It was the biggest deal of the trade deadline. Carlos Correa is returning to Houston.
HOUSTON — He’s back! Carlos Correa, who helped the Astros win their first-ever World Series was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Astros.
The trade was first reported by Brian McTaggart with MLB.com, Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Jeff Passan of ESPN. Then, after the deadline, the Astros made it official on social media.
Correa and cash considerations come to Houston. In exchange, the Astros are sending left-handed pitcher Matt Mikulski to the Twins.
When Correa left the Astros for Minnesota, Jeremy Peña took his spot at shortstop in the Astros infield, and earned World Series MVP when Houston won their second title in 2022. Correa reportedly is OK with moving to third base and keeping Peña at short.
Correa will help fill the void on offense left when Isaac Paredes went on the injured list.
Peña is doing a rehab assignment with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys after spending the last few weeks on the injured list with a fractured rib.
This season, Correa is hitting .267 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs.
Before leaving for the Twins via free agency after the 2021 season, Correa spent seven seasons in Houston. In his first stint with the Astros, he was a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner and the 2015 Rookie of the Year. While with the Astros, Correa hit .277 with 133 homers and 489 RBIs.
Correa brings postseason experience back to the team, having played in 85 career postseason games. His playoff average is .272. He has 18 postseason home runs and 63 RBIs
Correa’s contract goes through the 2028 season.
The Correa deal wasn’t the only one the Astros made as the deadline approached. The team also acquired Jesús Sánchez from the Marlins in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Gusto and minor leaguers Chase Jaworski — an infielder — and Esmil Valencia, who plays in the outfield. Sánchez is hitting .256 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs this season in Miami.
Sánchez could see plenty of time in left field, which would send Jose Altuve back to second base.
Before those deals went down, the team traded for third baseman Ramón Urías from the Baltimore Orioles. In exchange, Houston is sending minor league pitcher Twine Palmore to Baltimore.
So far this season, Urías — a 2022 Gold Glove winner — is batting .248 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs. He’s played in 77 games, 68 of those at third base.