Aug 17, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa (1) runs up the first base line after hitting a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Daikin Park. Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Astros Slugger Carlos Correa Ranked as Top MLB Trade Deadline Acquisition

Originally posted on Houston Astros on SI
By Kyle Morton | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The Houston Astros delivered what was inarguably the signature moment of this year's MLB trade deadline when they acquired infielder Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins as the clock ticked down on July 31.

The move brought a franchise icon back to the team that drafted him and where he made his name, and it solved an infield vacancy brought about by an injury to Isaac Paredes. It was an instant morale boost for the locker room and fans alike, as it felt like righting a wrong that should never have happened. Correa should have always been an Astro, and now he was again.

But how has the move panned out on the field? It turns out quite well. The former No. 1 overall draft pick owns a .307/.375/.426 slash line since rejoining his former club. He's hit three home runs, driven in 13 and drawn 11 walks while providing stable defense at third base despite the learning curve at a new position.

Has Carlos Correa Been the Best MLB Trade Deadline Acquisition?

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

With a month of separation from the trade deadline, many pundits are tacking stock of the winners and losers with the benefit of some results to analyze. That includes MLB.com analyst Brian Murphy, who ranked Correa third among his top eight deadline acquisitions.

"Correa rejoining the Astros was the Deadline's biggest shocker," Murphy wrote. "Less surprising is how well he is playing in the city where he began his career. Correa picked up 30 hits through the first 22 games of this reunion and owns a .320/.389/.443 slash line in 108 plate appearances. His 137 wRC+ is a 40-point leap from what he accomplished with the Twins, and his 0.9 FanGraphs WAR in just 25 games with the Astros nearly matches his 1.0 fWAR in 93 games with Minnesota this season."

The on-field impact has been massive. It's tough to think about where the team's offense would have been for August without Correa's contributions. The team nearly went a whole series against a fellow American League playoff contender in the Detroit Tigers without scoring a single run, and it's been spotty even outside from that.

But that sweep at the hands of the Tigers also revealed the other upside to the addition of Correa, and that's his leadership. Correa was clear in his comments after the series that the team's effort against a possible playoff opponent was not good enough.

There was no shortage of winning DNA already on hand in the clubhouse at Daikin Park, the team won the World Series in its first season without Correa after all, but adding him back to the mix as a sparkplug was a brilliant move. His outstanding offensive contributions have only been the icing on the cake.

This article first appeared on Houston Astros on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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