Ask Carlos Correa and the Astros shortstop will tell you the last seven years of his playing career have been the best of his life.
That's high praise and a lofty claim, but the 27-year old was a two-time All-Star and 2015 AL Rookie of the Year for a club that prior to his arrival hadn't posted a winning season since 2008. On Tuesday night, they wrapped up their third World Series berth in five years after getting shut out 7-0 in Game 6 by the Braves.
And though Astros fans, his teammates and others may not want to admit it, to talk about Correa's time in Houston seemingly needs to be done in the past tense. He's a free agent now as the offseason begins after he declined to talk about or negotiate a new contract during the season.
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There's always a chance Correa and the Astros reach an agreement, but if not, he made it known in no uncertain terms what the team, its fans and his time in Houston meant to him.
Carlos Correa asked for his message to the fans: "(These) were the seven greatest years of my life. Came as a boy and turned into a man."
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 3, 2021
For as much as fans may not be looking forward to Correa's impending free agent status and the prospect of losing their franchise shortstop, the possibility he may not return weighed heavily on him as well.
Carlos Correa said "the only thing going through my mind" during the ninth inning was that it could be his last at-bat as an Astro inside Minute Maid Park.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 3, 2021
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If it was in fact Correa's last game in MinuteMaid Park as an Astro, then he certainly left his mark on a club that has experienced its share of ups-and-downs in recent decades.
He played 752 games in Houston and put up 34.1 WAR in that span — good for ninth all-time in club history. He also ranks just outside the top 10 in club history in both home runs (133) and RBIs (489) while slashing .277/.356./.481, giving him an .837 OPS, the eighth-best mark in club history.
Though baseball's as much a team sport as any, and the Astros' recent return to prominence isn't solely on Correa, he at least feels he did his part.
Carlos Correa: “All I can say is I did everything in my power to make this team a better club, trend the right way and I’m proud of my time here.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 3, 2021
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The Astros of 2021 are a much different team than the Astros of 2015 with which Carlos Correa broke into the big leagues. The franchise is at a different juncture, with different recent history and a different trajectory.
They may even have a different manager next season (though Correa and others voiced their support and hope that Dusty Baker would return).
And if in fact there is a different shortstop suiting up for the Astros next season, Correa doesn't want anyone to forget what his time in Houston meant to him.
Correa on his message to the fans: “To the fans, I want to say thank you for your support. My time here was amazing. … I got here as a boy and turned into a man.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) November 3, 2021