The New York Mets have engaged in dialogue with the Houston Astros about a potential trade for shortstop Carlos Correa, though no deal is close, sources told Andy Martino of SNY.
The Astros are apparently open to trading the oft-injured All-Star infielder to alleviate payroll constraints. Correa is projected to earn $7.4 million in arbitration this offseason and will have one more season of team control after next year before he's slated to hit free agency prior to 2022.
Correa, 25, was limited to a career-low 75 games in 2019. When healthy, he hit .279 with 21 home runs. It was a step up from a forgettable 2018 campaign, where he posted a .728 OPS in 110 contests.
However, the trade talks may be inconsequential. Correa contacted Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow after rumors surfaced Tuesday evening. Luhnow told him to relax, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.
"I reassured him he's an Astro," Luhnow said Wednesday. "It would be surprising if we moved any of our core players."
Additionally, the Correa talks are seen as "more fantasy baseball" than reality, a source told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, though Martino pushed back to reiterate that a dialogue had taken place.
It’s not a rumor, it’s a report. And they’ve had dialogue, as reported. https://t.co/CJvlepD21f
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 12, 2019
