Carlos Correa was not a name expected to be floated at the winter meetings in San Diego, but the Houston Astros' All-Star shortstop might be a payroll casualty.
The team is entering 2020 with the highest luxury-tax payroll at approximately $228 million, per Spotrac.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday that the Astros had explored a trade involving Correa as a solution:
"Among the ideas they have entertained in an attempt to alleviate their payroll crunch, according to major-league sources: A trade of shortstop Carlos Correa, the player they selected with the top pick of the 2012 draft.