Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve received a phone call from his new double-play partner, Carlos Correa.
Altuve didn't think Correa would sign with the Twins.
I was surprised. Altuve said he wasn't expecting that. He is a great player and a great guy in the locker room. He was a leader.
The Twins and Correa reached a three-year deal on Friday. The most sought after free agent was the shortstop.
Altuve, a seven-time All-Star, and Correa, a two-time All-Star, were mainstays in the middle of Houston's defense and at the top of the order since 2015. The duo helped lead the Astros to their first World Series title in 2017:
A career.279 hitter with 133 home runs, Correa was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217
Altuve said he was happy for him now that he was on another team. Happy for him. I know he will play well. He is going to make the Twins better.
Altuve said he and Correa would keep in touch via phone calls and video chats.
Altuve said they had dinner many times. That is what I will miss the most.
Jeremy Pena was the front-runner for the opening day start before Correa made his decision. One of the Astros top prospects, Pena is a career.300 hitter in the minor leagues. He hit 10 homers in 30 games at Sugar Land last season.
The locker next to Altuve is owned by the son of a former major leaguer.
Altuve said he was happy for Jeremy that he might get the chance to come and play in the big leagues and establish himself as an everyday player.
While Baker would have liked to have Correa in the lineup, his signing removed a bit of the fog that had lingered into Houston's camp this spring.
Baker said that nobody likes to be in an uncertain situation.
Some habits are hard to break.
The lineup card for the Astros-Washington exhibition game on Sunday had a familiar name written in the top of the order: Carlos Correa.
Baker's decision to hold his major league position players out of early games this spring allowed him to start Carlos bother, J.C., at designated hitter against the Nationals.
J.C. hit.310 with nine homers and 57 runs scored in 101 games between Class A Fayetteville and High Class A Asheville.
J.C. had a six-hit game and two four-hit games last season, his first as a minor leaguer.
Baker said that it was a lot of hitting.
There is a note.
The lineup card was taken out by the Nationals minor leaguer for the exchange with his dad. After hugging over home plate, the two posed for pictures with the umpires. He got into the game at second base.