2 Carlos Correa trades that would make Astros better long-term

Carlos Correa could force Bo Bichette position change

Bichette is a tremendous talent and a likely All-Star for years to come, but it’s unlikely he remains at shortstop for the duration of his big league career. With that in mind, the Blue Jays could force said change just a bit earlier than expected by adding Correa, who is expected to be on their short list next offseason.

Rather than risk losing out on another shortstop after Francisco Lindor was traded to the Mets, the Jays can pair Correa with his former teammate in George Springer. He’d form a star-studded infield with Cavan Biggio, Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Marcus Semien, meanwhile, is more likely a short-term fix at second base who will be paid handsomely next offseason.

What would it take for the Blue Jays to acquire Correa? In similar fashion to the Tigers, a prospect-laden package is the way to go.

Richardson is the real prize here, as he ranks as the 78th-best prospect in all of baseball. The Astros might aim higher, hoping to convince Toronto to part ways with one of their top-3 prospects, most notably Austin Martin or Jordan Groshans, both of whom have experience at shortstop. However, both of those players arguably have higher upside and rank inside the top-40 of MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings for a reason.

Adding one top-100 prospect for a player on an expiring deal — even Correa — would be considered a worthwhile move from Houston’s perspective. For the Jays, they take home the real prize, and add even more talent to a young and improving team.