Carlos Correa’s Quotes Show That He and the Minnesota Twins Became Misaligned

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Correa sat in a quiet room at Target Field and listened as Derek Falvey laid it out plainly. “The direction we are going,” Falvey told him (as reported by The Athletic), “is not the one you signed up for.”

It was a pivotal moment, one that confirmed what Correa had likely suspected for weeks. The Minnesota Twins were no longer building around him. They were turning the page.

Correa’s departure at the 2025 MLB trade deadline marks a seismic shift for the Twins, not just in roster construction but in franchise identity. The 30-year-old shortstop, once the crown jewel of Minnesota’s spending spree, was dealt back to Houston in a deal that signaled a full-scale teardown. And in a series of candid quotes, Correa pulled back the curtain on the conversation that ended his time in the Twin Cities.

“When he told (me) that we were going to go into rebuild mode,” Correa said, “I said then I deserve to go somewhere where I have a chance to win and my kids can watch me go out there in the playoffs and perform. He agreed with me and he said out of respect for me he would get to work.”

The mutual respect between Correa and Falvey has been well documented. They first connected in 2022, when Correa surprisingly signed with Minnesota after the lockout-delayed offseason. That partnership survived an opt-out and a flirtation with the Giants and Mets, culminating in a six-year, $200 million pact that appeared to solidify the relationship for the long haul.

But while the shared goal was always to bring a title to Minnesota, that dream unraveled quickly over the last two seasons.

A Shift in Direction
The 2025 Twins opened the year with playoff expectations, buoyed by a veteran core and roster that was projected to finish near the top of the AL Central. Instead, they cratered. Poor health, inconsistent offense, and clubhouse tension left them buried in the AL Central standings by midsummer.

Ownership’s ongoing negotiations to sell the team have only added to the murkiness. Though manager Rocco Baldelli’s 2026 option was picked up months ago, his job status now feels tenuous. The once-promising roster looked more and more like a team running in place. By the time Correa met with Falvey in late July, the Twins were six games under .500 and 12 games back in the division. The writing was on the wall.

That included honoring Correa’s preference, something that had been lingering behind the scenes.

“I’ve been asking the Twins to play third base for the last two years,” Correa admitted. “But it was not aligning because of how we were constructed. When Falvey told me the Astros wanted me for third base, I was like, that would be perfect.”

Many of these quotes are frustrating for Twins fans to hear because they point to how the front office and the team’s highest-paid player were misaligned. He was supposed to be the player who changed the team’s fortunes. Instead, the Twins are paying the Astros $30 million to take his contract off the books. 

The Fallout
In the hours following Correa’s closed-door meeting, the team fell apart on the field. A 13-1 drubbing at the hands of Boston turned chaotic. A confused sequence involving Willi Castro and visible frustration from setup man Griffin Jax told a bigger story than the box score could. Later that night, the team dealt closer Jhoan Duran to the Phillies. That was only the beginning.

On deadline day, Falvey executed a dramatic overhaul. Ten players from the Twins’ 26-man roster were traded, including several bullpen arms and multiple starters. While the club held on to young talents like Joe Ryan, the deadline marked the most aggressive sell-off under the Falvey regime.

The return? A collection of controllable arms, toolsy outfielders, and infield depth. Falvey’s message was consistent: this was about the long-term future. It echoed the message he gave Correa just days earlier.

Correa’s return to Houston is as much about fit as it is about familiarity. He joins a contender in search of stability on the left side of the infield. The Astros plan to deploy him at third base, a position he has been quietly lobbying to play. After years of battling injuries and adjusting his game to support his lower body, the move to the hot corner could extend his career and help improve his performance. 

For the Twins, this is a turning point. With the front office operating under tighter financial constraints and a shifting organizational mandate, this summer’s moves reflect a broader shift in vision. The Correa years are officially in the rearview.

And as painful as the departure is for fans, Falvey’s decision to handle it openly with transparency and respect provided a rare moment of clarity in a confusing season.

Correa came to Minnesota to win. Unfortunately, those winning moments were few and far between. 

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What do you make of Correa’s quotes as he exits the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Bodie]

Now our problems include "clubhouse tension"?

Let me the first to call ********!!! (sorry, but that word is needed here) on any heart, emotions, or frankly anything that could possibly create tension wete absolutely missing in this... amalgamation. 

[Patzky]

It's unusual to hear this level of what happened behind the scenes. It makes perfect sense from Correa's POV. Fans are just and looking for someone to blame .. I don't believe C4 is the guy. Some of the releases might have been for more than just financial or baseball reasons.

[William K Johnson]

Whatever went down, the fact remains that the Correa contract was an albatross for a declining player.   Reminds me of the Angels contract with Pujols.   

[Brandon27]

Front office and rocco should had listen to correa cause they have two guys there in lewis and Lee to play short.but once the offseason comes this team not done tearing this team apart Pablo going be gone the coaching aslo and to me  make sense Buxton going wave his trade clause the twins are probably going to be in three+ years rebuild he aint going to stay for that 

[nclahammer]

The "Correa wanting to play 3rd base" is news to me, although it's not new news in that I believe when he was thought to be going to the Mets a few years back, it was to play the hot corner.    My guess is the Twins couldn't move Correa to third because Royce Lewis did not want to play second base?  I like the salary dump because I feel Correa's next three seasons of his contract are going to be underwhelming, just like this year.  I'm glad that mutual ground could be found for the trade.

[CRF]

There's a whole helluva lot more "misaligned" in this organization than that. 

[chpettit19]

11 minutes ago, nclahammer said:

The "Correa wanting to play 3rd base" is news to me, although it's not new news in that I believe when he was thought to be going to the Mets a few years back, it was to play the hot corner.    My guess is the twins couldn't move Correa to third because Royce Lewis did not want to play second base?  I like the salary dump because I feel Correa's next three seasons of his contract are going to be underwhelming, just like this year.  I'm glad that mutual ground could be found for the trade.

Royce spent all offseason working at 2B. It's been widely reported. Royce didn't want to switch positions in the middle of a playoff push to a spot he'd never played before because he didn't want to screw things up. Even at the time he said he didn't mind playing 2B in general, he just didn't want to do it in the heat of a playoff push. The Twins didn't move Correa to third because they didn't have anyone who was better at short. Their best defensive alignments were all with him at short. 

I think fans are going to be very upset when Correa gets back to being Correa next year in Houston. We'll see.

[Jasper]

Did Falvey sit down with the other nine players? I doubt it, probably should have.

[mikelink45]

This discussion is enlightening, but not inspiring.  What is left?  The player we wanted to move - Vasquez is one of the few remaining.  What is the social contract that the Twins should have had with the fans after their one good playoff season?   They broke that promise too. 

[kenneth frank]

Rocco's years as Twins manager have resulted in some of the most uninspired teams I've ever seen fielded by this organization. He should have been fired after last season's debacle but everyone was saying it was the Pohlad's. He's had some decently talented teams these past few years, but all he can relate to is the numbers.

[rv78]

Glad he is gone. Over-rated. Was just another Falvey mistake that cost $30M to get rid of. Falvey should show himself the door. How many guys get to make 200 million dollar mistakes and keep their job? Truely think he was the cancer that ruined this team. Always put himself first. That's why he left after his first season. Only came back because the Giants and Mets were smarter than Falvey. Hooray, Cheater is gone!

[NYCTK]

Don't believe a single word that comes out of Correa's mouth. He's a Politiker. A PR savant. 

There's not a chance in the world he wouldn't have envoked his no trade clause to go play with the Yankees for example. 

He was very obviously in Minnesota only for a paycheck, after two teams took a look at his medicals and threw him out the door. And I don't blame him for it, but this idea that he came here to WIN is very obviously just BS. 

Not to mention this idea of him as a leader, while in the background asking leadership to move the 3B? Maybe now we know why he and Royce had words for each other through the media late last season. Maybe Correa was always overrated as the "clubhouse leader". 

[sstolen]

28 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

Whatever went down, the fact remains that the Correa contract was an albatross for a declining player.   Reminds me of the Angels contract with Pujols.   

Not even close to Pujols situation.

[shimrod]

2 minutes ago, rv78 said:

Glad he is gone

Agree. The entitlement is through the roof. Aside from the monster contract the Twins apparently owe him perennial playoff appearances and a role in team management. Not responsibility, of course, just a say.

Too bad the rules don't allow for Correa to eat some of that money when he decides he wants to play elsewhere. 

[NYCTK]

12 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Royce spent all offseason working at 2B. It's been widely reported. Royce didn't want to switch positions in the middle of a playoff push to a spot he'd never played before because he didn't want to screw things up. Even at the time he said he didn't mind playing 2B in general, he just didn't want to do it in the heat of a playoff push. The Twins didn't move Correa to third because they didn't have anyone who was better at short. Their best defensive alignments were all with him at short. 

I think fans are going to be very upset when Correa gets back to being Correa next year in Houston. We'll see.

Royce is still worthy of criticism for this prima dona moment. 

You played a lot of SS in your career and you can't slide over and play 2B without complaining to the media? That's inexcusable. 

[ashbury]

The headline led me to expect bombshell quotes that didn't materialize.  Instead we see a businesslike interaction between boss and (well-paid) employee.  Speaks well that there was a preference to play 3B yet it never reached our ears until now.  I would work for Falvey if he wanted me, and I like Correa's attitude on the job (plus I'll always thank him for those two games in October 2023).

[chpettit19]

51 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Royce is still worthy of criticism for this prima dona moment. 

You played a lot of SS in your career and you can't slide over and play 2B without complaining to the media? That's inexcusable. 

I have no problem moving any player anywhere on the field. They've all played baseball their entire lives, they can play other positions. But this is exactly why every time people complain about anyone involved in sports not being honest or open or whatever I say "what do they have to gain?" Royce is human and gave his human, open, honest feelings on the situation. I fully agree he should've been able to slide over without it being such a circus, but I also think he should be allowed to not want to. I can do plenty of other tasks at my job but it doesn't mean I want to. 

I don't know if Royce will ever learn, or even wants to learn, how to manage the media like CC does. Royce is incredibly open and honest. And there's no upside to it. There's never upside to it. Same reason Falvey gives nothing but empty corporate speak constantly. Better to annoy fans with corporate speak than be the prima dona.

[LewFordLives]

The sad thing is, if Correa had been close to the player the Twins were paying for, they probably would still be in wild card hunt. Still a very flawed team, but the teardown probably doesn't happen.

As far as third base is concerned, at the time of the trade he was still their best option at SS. Even with declining skills he still is way better than Lewis or Lee in the field.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, nclahammer said:

The "Correa wanting to play 3rd base" is news to me, although it's not new news in that I believe when he was thought to be going to the Mets a few years back, it was to play the hot corner.    My guess is the twins couldn't move Correa to third because Royce Lewis did not want to play second base?  I like the salary dump because I feel Correa's next three seasons of his contract are going to be underwhelming, just like this year.  I'm glad that mutual ground could be found for the trade.

You could sure imagine Royce and C4 tension if it existed being the thing that poisoned the clubhouse. Tow strong personality types.. really the only two 

[Whitey333]

Perhaps if the great Correa would have performed to expectations the Twins may not have been in this spot.  Twins did a great job in getting rid of him but IMO over did the trading deadline.  Correa and his ego did not do the team any favors.  Although he is surely not the only cause of the teams demise he certainly is at or near the top.  Now if someone else's would finally make Falvey and Baldelli take responsibility for this team by firing them, then the rebuild will be complete.  At least for now.  I suspect, depending on possible new owners that more salary dumping will happen in the off season especially Lopez.

[Major League Ready]

6 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I have no problem moving any player anywhere on the field. They've all played baseball their entire lives, they can play other positions. But this is exactly why every time people complain about anyone involved in sports not being honest or open or whatever I say "what do they have to gain?" Royce is human and gave his human, open, honest feelings on the situation. I fully agree he should've been able to slide over without it being such a circus, but I also think he should be allowed to not want to. I can do plenty of other tasks at my job but it doesn't mean I want to. 

I don't know if Royce will ever learn, or even wants to learn, how to manage the media like CC does. Royce is incredibly open and honest. And there's no upside to it. There's never upside to it. Same reason Falvey gives nothing but empty corporate speak constantly. Better to annoy fans with corporate speak and be the prima dona.

Bullseye.  Should Falvey had said he thought this group was never going to be a true contender and their best chance at building a contender was to blow it up and collect as much talent in the process as possible.  It happens.  The success in Houston and Detroit started with striping it to the studs.  However, that message would not be received well by fans or players even though it's likely the truth.  He did say the part about this being the best path toward building a contender but left out any discussion of the shortcomings of the current group as constructed.   

Correa conducted himself very well here.  I have no problem with Correa's conduct.  I just don't see a fit even if they had not blown it up.  His skills were declining at SS and his value diminishes at 3B.  Given they did blow it up, we are far better off reconstructing the IF over the next year to year and a half.  I will be pulling hard for Culpepper to come in and lock down that position for the next several years.   

[LastOnePicked]

This was a chilling read. The level of deception and dysfunction it suggests with this club is really something.

First of all, Falvey told the press this was a "retool." That suggests that they have - and may target - talent to keep them in the mix in '26. Now, in private, he's telling Correa it's a "rebuild" and that they aren't even going to try and win for the duration of his contract.

Now, I never believed this was a "retool," but words matter. So does integrity. Apparently, Correa (a guy you pay) is more deserving of the truth than the fans (the people who pay you).

Second of all, the Twins did Correa a favor and helped him save face. His stock had dropped tremendously after the "failed" physicals during his free agent offseason. The Twins stepped in as if none of that mattered. What's wrong with repaying that favor by offering mentoring and guidance to all the young guys Correa said had so much promise?

Every player in that clubhouse deserves to go somewhere where they have a chance to win and their kids can watch them go out there in the playoffs and perform. I can't imagine what Buxton, Lopez, Ryan, Lewis, Jeffers, etc, etc. are thinking when they hear that Falvey made a special apology to Correa for dashing his Twins playoff dreams.

By the way, Correa did plenty to dash Twins playoff dreams, too.

If you're Correa, don't you say something like, "Look, this isn't working. Let's try and swing me over to third. I look forward to helping these guys get better quickly. I'd like to coach someday, so this is a good challenge for me. Plus, if we get new ownership, maybe we can right this thing pretty quickly. Let's win here like we planned."

Which brings me to this inescapable conclusion: the Pohlads ain't selling. How would Falvey possibly know which "direction we are going"? You'd think he'd say something like, "Look, with the impending sale of the club, things are uncertain. We're going to have to be okay with that uncertainty." But no, Falvey seems to know exactly where all this headed. And how would he know that unless he knows what we don't know?

I firmly believe that this fire sale will be followed by 3-5 years where the Pohlads milk revenue sharing to recoup their "losses." I really hope I'm wrong. These quotes suggest I'm not.

[hitterscount]

This organization is dysfunctional, and it showed on the field. The players body language said it all, little fire, enthusiasm and even less fight. Fall behind, game over. 
 

Falvey had to believe this lineup would challenge the team HR record, how else could he have thought they would be putting runs on the board…little speed,  awful team defense and situational awareness. Basics like where the ball should go to hold runners from getting extra bases, and on the flip zero ability to get an extra base themselves. I don’t believe I have ever watched a slower and boring team. 
 

It’s becoming quite clear that Rocco had zero respect from the players, both everyday and the pitchers. From Larnach leading off to pulling pitchers at 65 pitches in the 5th throwing a shutout. His decisions were erratic with zero consistency. 
 

Back to Correa… when he was signed the second time he stated that the goal was to eventually be at third. Maybe this season was sooner than expected, but give him credit to realize that he could help the team better there. Wouldn’t be surprised if he begins to play better in Houston, playing for a team that has no team chemistry being lead by a clown will affect production. Moving him was the correct call, especially if Lewis can stay healthy and doesn’t want to move to second. Paying 30 million a year for the production we would get in return wasn’t reasonable.

[Western SD Fan]

When I heard of the quote about Correa wanting to transition to 3rd base, it made a lot of sense since we can see that his range has been declining and it probably doesn't put as much stress on his feet as short would.  The FO had an entire offseason to work it out and shift Lewis to 2nd base or 1st base and have Lee play short.  Whatever issues you would have had with Lee at short, working with Correa on footwork, mechanics, and ball placement would have done Lee wonders.  In the end, we still have Lee at short, just without the training or insight from Correa while he was still with the team.  

I honestly do believe that Correa wanted to build a winner in Minnesota.  I think he, like the rest of us, got a slap in the face in learning what "competing" means to the Pohlads in late 2023 and has likely been looking for a way out ever since.  I do think we will see a Correa resurgence back in Houston and that if they were going to go full rebuild, then Correa had to go somehow and I'm fine with Correa leaving.

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

You played a lot of SS in your career and you can't slide over and play 2B without complaining to the media? That's inexcusable. 

I'm curious what your opinion was on the Rafael Devers situation.  Devers was originally told he would be a permanent DH, then told he needs a 1B glove and to get out there and play.  In today's age of advanced metrics where WAR, OAA, and DRS are being used to value a player as well as SDI, which is used to help determine Gold Glove winners (and potential bonuses).  I too would be concerned that switching positions so quickly would hurt my value, especially in a player like Lewis, who will be going through the arbitration years and everything that can be used to hurt a player's chances at arbitration can and will be used against them.  Very few people are like Cuddyer, Punto, or Astudillo that just says "F it, give me a glove and I'll figure it out". 

[1985Fan]

I want to read more about the clubhouse tension referred to. Haven’t heard about it until now. Were there tensions all season we didn’t know about or just at the end when the ship was sinking? 

[shimrod]

12 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

Every player in that clubhouse deserves to go somewhere where they have a chance to win and their kids can watch them go out there in the playoffs and perform. I can't imagine what Buxton, Lopez, Ryan, Lewis, Jeffers, etc, etc. are thinking when they hear that Falvey made a special apology to Correa for dashing his Twins playoff dreams.

Bingo. Just come out  and say "I'm better than the rest of these bums". 

Well, after a couple seasons slumming with the AL Central riff raff Correa's going home. We can all pray his seasons in the wilderness didn't take too much luster off his case for the HOF.

We truly didn't deserve him.

[saviking]

1 hour ago, William K Johnson said:

Whatever went down, the fact remains that the Correa contract was an albatross for a declining player.   Reminds me of the Angels contract with Pujols.   

Maybe Correa ought to appologize for not living up-to-the money we paid him. Then he can criticize everything else if he wants to.. I have to admit this is the most dysfunctional I have seen things since 1961

[T.O.]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Not to mention this idea of him as a leader,

Maybe Correa was always overrated as the "clubhouse leader". 

I've always questioned Correa as the "leader" he portrayed himself to be. When ever I have voiced it here I've gotten a lot of thumbs down. Correa is a topic that clearly still divides the fans here.

The Correa trade is the only one I'm happy with. 

I'd like to see Rocco fired and a manager that is actually a leader hired.

[NYCTK]

9 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

When I heard of the quote about Correa wanting to transition to 3rd base, it made a lot of sense since we can see that his range has been declining and it probably doesn't put as much stress on his feet as short would.  The FO had an entire offseason to work it out and shift Lewis to 2nd base or 1st base and have Lee play short.  Whatever issues you would have had with Lee at short, working with Correa on footwork, mechanics, and ball placement would have done Lee wonders.  In the end, we still have Lee at short, just without the training or insight from Correa while he was still with the team.  

I honestly do believe that Correa wanted to build a winner in Minnesota.  I think he, like the rest of us, got a slap in the face in learning what "competing" means to the Pohlads in late 2023 and has likely been looking for a way out ever since.  I do think we will see a Correa resurgence back in Houston and that if they were going to go full rebuild, then Correa had to go somehow and I'm fine with Correa leaving.

I'm curious what your opinion was on the Rafael Devers situation.  Devers was originally told he would be a permanent DH, then told he needs a 1B glove and to get out there and play.  In today's age of advanced metrics where WAR, OAA, and DRS are being used to value a player as well as SDI, which is used to help determine Gold Glove winners (and potential bonuses).  I too would be concerned that switching positions so quickly would hurt my value, especially in a player like Lewis, who will be going through the arbitration years and everything that can be used to hurt a player's chances at arbitration can and will be used against them.  Very few people are like Cuddyer, Punto, or Astudillo that just says "F it, give me a glove and I'll figure it out". 

Boston clearly has terrible leadership. Devers wasn't opposed to playing 1B as seen by him playing there in San Francisco, but Boston clearly pissed him off in a big way in they way they went about it. 

Devers was also wrong to complain publicly. Demonstrates lack of being a team player, someone that's clearly not a leader. And now he's sucked in San Francisco and that team just gave up on their season. 

Way more players are willing to move around positions than you think. The only ones that seem to put up a stink are the players that have always been THE guy, and often have hard times coming to terms with the fact that they're no longer the same player they used to be.