Astros manager Joe Espada has informed reporters, including Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that infielder Carlos Correa will not come off the disabled list to join the Astros this year. According to Espada, according to Roma, there was no specific setback or recurrence of injuries. Rather, the daily workload related to his recovery became too much to bear. While Espada may not like the word, it’s hard to honestly say this isn’t a setback, given recent events. Correa underwent surgery on his left ankle in May. Although he was initially expected to finish his season, the possibility of him returning at the end of the season finally became real. Last month, Espada said the Astros expected Correa to return sometime in September. Two days ago, according to Rome, Correa was about to begin a rehabilitation mission. Looking back a few months ago, today’s update is not a significant advance. Their 2026 season had already been canceled and that is the case once again. But the potential for a postseason push was appealing. Correa has had plenty of injuries over the years, but put together a solid .279/.369/.418 line before hitting the disabled list earlier this year, with solid defense at both shortstop and third base as well. Getting that kind of production back by October could have given the Astros some extra juice, but that dream has now faded. For now, the Astros will continue with their current group of position players, with Jeremy Peña at shortstop, Isaac Paredes at third, José Altuve at second, Christian Walker at first and Yordan Álvarez at designated hitter most of the time. Correa’s return was going to shake up that group and he could have ended up playing some second base, which would have been new for him, but that’s a moot point now. The question of how to make all the pieces fit will continue throughout the offseason, as all of those players are either under contract or under club control by 2027. The club could once again hold onto everyone and let the inevitable injuries sort things out. Here in 2026, it was unknown how the Astros would find playing time for everyone, but then Pena missed time in April with a hamstring strain and Correa suffered his ankle injury in May. In the end, there were very few days where everyone was healthy at the same time. That wouldn’t necessarily be the case in 2027 and there are also other reasons to hope that the club can ease the stalemate with a trade. Peña and Paredes are scheduled for free agency after 2027. The Astros have expressed interest in extending Peña in the past, but there has been no indication that they have been close to a deal. Given that Peña is a client of Boras Corporation, the odds of closing a deal may have been high all along. That’s basically the same situation Kyle Tucker found himself in a few years ago. With one year left of club control and an extension didn’t seem possible, they put him on the trade block. The Cubs achieved this by waiving Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith. Instead of keeping everyone in the infield/DH group and waiting for an injury, the Astros may look to make a trade that opens things up and also helps them address other parts of their roster. Adding outfield help or pitching via trade would help them avoid free agency, notable for a club that likes to stay under the competitive balance tax. Photo courtesy of Erik Williams, Imagn Images
