When the Astros reacquired Carlos Correa from the Twins, 1,367 days had passed since his last game with his original team, Game 6 of the 2021 World Series. A lot has happened in that time. It feels like a lifetime ago, to be honest. And, on day 1,368, the former franchise icon officially returned, hitting cleanup and playing third base for the first time in his career.
Life can hit you suddenly and without warning.
Time will tell the impact of Correa’s second stint with Houston. With Minnesota paying $33 million across the remaining term of the contract, Correa’s true cost to the Astros is around three years, $70.420 million, with no notable cost in terms of prospects. Even if Correa’s production is closer to a regular contributor versus a star, it isn’t a contract that the club will greatly regret. There are vesting options — essentially club options in the broader context — but if any of these options are triggered or if Houston chooses to exercise, it likely indicates that the production has justified such events. The cost, in any event, isn’t too significant a detriment for the organization moving forward.
In addition to Correa, the Astros boosted their roster in other areas at the trade deadline, namely adding Jésus Sánchez from the Marlins and Ramón Urías from the Orioles. We didn’t have much of a chance to see Urías in action until late in the game, but Sánchez got the start in left field and hitting third against the Red Sox. For as long as Yordan Alvarez remains on the IL, this lineup won’t be close to full strength. But these additions at least raise the floor for a batting order sorely in need of some run production in recent weeks.
Perhaps we’ll see some results on Saturday, though.
Friday’s game at Fenway Park didn’t exactly unfold as hoped. Vibes were undoubtedly high entering this three-game set against Alex Bregman’s new team, but those can only take you so far. The lineup, even with the fresh faces, couldn’t muster anything meaningful, other than Christian Walker’s solo home run in the second inning.
Set the tone, C-Walk.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/ynlERYV9fU
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 1, 2025
Jeremy Peña also had three hits in his first game back since late June, for what that is worth. However, Boston’s Cooper Criswell limited the Astros to one run across seven innings, striking out four while walking two—all on 84 pitches, by the way. While Houston generated some traffic on the basepaths, they couldn’t convert with Criswell mixing in his four pitches (cutter, sinker, changeup, and sweeper) effectively. The average exit velocity for the Astros was only 87.4 mph, with only two extra-base hits on the evening. Of course, it doesn’t help matters when Laz Díaz was behind the plate, calling balls and strikes. Questionable, and a handful of downright bad calls, were the theme of the game.
Hunter Brown felt some of the pinch of that questionable strike zone, but he also had his best start in nearly a month, throwing seven innings of one-run ball himself. While he didn’t have his typical swing-and-miss stuff (eight whiffs on 42 swings), he kept the Red Sox quiet for most of his start, striking out six and walking only one. That seventh inning stung considering the final result, but this was an encouraging start for Brown.
Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader kept the game tied through the ninth inning, with Bennett Sousa getting the call in the tenth. Unfortunately, Roman Anthony had other plans, walking it off by scoring Wilyer Abreu. Bummer.
Unfortunately, Correa’s first game back with the Astros ends in a loss. The lineup, again, was lackluster, although hopefully, better days are on the horizon. Peña had a hamstring cramp, but seems fine to play tomorrow. But with this team, a hamstring cramp can easily turn into another multiple-week absence. In any case, the Rangers or Mariners will gain a game on the Astros in the AL West standings, with both teams playing each other tonight. Colton Gordon starts Saturday opposite Walker Buehler.