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Astros’ Injury Woes Deepen as Paredes Sidelined, Peña Nears Return amidst Correa Speculation
The Houston Astros are grappling with mounting injury concerns, most recently seeing infielder Isaac Paredes exit a game with a meaningful injury that could perhaps end his season. This latest setback adds too the Astros’ already extensive list of players on the injured list, a league-leading tally.
Meanwhile,shortstop Jeremy Peña,who has been sidelined with a fractured left rib,is making progress in his recovery. Peña participated in his second minor-league rehabilitation game with Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday. There’s optimism he could rejoin the Astros’ active roster as early as Friday, with a potential return to the lineup in Boston.
The contractual situations of both Peña and Paredes, who each have two more years of club control, have fueled speculation about potential roster moves, particularly concerning Carlos Correa. Should the Astros pursue Correa, questions arise about where he would fit into the lineup, especially given internal doubts about Paredes’ ability to adequately play second base.
A tweet from reporter Ari Alexander highlighted Paredes’ injury, stating, “Isaac paredes is hurt. He pulled up after a long single, and is coming out of the game. The Astros lead the league in players on the IL.”
Separately, Carlos Correa was absent from the Minnesota Twins’ lineup on Wednesday, having left the previous night’s game due to a migraine. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning after experiencing headache symptoms for three consecutive days and received clearance. Correa anticipates being ready to play Friday when the Twins begin a series in Cleveland.Twins manager Rocco Baldelli expressed unfamiliarity with any rumors surrounding Correa, citing his lack of social media engagement. “I don’t get wound up by much of what goes on,” Baldelli commented. “There will always be things floating around this week. Nothing is really surprising to me.”
Despite the Twins’ apparent admiration for Correa, viewing him as a significant on-field contributor, the team’s financial landscape has undergone a significant shift in the 30 months as he signed his six-year contract. With the club up for sale since October, spending capabilities are constrained. Correa’s current salary constitutes a notable 25% of the Twins’ $141 million payroll.
While the Twins did allocate an additional $15 million to their budget this season, the majority of these funds were directed towards players on one-year contracts, many of whom are widely expected to be traded.
Correa himself acknowledged in January that the impending sale was not a primary concern, and the team’s spending limitations were a known reality. “We’re in a spot now where we cannot invest – it is what it is,” Correa stated. “You’ve got to live with that, and you’ve got to go out and play with the players that you have. I feel like the talent is in this clubhouse, we’ve just got to put it all together.”
The Twins are currently struggling, holding one of the worst records in the American League at 51-57, despite a recent 13-game winning streak. Their roster features at least 10 players who have been subjects of trade rumors.
A week prior,Correa remarked on the novel experience of playing for a team that is more inclined to trade players away than to acquire new talent. “I’ve been having a lot of conversations with players and trying to keep them focused on the things they can control in the daily work we do,” Correa said. “Whatever happens happens.That’s the front office’s job and it’s not an easy job. You let them figure out that part and we figure out the baseball part. You deal with whatever happens after that.”
