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The Houston Astros pulled off perhaps the most surprising move of the baseball season last month when they reacquired superstar Carlos Correa, but it might have only been possible because another star player refused to join them.
Looking to reload their infield and return to the playoffs, the Astros attempted to acquire Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals this past offseason. But Arenado blocked that deal in the 11th hour.
“Arenado nixed a trade to the Astros, multiple sources told The Athletic, refusing to waive his full-no trade clause — at least for now — to join a franchise that has reached the playoffs each of the last eight years,” according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. “One league source described the deal as ‘on the 1-yard line’ … with the Astros agreeing to pay a majority of Arenado’s remaining contract.”
Instead, the Astros slotted Isaac Paredes into the third base role for much of the season and then acquired Correa from the Minnesota Twins at the deadline and moved him to third base for the first time in his career.
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Now, as Correa learns the position, he is studying some of the game’s best active third basemen. And that includes the veteran who refused a trade to the team a few months ago.
“The accuracy of Arenado’s throws, no matter where a play takes the six-time Platinum Glover, amazes Correa,” according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. “So does an internal clock Correa called ‘the best of anyone in the league.'”
As Correa adapts to the hot corner in the third season of his six-year, $200 million contract, the Astros can hope his praise for Arenado leads to some similar aptitude on defense. In addition to his Platinum Glove Awards, Arenado is a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner and he leads Major League Baseball with a .988 fielding percentage so far this year.
If Correa can take at least some of that skill by watching the player he just praised, maybe losing out on Arenado will ultimately benefit the Astros.
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