Carlos Correa Isn’t the Enemy (Some) Twins Fans Are Making Him Out to Be

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

It’s been surreal watching the reactions unfold across Twins Territory since Carlos Correa was traded back to Houston at the deadline. There’s anger. There’s mockery. There are literal jersey burnings. Social media is filled with hot takes and a new nickname: “C-463,” a jab at his recent struggles at the plate and a reference to the scorebook code for a double play. And to be honest… I don’t get it.

Yes, Correa waived his no-trade clause and agreed to go back to Houston. But the narrative that he somehow betrayed the Twins or abandoned the team doesn’t hold up. From everything we’ve seen reported, it wasn’t Correa who initiated this move. The front office approached him, not the other way around. He didn’t walk into Rocco Baldelli’s office and ask out. He didn’t demand anything. He was presented with an option to join his former team, the defending champs, in first place, and he agreed. In the middle of a fire sale, after watching other teammates be shipped out, and after ownership slammed the door on the season and turned the lights off, he simply agreed to participate in the exodus.

So why are fans acting like he’s the villain?

We can’t talk about Correa’s time in Minnesota without starting with October 2023. The Twins hadn’t won a playoff game in 19 years. The narrative of futility was entrenched. Then came Correa, signed in large part because of his postseason track record, and he delivered precisely the performance the team had asked of him. Nine hits in 22 at-bats. Three doubles. Four RBIs. The game-winning hit in Game 2. The improvised throw home. The pickoff play that sealed the sweep. Those aren’t just memorable moments; they’re historic ones. The Twins finally broke the curse, and Correa was the driving force. Simply put, the Twins don't beat the Blue Jays without Correa. He provided the October heroics that he was signed to deliver.

And then in 2024, he followed it up with a strong season, his best in a Twins uniform. Despite being limited to just 86 games because of injuries, Correa led the team in WAR at 3.7. He was the stabilizing force in the lineup when healthy, and even when banged up, he worked his way back late in the year, hoping to help the team reach the postseason again. He would’ve been in the lineup in October if the roster hadn’t crumbled around him.

Then came this year, and yeah, it’s been rough. This season has not been kind to him. He hasn’t looked right at the plate. But he was still out there every day, playing shortstop, doing his job, even as the season turned to dust. That has to count for something.

And let’s not forget, Correa chose the Twins—not once, but twice. The Twins weren’t his first choice, sure. But after the Giants and Mets backed out, he had options. He didn’t have to return to Minnesota. He could’ve gone elsewhere, but he chose this team. And he bought in. That’s not something Twins fans get from star free agents in Minnesota, and I think some fans have taken that for granted.

Look, I get it. Correa’s contract was massive. He was the highest-paid player in franchise history, and no, he didn’t deliver superstar production for 162 games each year. That’s fair to acknowledge. You can absolutely argue that he wasn’t worth the full price tag of that deal, but the postseason heroics in 2023 alone were incredibly valuable. He didn’t just show up when it mattered. He delivered in ways that ended 19 years of playoff misery. How do you even put a dollar figure on that?

Beyond that, do we really believe that if the Twins hadn’t signed Correa, that money would have gone somewhere else? We’ve all watched how the Pohlads operate. That money wasn’t going to another shortstop or a front-line starter. It would have gone right back into ownership’s pockets. Correa wasn’t blocking spending. He was the spending. Perhaps more precisely, he was what the front office thought would be the tip of the spear, with more weight behind it. If there's a betrayal to talk about here, it's the same one we've talked about all along, with a new victim: Ownership pulled the rug out from under the front office and flouted the fans' trust by constricting the payroll after 2023, and that also double-crossed Correa himself.

Admittedly, Correa didn’t live up to every dollar. Most mega-contracts don’t. However, he gave the Twins something they hadn’t had in a generation: a postseason hero. For that alone, he deserves a better sendoff than this.

I’ll look back on Correa’s time in Minnesota fondly. He helped rewrite the story of this franchise. He brought a winning pedigree, big-game production, and stability to a position that had long been in flux. He was a leader, a clutch performer, and (in many ways) the face of a new era. That that era might now be defined by its shortcomings, rather than its successess, is the fault of many people, but Correa is low on the list.

I’m not going to burn his jersey. I’m not going to call him C-463. I’m going to remember the moments; the hits; the celebrations; and the joy of October 2023. I’ll wish him well, even in Houston.

What about you?

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[tarheeltwinsfan]

I agree 100 per cent Matthew. Thanks for writing this article about the best SS to ever play for the Twins. Carlos is about winning. The Twins owners let him down. I wish Carlos nothing but the best.

[bunsen82]

The Twins stepped up twice and offered the highest salaries they have ever offered in 2 separate contracts to Correa.  On the first contract, Correa performed very well.  On his most recent contract he has underperformed drastically,  a team doesn't pay another team $35 million to take on a player with no other compensation.  He has performed at half the level of his contract so far and he was barely a positive war for the Twins in 2025 (0.1).  

I am glad Correa has had a good week at Houston.  I think Correa is an excellent supplementary piece,  he is not a leader for a small market team.  That is ok.   I will also say the Twins did not do Correa any favors by underestimating what their future revenues would be and "right sizing the payroll."   In either case both the Twins and Correa are in better situations.   The other caveat is that most likely the new owners wanted Correa off the books.  The trade was done by Jim Pohlad.  This smacks of an ownership request and capitalizing on an injury for the Astros.  

Even still, we are saving 70 million plus over the next 3 years plus whatever extra years Correa would achieve.    

So in summary we don't need the vitriol on the internet.  We also don't need multiple articles stating how much of a travesty it was that the Twins traded Correa.  In the end it was a business decision, and I wouldn't base the fan reaction on a handful of over the top fans burning his jersey.  I think Twinsdaily is a pretty accurate gauge for most fans,  there hasn't been much vitriol towards Correa it almost unanimously has been towards Falvey and the Pohlads.   Ultimately if it helps us get new owners that are more willing to support this team,  I am all for it.  

[LewFordLives]

Good article. I suspect those out to villainize him are in the minority. In the end, it just made sense to part ways. 

If he had played better this year maybe they would still be in the playoff hunt, but it's easy for me to say that. Players, even the best, go through slumps.

[ashbury]

Those old-timey 2023 videos still make me glad every time I watch them.  Thanks for putting them out there again; I'm not crying, you're crying.

[NYCTK]

Quote

Those aren’t just memorable moments; they’re historic ones.

Winning a Wildcard Series is not historic. It is indeed memorable, and the 18 straight playoff losses was historic, but ending it? Cool, but inevitable. 

Quote

And let’s not forget, Correa chose the Twins—not once, but twice. The Twins weren’t his first choice, sure. But after the Giants and Mets backed out, he had options. He didn’t have to return to Minnesota. He could’ve gone elsewhere, but he chose this team.

Or, the Twins were the only organization dumb enough, after two failed physicals, to still give him $200 Million guaranteed. 

He CHOSE the Twins is one of the most laughable statements in defense of Correa. 

He will have been paid about $160 Million and he produced about 11 WAR and led the Twins to only one playoffs in the expanded playoffs era, and the Twins still didn't win a Division Series. Which is all fine, not nearly as bad as some would make it out to be, but it's also not really worthy of any celebration. 

It was an interesting experiment but the fact of the matter is the Carlos Correa Twins were a failure.

[DJL44]

The hot streak immediately after leaving makes it look like he wasn't giving 100% to the Twins. I really doubt that is the case, but that's how it looks.

[TwinsDr2021]

I posted this in a different article.

I am not trying to give him a pass, but I am thinking he is singing Morgan Wallen in his head:

Why they ever sign a guy like me in the first place?
Then turn around say that I'm the worst thing

You hate that when you look at me, you halfway see yourself
And it got me thinkin'
If I'm the problem
The Twins Front Office might be the reason!

[Mike Sixel]

you wrote something RPR and I agree on! Congratulations. 

[jkcarew]

Agree. He’s not done being good, either.

Thanks for the article.

[jmlease1]

If you're a MN Twin and you make a big contract, you'd better perform, not just up to the value of the contract but above and beyond it because there's nothing that will turn MN Twins fans on a player faster than making a ton of money and not performing like it every single night. Injuries will be treated as personal failings and the player will be pilloried for their contract (as if it wasn't market rate when signed) as if they player had somehow blackmailed the team into to paying them.

I loved having Correa here and was thrilled when they made the move. It didn't end up working out, and the "trade" they made was a fairly embarrassing salary dump, but I loved watching Correa. Healthy, he was the most complete SS we've probably ever had in a Twins uniform, and even when his metrics were sliding defensively he was still a delight to watch in the field.  The arm, the positioning...loved it.

The "let's hate Correa" nonsense some are doing now is just silly, and I hope Twins fans don't boo him when he returns to Target Field. I certainly won't.

[NYCTK]

4 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

 

The "let's hate Correa" nonsense some are doing now is just silly, and I hope Twins fans don't boo him when he returns to Target Field. I certainly won't.

Yet they WILL boo Altuve, who famously refused to cheat during the Astros scandal. 

If nothing else, this trade at least helps Twins fans look less ridiculous. 

[Dman]

Yeah I agree with this article.  I don't see Correa as any kind of villain.  A lot of it has been tough injury luck which seemed to exacerbate a defensive decline. I still think he could be an .800 OPS bat or close to it and play decent defense at third.  I mean that's why Houston wanted him back.  He's still a good player just not 33M per year good and that's why Houston made Minnesota pay that down.

I know Correa is going to be solid player and yet I am fine moving on as well.  It's not like both sides weren't trying to make things work, but it just didn't seem like things have been working that well.  He was an absolute rally killer earlier in the year and he was supposed to be the guy who lifted this team.  Honestly he really looked old and slow this year.  The only potential value left would have been his bat which was starting to come around just before the deadline.

We have Royce at third, Correa admitted short wasn't his best spot anymore so likely Culpepper there eventually.  Second looks like Keaschall.  there wasn't really gonna be a good spot for him in the future.  If anything his body failed him in his time here more often than not. I think him being home will help him a lot.  He has a good history in Houston, lot's of support.  I just think he is going to perform better there. 

I wanted him here badly, but in the end it just didn't seem like the fit worked as well as hoped. I wish him the best and I'm sure he wishes the same for Minnesota. Sometimes things don't work out the way we think they should.  I think that is what happened.

[EGFTShaw]

He is NOT a villian.  I stand by this.

As I understand it from reading on The Athletic, Twins management & C4 talked about the direction the team is taking which is different from the direction when they signed C4.

It is not on C4 to negotiate the trade.

All players go through good years and bad years.  This is risk you take when signing any player, either as FA or a contract extension.

Given the direction of the FO and Owners it is clear these moves are to help with the financial optics of selling the team.  They have a greater than normal debt associated with the team which drives down the overall value.

The Pohlads in the decades of ownership, although probably better than the Griffins, have not be known for spending to make the team successful. I think they missed a HUGE opportunity to take this team to next level financially and competively, but they decided to cut salary instead of working to improve things for the team/fans.

So, although C4 slipped, (injuries or something else), isn't a reason to vilify him.

Players like Jimmy Buckets IS a player to vilify. 

I honestly wish him the best of luck.

 

[Trov]

I personally find the narrative that he is a reason the young guys were doing poorly.  He may have had a different leadership style, but that is on the team for not stepping in to help the younger guys and asking CC to do it.  CC was not a bad signing at first, but he really fell off lately and was a risk long term.  He should not be a villain though. 

[Wedman13]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

If you're a MN Twin and you make a big contract, you'd better perform, not just up to the value of the contract but above and beyond it because there's nothing that will turn MN Twins fans on a player faster than making a ton of money and not performing like it every single night. 

Is that you Joe Mauer?

[jmlease1]

5 minutes ago, Wedman13 said:

Is that you Joe Mauer?

I wish, but the Mauer Experience is instructive to how some people behave. Same with Buxton. two of the most gifted Twins of my lifetime and people seem itching to crap on them. (I'll never forgive Dan Barreiro and his ilk for leading the charge against Mauer because he took too many walks and didn't have enough RBIs. 🙄)

[rv78]

Your version of Correa and his desire to play in Minnesota is a bit different than I remember. Yes he signed a 1 year deal to play here initially but I think there was an option in that 1st contract that he could have chosen to return for a 2nd year, which HE chose not to exercise. So, he CHOSE to leave Minnesota when he could have returned. Then he signed not one, but 2 different deals with other clubs (Mets & Giants) in which THEY backed out, not him. It's pretty obvious he didn't choose to play in Minnesota. It looks more like Minnesota chose him and made his salary too good to turn down. That's a big difference. Sometimes money talks. Yes, I agree the Pohlads pulled the rug out from under everyone including him. But given the choice, he CHOSE to play elsewhere multiple times after his initial season with the Twins. 

His time with the Twins, even in that 1 playoff series wasn't historic. It really wasn't even memorable. Sorry, when any player doesn't live up to their contract or expectations that isn't something you want to remember. Most over-rated and over-paid player to ever put on a Twins uniform.

[lukeduke1980]

I've lived through enough Pat Meares, Juan Castro, Jamey Carrol, Pedro Florimon etc years to not appreciate steadiness of Correa.

But he set the groundwork for the lofty expectations with the Dior comments. 

[TheLeviathan]

Villain?  Absolutely not.

But I've been all done with his vibe for awhile.  Give me Buxton's vibe.  Keaschall's vibe.  Ryan's vibe.  These are the dudes I want leading the Twins clubhouse.

Correa's polished politician style I believe was totally genuine.  He'll make a lot of money being in Front Office's spitting out word salads to the press in his future.  Probably will be really good at it.  But that's not the vibe I want for this next wave.

[Wedman13]

42 minutes ago, rv78 said:

Your version of Correa and his desire to play in Minnesota is a bit different than I remember. Yes he signed a 1 year deal to play here initially but I think there was an option in that 1st contract that he could have chosen to return for a 2nd year, which HE chose not to exercise. So, he CHOSE to leave Minnesota when he could have returned. 

What you are saying is factually true (although I thought it was 3 years not two).  But there isn't a player in the league that wouldn't opt out of a 2 year contract for a 5,6,7 year deal.  It was absolutely expected by all right from the start and a smart move that any of us would take.  It would have been negligent of his agent to allow him to opt in.  He  cannot be blamed for that IMO.

[bloomwcjkl]

CC is top talent. Just not with the Twins. I don't know why it didn't work.

Too much pressure? Too much spotlight? Injuries sure. How about when not injured?

It was the right move to trade Carlos. If he is superman again with Houston, then that is great for the Astros.

Why didn't David Ortiz do Ortiz stuff with the Twins? I don't know that either.

Nate Bargatze: Nobody knows..........

[mikelink45]

We wanted him - twice.  Other teams pointed out the flaws.  We said, we don't care, we can fix anything.  We can't.

He signed - twice, the last time we were the third team in line but were still standing when the music played so he came to us.

No one made us pay all that money.  Look at the Mets - Soto did not bring the pennant with him.  They still need to earn it and it isn't happening.  Is it Soto's fault?  No.  Would you take the money if someone is rich enough and dumb enough to take it?  Of course.

We came to a point where we were letting Correa down and we felt he was letting us down.  He accepted a trade.  We moved on.  He moved on.  No one's fault. 

To the fans - time for us to move on too.

[Connor Gould]

We signed Correa after deeming Josh Donaldson's contract to be a bad return on investment, and at the end of the day, Correa left the Twins with an OPS 45 points lower than Donaldson's during his tenure for more money. Sure, his SS defense more than made up that difference, but nobody seemed to broken up about Donaldson, so it checks out that they wouldn't be about Correa.

[Craig Arko]

After the fact, the question remaining for me is: does the trade help expedite the sale of the team? We’ll know better over the next few months.

[Thumbs Down Guy]

"It’s been surreal watching the reactions unfold across Twins Territory since Carlos Correa was traded back to Houston at the deadline. There’s anger. There’s mockery. There are literal jersey burnings. Social media is filled with hot takes and a new nickname: “C-463,” a jab at his recent struggles at the plate and a reference to the scorebook code for a double play. And to be honest… I don’t get it."

If you read your own paragraph you will have your answer. You are getting your info from social media. The cesspool of crap and those who do so.

[FlyingFinn]

I think everyone knew the back end of Correa's contract was not going to be good and he shouldn't be playing SS at that time. But we didn't think it would come quite this soon. As for Correa, I think he is a good person and may make a good coach in the future. I also think he gave it his best effort but, due to injuries, part of that was not hustling on ground balls that were sure outs. I just don't like that part as I think it creates a culture on a team where other guys now follow the leader and don't hustle. Yet, I understand Correa was doing it to stay healthy. Live to play another play. 

Thanks Carlos for your time here.

[Loops]

No reason to be angry with Correa. Do I think he was worth the money we spent on him? No. But that isn't his fault. One person does not make a team. I think we might have been better off getting 2 or 3 players with the money instead. (And I don't mean more prospects!)

[DocBauer]

Just to add a little more clarification to the OP...FWIW...Houston contacted the Twins. They made a stupid initial offer. (I've read COUNTLESS reports that basically all say the same so don't ask for links to things that are already put there). The Twins balked. Then the Astro's owner bypassed Falvey AND Joe Pohlad and went to Jim Pohlad to ask about a deal. 

What BS and what a mixed up ownership!

Plus, there were rumors of the Twins being sellers at the deadline. Correa hears this through Boras and speaks to Falvey. Falvey confirms the contact, and confirms the Twins are going to sell at the deadline. Falvey very honestly tells Correa he knows this wasn't what he signed on for. Correa says he would prefer to stay in Minnesota and help the Twins win, but he would waive his no trade clause for the Astros only.

*His wife is from Houston. It was his 1st team. They both have family there.

Jax speaks to Correa and learns that not only might he be gone, but the Twins are going to sell at the deadline. Jax then asks his agent to ask for a trade at this point.

Correa, IMO, is a class act. He played when in serious pain, and was so invested in the Twins that he knew and followed the Twins MILB system more than a lot of TD members. He might have WANTED to move to 3B, but we NEVER heard about that until AFTER the trade.

HE was the one to walk Jax in to Rocco's office after the curfuffle about appearing in a lopsided loss that brought out frustration and confusion that had to be mitigated and understood.

IMO...FWIW...the Correa signing was a glorious NEW DIRECTION for the franchise that lead to 2023 and all the exuberance you could muster. When the Pohlads pulled the rug out from everything Falvey and his fellows put together and seemingly spit on the franchise, disappointment and vitriol followed. Deservedly so.

But when you spend so much time and anger against the ownership that TEASED you in to believing a better future was at hand, where do you place your anger at some point?

Well you obviously point your anger at the most expensive player on the team that just ISN'T producing at an ALL STAR level that came overcome injuries and a poorly made roster to lift your team to the level you WANTED to see.

Yep. Time to stop hating the Pohlads, and even Falvey for a moment, and just hate the most expensive player on the roster because he's human and not Superman. 

Remind anyone of 1st ballot HOF Joe Mauer? Remember, Mauer really only had ONE good season in his career and STOLE $ from the Twins and what they MIGHT have done without his contract. (SERIOUS SARCASM ALERT)!

Correa is a GOOD GUY. He was FULLY invested in the Twins. He played hurt. He probably had his best season ever in 2024 when healthy. 

Sometimes sh*t just doesn't work out. You THINK it will, but it just doesn't. But to blame Correa for having some injuries and playing through them, and trying to do the best he can and bring leadership just wasn't the problem.

I don't like having Correa gone because I'd rather have him EVERY SINGLE DAY in my system than ANYONE related to the Pohlads at this point. I mean, Joe is so in charge that his uncle is contacted to make this move?

To be 100% honest, considering the current situation with ownership, the trade of Correa is the smart one. (Sorry Nick). I'm a fan and HATE to see him go for MANY reasons. The organization gets another $20M to work with, and the door opens up for some top prospects for a re-tool. 

But NOBODY should blame Correa for anything other than just being a big move that didn't turn out.

[Rufus]

7 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I agree 100 per cent Matthew. Thanks for writing this article about the best SS to ever play for the Twins. Carlos is about winning. The Twins owners let him down. I wish Carlos nothing but the best.

The Twins owners let him down?  The guy opted out of his original contract.  only  resigning with the Twins when two other teams passed on him for physical reasons.  The Twins took a chance and signed him for a team record contract.  He then went out and underperformed for the 2.5 seasons, spending a large amount of time on the IL.  He knew full well the Twins signed him to play SS. but then he was traded he whined that he had asked the Twins to move him to 3rd base.  .  and the Twins ownership let him down?  What a Prima Donna