Signs point to Carlos Correa staying in Houston, experts say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It has long been considered a done deal that Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa would leave the team in free agency this offseason, seeking a $300 million plus long-term contract that only the likes of the market-rich Yankees, Dodgers and Cubs would be willing to pay.

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Time is working against Correa, made more pressing by the MLB lockout that prevented him from talking with other teams for months.

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Now with the start of the season just weeks away, multiple reports say the Astros ownership and their star have resumed talks in the past 48 hours, and that a short-term return to the Astros could be brewing.

Late Sunday night, MLB Insider Hector Gomez reported the Astros had intensified their "talks to bring Carlos Correa back to Houston." Then ESPN's Buster Olney reported "agents have been predicting for weeks that Correa could take a deal in the range of six years with the Astros, at a high salary, with an opt-out after the first year."

Correa, the 27-year-old two-time All Star who led the Astros to the 2017 World Series title, entered the off-season seeking a long-term deal in the neighborhood of 10 years and $350 million. But, the 99-day lockout limited the ability to get a contract of that magnitude done.

Nonetheless, signs point to Correa wanting to stay in Houston for the short term, with the flexibility to re-enter free agency again soon.

For the full report, visit our partners at the Houston Chronicle.