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

[gman]

Wednesday against Boston was caused by the pre-game meeting. So everybody in the clubhouse knew people were going to be traded. The Correa deal was made between the owners, the Pohlads and in Houston Crane.

[purplesoldier4u]

5 hours ago, Bodie said:

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. 

Isn't that typical of teams that have lost the voice and respect of leadership? In this case, leadership could be defined as the manager, the, coaches, the front office, or the ownership. Maybe Correa was part of the problem?

[jimbo92107]

Although he was always professional on the field, and he remained civil in the media, it was pretty clear that Minnesota was not where Carlos Correa wanted to play baseball. Nonetheless, he did his job, respected his contract, and now he's going back to Houston, where he will be a 3B with a strong arm, and a completely average bat. 

Farewell, C4. Time to look for new answers at Short. There is always a fresh crop of farmhands eager to seek money and glory at the club level. I have zero predictions about this club right now. We'll see what happens by the end of the season. My only advise would be to try everybody, and see who sticks. Remember, Michael Cuddyer started out as a sub-standard infielder, who eventually became an all-star in Right Field. I'm still hoping Wallner catches on in RF.

[IndianaTwin]

8 hours ago, ashbury said:

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).

Concur. 

The article also speaks to Correa’s role in the interactions between Baldelli and Jax following Wednesday’s. Even with Correa’s own situation with the team being uncertain, he helped initiate the conversation between Baldelli and Jax. In the article, Baldelli and Jax also each take ownership for parts of how the situation took part. The article also speaks well of Baldelli reaching out to Jax after Thursday’s trade. 

I said this within a different thread, but no matter what one thinks of Falvey’s and Baldelli’s decision making, I think they handle the human relations part of their role well. That’s an aspect we can’t see fully, since so much of it happens behind the scenes or is only reported through the media. We never know the whole story of how these discussions happen. 

[nmcowboy]

Falvey to Houston: "Hey, how'd you like Correa back"

Houston: <yawn> Maybe.  How about we give you a bag of batting practice balls for him?

Falvey: Throw in a fungo bat and you have a deal.

Houston: ok, but the balls are used batting practice balls.

Falvey: Done! Thanks a lot. (Thinks to himself, "hahaha, boy I really snookered them!")

[David Maro]

The real problem here is the FO and manager they are the one's that put the team together. Now it's not working the way they thought. How is it that you cater to a player like Lewis who can't stay healthy. The manager plays checkers with other players all over the field. 

Correa burned the Twins when he oped out the first time. Then when things didn't go his way in FA he came back. And the FO was more than willing to forgive and forget. He is finally gone and back were he always wanted to be.

Just looked at today's lineup and Martin is not in it,didn't he do the most in last nights game. That's Rocco ball in a nutshell.

[JBK]

6 hours ago, kenneth frank said:

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.

I've never seen Rocco as a leader.  He's an "algorithm" kind of guy.  Good riddance!

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Never argued he lived up to the contract. But I expect OPS+ numbers in the 130 range the next couple years in Houston. We'll see.

I wouldn't bet either way.  Look at his 11 years in the league.  The first 3 were consistently good.  The last 8 he is well above average for 4 years and right around average the other 4 years.  Regardless, his value to the Twins was a SS.  With that fading, it's time to move on but I will say I think he would be a good guy to have around to mentor young players.

[h2oface]

I’m sure gonna miss those GIDPs and 0’fers with the bases loaded. And the incessant boos for the cheating at all the other stadiums. 

[h2oface]

1 hour ago, nmcowboy said:

Falvey to Houston: "Hey, how'd you like Correa back"

Houston: <yawn> Maybe.  How about we give you a bag of batting practice balls for him?

Falvey: Throw in a fungo bat and you have a deal.

Houston: ok, but the balls are used batting practice balls.

Falvey: Done! Thanks a lot. (Thinks to himself, "hahaha, boy I really snookered them!")

You forgot the $33 million the Twins also paid. 

[TheLeviathan]

I want to ask the group specifically....why do we think Correa was quietly asking to move to third base at all?

What would be his motivation?

[h2oface]

https://climbingtalshill.com/astros-finalize-carlos-correa-trade-twins-absolute-fleece

[T.O.]

2 hours ago, David Maro said:

Correa burned the Twins when he oped out the first time. Then when things didn't go his way in FA he came back. And the FO was more than willing to forgive and forget. He is finally gone and back were he always wanted to be.

 

The Correa qoute that stick with me is in 22 when he left for more $$$, he said he needed to think of his family and provide for them. I wondered about a lifestyle where you need tens of millions to provide for your family.

[Whitey333]

I wish the tv.twins would quit showing Rocco in the dugout.  Especially around eating time.  This team is a farce.  This manager is a farce.  Martin got 3 hits yesterday.  Why isn't he playing?  Typical screwball Baldelli decisions.  Even the announcers provus and his partner Hawkins are asking that.  Just a small example of how removed he seems to be from the actual games.  Then he has the guts to continue The Twins Lie that they are trying to win.  It's quite obvious with he and Falvey are tied at the hip.  That's why they both have to go.  Ive been a Twins fan since the 60s.  Im still watching them today even after the carnage.  But it's extremely difficult knowing how they have.lied to us for years.  Whats the point of watching anymore?  Bad habit i guess.

[h2oface]

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

He had a .900 OPS in 2024.

....for all of 86 games. Granted, not his fault, necessarily, that he couldn't play.

This was bookended by 2023s .230 average and .711 OPS (and I thought you were an old school Triple Crown stats guy, and here embracing the newfangled OPS as the kicker) in 135 games and 2025s .698 OPS. And one of those 3 of the last 5 was with Houston.

As players age, it seems it is most accepted to look more at more recent play than many years past as an indicator of future performance, along with the difficulties of staying on the field. But every year is a new year. Lots of career years happen in the 30s.

Correa surely had his value. But $30+ million a year? The players seemed to embrace him as a leader, ignoring what many fans can't get past, but then, the players on the same team pretty much had no choice. Falvey had a love affair with him that was a bit over the top. It was his pet deal. Not just once either. And then, he closed the deal by getting a nothing back, really, and gave him another $33 million of Twins money to play for Houston the best he can. I knew a radio announcer once who's name was Ben Dover.

[IndianaTwin]

50 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

I want to ask the group specifically....why do we think Correa was quietly asking to move to third base at all?

What would be his motivation?

As I read the article in The Athletic, I interpreted it as mutual agreement that over the course of the contract, he’d age himself out of playing SS. Many on TD have similarly suggested the likelihood of a position switch at some point. I didn’t read his comments as antagonistic. I also read it as an ongoing conversation between him and the team regarding when the timing would be right, with no heir apparent yet on hand.  

[Sjoski]

9 hours ago, rv78 said:

Cheater is gone!

Trevor Ploufee talked about this at length during the Dodgers series.

Said:

Carlos Correa was one of the youngest regulars on that 2017 Astros team — just 22 years old — and by most accounts, he wasn’t a ringleader in the sign-stealing scandal. The more vocal, veteran guys (like Carlos Beltrán and Brian McCann) were reportedly the driving force behind the system. Correa has always come across more as a team guy who went along with it than someone who engineered it.

 

Even in his post-scandal interviews, he didn’t deflect blame entirely, but he did defend teammates like José Altuve and seemed genuinely conflicted — not smug like Bregman or dismissive like others. That tone set him apart.

So yeah, while he’s not totally innocent, it’s reasonable not to hang the whole thing around his neck.

I don't think Correa should shoulder more blame than a few other more guilty in the entire situation. 

[h2oface]

37 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

Trevor Ploufee talked about this at length during the Dodgers series.

Said:

Carlos Correa was one of the youngest regulars on that 2017 Astros team — just 22 years old — and by most accounts, he wasn’t a ringleader in the sign-stealing scandal. The more vocal, veteran guys (like Carlos Beltrán and Brian McCann) were reportedly the driving force behind the system. Correa has always come across more as a team guy who went along with it than someone who engineered it.

 

Even in his post-scandal interviews, he didn’t deflect blame entirely, but he did defend teammates like José Altuve and seemed genuinely conflicted — not smug like Bregman or dismissive like others. That tone set him apart.

So yeah, while he’s not totally innocent, it’s reasonable not to hang the whole thing around his neck.

I don't think Correa should shoulder more blame than a few other more guilty in the entire situation. 

I don’t think he has. I heard more than one of Correa’s interviews/rants. He was never apologetic in the one’s I heard. Several interviews. Not once. Never admitted it was even done. Plouffe can’t rewrite history. If you are on  the take, you are on the take. 22 or 26 or 18. You know what choice you are making. The blame is shared equally. All players got immunity and the testimonies were hidden. The Manager (Hinch) GM (Luhnow) and ownership became the scapegoats. Cora indirectly when Boston fired him as Manager. Blame? The fans, other than Houston and Minnesota, don’t pretend it was otherwise. 

[The Great Hambino]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

I want to ask the group specifically....why do we think Correa was quietly asking to move to third base at all?

What would be his motivation?

His feet hurt?  Not being sarcastic or facetious, I'm sure it takes a lot of work just to keep the pain manageable.  The idea of less ground to cover I'm sure had some appeal.  Plus, it would minimize his biggest weakness (range) and accentuate his biggest strength (arm)

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I want to ask the group specifically....why do we think Correa was quietly asking to move to third base at all?

What would be his motivation?

He's an analytics kind of guy?  Maybe he has access to the same defensive stats we do, or better, and sees slippage, so he brought it up proactively?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

7 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Three of the last five, actually.

Them pesky facts again. 

Now I grant you, facts aren't currently treated with much respect. But still. 

 .850, .834, .711., .905, and .696 as of yesterday…

Thats not a downward trajectory to you?

[USAFChief]

7 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

 .850, .834, .711., .905, and .696 as of yesterday…

Thats not a downward trajectory to you?

Could be. Hard to say.

3 of 5 good.

2 of the last 3 bad.

.274/.351/.465 career. 

Which is the trend?

30 years old, which isnt old, but foot issues, which can be really really bad.

But there's a reason teams were offering lots of money not that long ago. 

I'd lean downward, but it's no certainty. There's also a reason a smart team like Houston took him back at $75m.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

6 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Could be. Hard to say.

3 of 5 good.

2 of the last 3 bad.

.274/.351/.465 career. 

Which is the trend?

30 years old, which isnt old, but foot issues, which can be really really bad.

But there's a reason teams were offering lots of money not that long ago. 

I'd lean downward, but it's no certainty. There's also a reason a smart team like Houston took him back at $75m.

 

Correa looks better in a Houston uniform. He looks like he’s right at home.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

7 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Pretty sure it was ugly in the clubhouse towards the end of last season too.

They called a time out and did the egg toss game early in spring training in 2023, so there were issues at least that far back. 

 

[Twodogs]

11 hours 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.

Could you imagine Correa all of the sudden going off at the plate when Houston puts him at 3B?  I think they left Correa at SS because they didn't trust Brooks Lee?  Knowing this with hindsight.  Lewis should have gone to 2B, Correa to 3rd and Lee to SS.  But that would have also caused problems at the beginning of the year when Julien and Miranda was in their plans.  Looking at what they have now it looks like what the hell were they thinking.  This is Falvey playing fantasy baseball with the lineup and not doing what's actually best.  Crazy, Correa has been asking to go to 3rd???

[Twodogs]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

He's an analytics kind of guy?  Maybe he has access to the same defensive stats we do, or better, and sees slippage, so he brought it up proactively?

I'm just spitballing here.  It's only a guess.  But my guess is that SS has a lot of ground to cover, play after play after play for 162 games.  3B not as much ground to cover, granted there have been some fantastic fielding 3rd basemen in the past, a la Brooks Robinson, etc......  But there have been some mediocre ones also just to get their bat in the lineup.  I'd say Correa would have been better than mediocre but no Arrenado.  With less field coverage his feet and such probably would feel much better after the games each day?  I'm thinking Correa still thought he was one of the best SS, but knew he couldn't keep it up all season and the nagging injuries to his feet made him a lesser fielder, but more importantly made him more uncomfortable to play every day.  Again this all just my opinion.  

[Coach Wheels]

11 hours ago, Jasper said:

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

I think this question gets to part of the problem; the culture of this team wasn't healthy. There must have been issues in the clubhouse that made this an uncomfortable place to play. I would never blame the guys who got moved but we know Jax and Varland didn't want to be bullpen guys and, apparently, Correa was no longer interested in playing SS either. Interesting article

[NYCTK]

4 hours ago, h2oface said:

I’m sure gonna miss those GIDPs and 0’fers with the bases loaded. And the incessant boos for the cheating at all the other stadiums. 

I'm gonna miss the cringe I felt when hearing twins fans boo Jose Altuve. 

 

[NYCTK]

3 hours ago, T.O. said:

The Correa qoute that stick with me is in 22 when he left for more $$$, he said he needed to think of his family and provide for them. I wondered about a lifestyle where you need tens of millions to provide for your family.

Very reminiscent of the Sprewell quote! 

I will never criticize a player for grabbing the bag. But the tone deafness to say $300 Million is necessary to feed your family, as if $200 million doesn't cover that. 

[Sjoski]

2 hours ago, h2oface said:

All players got immunity and the testimonies were hidden. The Manager (Hinch) GM (Luhnow) and ownership became the scapegoats.

You're original comments just triggered things i heard Ploufee say...but...you're not wrong that Correa didn’t give a detailed, heartfelt confession the way many fans hoped. But it’s also not true that he denied everything — in multiple 2020 interviews, he did say what they did was wrong, admitted it hurt the game, and said they regretted it. He even used the word “guilty.” So technically, yes, he confessed — just not in a way that felt open or personal enough for a lot of people. He spent more time defending Altuve than reflecting on his own actions. Another weak sign.

 

But if I were commissioner, none of that would matter. The Astros' 2017 title would be stripped from the record books. Gone. Whoever devised the scheme, plus A.J. Hinch for letting it happen under his watch, would be expelled from baseball for life. The immunity deal with the players was a joke. That title was tainted, and there’s no excuse for Major League Baseball letting it stand.