Carlos Correa Stuns MLB: Clutch Ninth-Inning Homer Lifts Twins to Dramatic Victory

With the Major League Baseball trade deadline just hours away, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa has rocketed to the center of the rumor mill. Multiple reports indicate the 30-year-old would waive his full no-trade clause to facilitate a reunion with the Houston Astros, the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2012 and with which he won a World Series in 2017. Correa is in Year 3 of a six-year pact worth a remaining $92 million and is owed $31.5 million in 2026, $30.5 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028. League insiders suggest Houston would insist that Minnesota eat a “significant portion” of that salary to make a deal work. Why Houston is interested • Offensive need: Astros shortstops rank in the bottom third of MLB in OPS this season. • Clubhouse fit: Correa was a vocal leader during the Astros’ 2015-21 run and still maintains an offseason residence in Houston. • Playoff push: Sitting two games back in the AL West, Houston is prioritizing impact bats over pitching at this deadline. Why Minnesota is listening • Under-production: Correa owns a .240/.283/.364 slash line and a .701 OPS—both career lows—as plantar fasciitis and an early-season ankle sprain have limited his explosiveness. • Payroll flexibility: Off-loading part of Correa’s contract would help a midsize-market club extend emerging stars Brooks Lee and Joe Ryan. • Shortstop depth: Rookie Lee has impressed defensively and could slide in as the everyday shortstop if Correa departs. Possible trade framework Front-office sources expect any Astros-Twins talks to center on Houston’s top pitching prospects—right-hander Spencer Arrighetti and southpaw Colton Gordon—plus salary relief. Minnesota would likely target at least one MLB-ready arm to bolster a rotation that has lost Chris Paddack and Bailey Ober to injuries. Correa’s legacy angle A return to Minute Maid Park would instantly super-charge the Astros’ fan base and provide Correa a familiar stage to rebuild his value. Since debuting in 2015, the Puerto Rican star has delivered 34.7 career WAR, two All-Star selections and a reputation for October heroics. Even in a down year, his max-exit-velocity and hard-hit rates remain in the 80th percentile, suggesting upside once fully healthy. What’s next The deadline strikes Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. If talks stall, Correa could still be moved in the offseason, but both clubs appear motivated now: Houston to chase its third title in nine seasons, and Minnesota to retool around a younger, cheaper core. Expect updates to move fast as executives gauge medicals and finalize the financial split. Bottom line Whether Correa dons an Astros jersey again or stays in the Twin Cities, his name will dominate search engines and front pages until the final buzzer sounds on trade-deadline day.