Carlos Correa contract, explained: How much money Astros were forced to take on to reunite with Twins star

New pastures are overrated — at least, that appears to be the case for newly minted Astros star Carlos Correa.

Allow him to be reintroduced again: Correa was a splendid talent during his spell in Houston, rising the ranks to become one of baseball's most impressive shortstops. Things have changed in the years since he joined the Twins— he was felled by injury and spotty performances in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

But the talent continues to gleam, at least in the eyes of opposing locker rooms like the Astros, who will reportedly send a prospect to Minnesota to land their man.

With that, here's what you need to know about Correa's contract.

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Carlos Correa contract, explained

• Years left: Three
• Value: $33.33 million AAV

When Correa entered the free agency market, he wanted a contract commensurate with his status as one of the sport's top free agents.

The Twins agreed with his assessment, shelling out $200 million across six years to secure his services. With an average annual value (AAV) of $33.33 million, Correa ranks No. 14 among the highest-paid players in the MLB. He's the second highest-paid shortstop, only trailing Mets star Francisco Lindor by $800,000 a season.

Correa's deal was cost prohibitive for a Minnesota side sitting six games under .500 on the trade deadline. He's dovetailed between brilliance (2022, 2024) and mediocrity (2023, 2025). Given Correa's age, injury history, and lack of consistency, it seems the Twins' front office felt it was as good a time to sell on Correa as ever.

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Houston hopes to be the beneficiary of Minnesota's apprehension. Correa, the franchise's former No. 1 overall pick, tallied 34.0 bWAR across seven seasons in Space City. He earned MVP votes in three seasons and hoisted a World Series crown — albeit contentiously — in 2017.

If anyone can coax the best out of Correa, it is the Astros. Their analytics-driven approach to understanding the game has been a boon for players young and old alike, from Correa and Alex Bregman to Yuli Gurriel and Martin Maldonado (at least for a season). Perhaps Correa's second stint in burnt orange can prove similarly glint to his first spell.

Houston invested a lot into its former supernova; MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that the Astros are paying the majority of Correa's remaining contract, although Minnesota will offer up some cash to sweeten the pot — though not anywhere close to the $50 million the Astros reportedly intitially asked for.

Correa's addition is a big get for a Houston franchise unafraid to make a splash at the deadline. Only time will tell if the standout shortstop will make the move worth its while.