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OAKLAND, Calif .– Astros shortstop Carlos Correa says he hasn’t seriously discussed a long-term deal with Houston and is considering looking for a big paycheck at a free agency in the during the next season.
“We weren’t close at all. There weren’t really any negotiations,” Correa said Thursday before the Astros opened their season against the Oakland Athletics. “It’s another year with the Houston Astros. I’m going to go out there, do my best and try to bring another championship to this city.”
Correa said last week he turned down a six-year, $ 120 million offer and said Thursday he also declined a five-year, $ 125 million offer – paltry compared to the deal’s deal. $ 341 million over 10 years that Francisco Lindor agreed to with the New York Mets on Wednesday night. Lindor and Correa were both eligible for a free agency after this season.
“Love it, it’s a great deal,” Correa said of Lindor’s deal. “He deserves every penny. … He pushed the market for every shortstop coming after him.”
Correa, 26, has set an opening day deadline to reach a deal. He will earn $ 11.3 million this season.
“The relationship is great. There is no hard feelings,” Correa said. “It’s a business. They told me very clearly, they said, ‘We don’t believe in long contracts. We don’t believe in big contracts. “So once I get into free agency I’ll be looking for a big, long contract. They made it very clear that they didn’t believe it.”
Correa was Houston’s first pick in the 2012 draft, a year the Astros had their second of three consecutive seasons with more than 100 losses. He made his debut in 2015 and was voted AL Rookie of the Year. Correa was an All-Star in 2017, when he helped lead the Astros to their first World Series title.
In the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, he hit .264 with five homers and 25 RBIs. He insists he’s ready to play and focus on baseball.
“I will always love this city and it will always be my second home,” he said. “If this is my last season, I love the fans here, I know they love me back. But if this is my last season, I will try to finish it with a championship. main objective this year. “
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