The Rafael Devers' trade is an interesting data set when talking about what teams will do at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. In agreeing to pay the remainder of the money owed to Devers--over $250MM for the next 8 years and change--the San Francisco Giants didn't give up the prospect cost that one would have expected in a trade of Devers. For teams like the Minnesota Twins, who have a Carlos Correa contract that seems undesirable, the Devers trade could give them renewed hope.
Nevertheless, when a player like Devers gets moved, and considering the financials involved, the Correa question was eventually going to get asked. During a recent Q&A with subscribers, The Athletic's Dan Hayes was asked about the idea of the Twins moving Correa.
"Correa would not be traded unless he came to the Twins and requested it himself. When he signed his six-year deal in January 2023, the Twins included a no-trade clause. While a no-trade clause gives the player veto power, a club can talk to other teams about the possibility of trading that player. However, unless the player signs off, it’s all moot," Hayes reminded in his response.
Carlos Correa trade chatter gets shut down before it even starts
Hayes also added that Correa is entrenched in Twins' culture and loves being in Minnesota. Short of the Twins needing to dramatically cut payroll ahead of the sale of their franchise, Hayes doesn't see any scenario where the team considers moving Correa.
Along those lines, taking on Correa and his contract is not the same as the Giants taking on Devers' contract. Devers is one of the best left-handed hitters in baseball, and for a team that his missed out on top-tier free agents in the past, it made sense why the Giants were inclined to make that deal.
There won't be that inclination for Correa, considering his health has become a major concern moving forward, and this season, it appears to be one of the primary reasons for his inconsistent offense. For better or worse, the Twins are going to be stuck with Correa's contract.