Astros' trade for Twins' Carlos Correa worked thanks to $33 million reason

The Houston Astros pulled off one of the blockbusters of the MLB trade deadline when they reunited with old friend Carlos Correa. The deal with the Minnesota Twins was a huge one, and after the trade was completed, the reason why it occurred was revealed.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Twins took on $33 million of Correa's remaining $103.42 million contract. It's a huge sum for the Twins to pick up, but the Astros are still inheriting a large portion of his deal as well.

The Minnesota Twins are paying a whopping $33 million of Carlos Correa's remaining $103.42 contract.

The return for Correa wasn't known right away, as the monetary complications made the deal tricky to manage. But, Houston was known to be sending one prospect to Minnesota, and it wasn't the top prospect, Brice Matthews.

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Instead, the Astros, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, sent just High-A left-handed pitcher Matt Mikulski. It's a very small return, as the lefty isn't inside the top prospects for the Astros.

High-A left-hander Matt Mikulski is the prospect going to Minnesota in return for Carlos Correa, source tells @TheAthletic.

Correa is playing a new position amid his transition to third base and hasn't been at his best this season with a .704 OPS through 93 games. Those factors make the trade a risky one, not to mention the roughly $70 million the Astros are picking up from his deal.

But, with the Twins taking on $33 million of his deal, and the Astros only giving up a low-level prospect, the deal is much more palatable for the Astros. 

Houston was able to bring back a franchise legend and fan favorite for a very reasonable cost. It was a very productive deadline for the Astros, and the Correa deal was one of the more interesting to occur at the trade deadline.

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