Astros insiders’ worries about Carlos Correa hints should open Dodgers’ door

Whether the Los Angeles Dodgers want to make a serious run at Carlos Correa or not, it seems his Houston Astros window might be closing … for what feels like the second or third time this offseason, but still.

We tended to think Correa’s tenure in the cursed city of Houston was over once word leaked about the embarrassing lowball offer that the Astros’ brass had started the conversation with, but once the shortstop went into the lockout unsigned, prognosticators again gave the team a fighting chance of retaining him.

On perhaps a blowout two-year deal instead of a long-term pact, sure. But word was Correa wanted to return to Houston if at all possible, and you had to believe the team might be amenable to just extending their relationship for a pair of seasons instead of blowing it all up.

Well … what about now that Correa’s been caught selling all his Astros game-used gear at a most curious time?

A pair of Houston insiders got together this week to address the ripple effect of the memorabilia sales. It’s not necessarily as alarming as it seems at first blush — as one host noted, Correa’s father has actually been selling gear for a number of years — but why now? And why in such a big pool of items? Is Correa really that oblivious?

Dodgers fans should be excited about Carlos Correa embarrassing Astros on the way out.

Astros insider and radio host John Granato made the most salient point of all, though, when he noted, “Why does he have to sell anything? He’s rich and he’s getting richer. He doesn’t need the money.”

This is going to be an offseason of prosperity for Correa, whether he signs a short-term deal or the type of 10-year mega-contract most of us still expect.

In that case, who are the realistic suitors? Does that list extend beyond the Cubs? As we feel like we’ve advocated for the 20th time this offseason, the situation is ripe for the Dodgers to step in and ask an old enemy if he really, truly wants to win immediately — and for the entirety of the next decade, most likely.

Correa might be the Dodgers’ single most impactful free agency counter to the Padres and Giants this offseason, and personal feelings aside, the maneuver feels more and more possible by the day. Just make sure any gifts you send him during the wooing process don’t end up immediately on eBay. Then, things could get awkward.

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