What's next for Astros after Correa's exit?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Carlos Correa era in Houston appears to be coming to an end, with the All-Star shortstop agreeing to terms on a shocking three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins late Saturday night. The club has not confirmed the deal.

Instead of a massive long-term deal Correa was reportedly seeking, his pact with Minnesota will pay $35.1 million each season through 2024 and includes opt-outs after the first two seasons. By average annual value, it’s the second largest deal for any position player in AL/NL history and the largest for an infielder.

Correa’s exit breaks up the Astros’ core four infield and marks the third offseason in a row Houston has lost a key player to free agency, with Gerrit Cole leaving after the 2019 season and George Springer after '20. It also marks the departure of one of the most popular players and clutch performers in club history.

The Astros, though, remain World Series hopefuls and one of the American League’s top contenders. Here is what the deal means for Houston and where it might go from here:

What was the reaction inside the clubhouse?

Alex Bregman: “I woke up this morning, and I was eating breakfast, and my buddies told me about it and I was definitely surprised. I’m happy for him, sad that I don’t get to play alongside him my whole career. He’s been an unbelievable teammate, a leader, and made an impact on every single person in this clubhouse in a positive way. He's taught me so much about the game of baseball, about life. He's just a great human being, a great teammate, a leader. ... He deserves it. He deserves to be the highest-paid infielder of all time.”

Justin Verlander: “I wish him the best in his career, but now we have to move on. I think people were prodding here and there, looking for hints on whether he would come back, but it didn’t work out. We’re ready to move forward. I still think we’re in the place we want to be, and we’re ready to move forward.”

Martín Maldonado: “He’s a guy who will always be remembered by this organization. You don’t get paid that much money if you’re not that good. He’s one of the top five players in the league.”

Michael Brantley: “He’s a great teammate and played well for this organization for a long time. So of course, you want great players on your team. That’s what it’s all about, winning. At the same time, we have a lot of great players in this locker room, and we’ll continue to play at a high level as a team.”

Kyle Tucker: “He’s just one of the best. You gotta respect it, he did what he thought was best for his career. He'll definitely be missed, but he knows how much we love and care for him. So I'm happy for him.”

Yuli Gurriel: “I always had hopes [he would return] until last night. ... It’s been seven years together. He was one of the best teammates, and I’ll never forget him, helping us to win that 2017 championship. … It was very surprising, but this is a business and things happen.”

Jason Castro: “Guys get good, and you can’t keep everybody. I’m excited by the young core we have in here.”

How do they replace him at shortstop?

With Correa gone, prospect Jeremy Peña profiles as the Astros’ everyday shortstop, with manager Dusty Baker calling him “the front-runner for the job” earlier this week. The club’s third-round Draft pick out of Maine in 2018, Peña is a glove-first player and considered the best defensive player in Houston's system. He also grew offensively in ‘21, hitting .297 with 10 homers in just 37 games in the Minors.

Peña will get lots of playing time in Grapefruit League play, with an eye toward building defensive chemistry with second baseman Jose Altuve.

“They need to get to know each other’s flips, each other’s throws, there is a lot to learn,” Baker said. “It takes a while. It takes easily months or maybe even years. ... Double play combinations are probably the most important combinations on the field, besides pitcher-catcher.”

As for external options, former Rockies shortstop Trevor Story remains unsigned. He appeared like a long shot to land in Houston, though multiple reports Saturday mentioned the Astros having interest in the two-time All-Star.

Was Correa close to returning?

The Astros offered Correa a five-year deal worth $160 million prior to the lockout, and were reportedly in additional talks before Saturday’s news. Correa also received a 10-year, $275 million offer from the Tigers early in the offseason, according to multiple reports.

Who picks up the slack?

There is no denying losing Correa is a blow to the Astros, both offensively and defensively. But Houston still has one of the best offenses in the Majors. Altuve and Brantley anchor a lineup full of returning All-Stars. Gurriel is the reigning AL batting champion, and Yordan Alvarez remains a middle-of-the-order threat. Houston is also hoping for a bounce-back year from Bregman and for Tucker to further emerge after a breakout year in 2021.

The Astros’ projected lineup:

Altuve 2B
Bregman 3B
Brantley LF
Gurriel 1B
Tucker RF
Alvarez DH
Maldonado C
Chas McCormick CF
Peña SS

Any additional notes?

Correa rejected the Astros’ qualifying offer, which means they gain a compensatory pick in Competitive Balance Round B of the 2022 Draft. The exact placement of that pick is not yet known, but it should fall in the early 70s.