.5 points
Don't miss the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap previews this week's big game!