Carlos Correa

Major League Baseball celebrated its best defensive players from the 2021 season with the announcement of this year's Gold Glove winners.

The St. Louis Cardinals made history by claiming more than half of the National League's nine Gold Gloves. Their in-state rivals, the Kansas City Royals, were one of three American League teams with two representatives.

Here are the full results from this year's voting.

2021 MLB Gold Glove Winners

American League

• Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel (Chicago White Sox) 
• Catcher: Sean Murphy (Oakland A's)
• First Base: Yuli Gurriel (Houston Astros)
• Second Base: Marcus Semien (Toronto Blue Jays) 
• Third Base: Matt Chapman (Oakland A's)
• Shortstop: Carlos Correa (Houston Astros)
• Left Field: Andrew Benintendi (Kansas City Royals)
• Center Field: Michael A. Taylor (Kansas City Royals) 
• Right Field: Joey Gallo (New York Yankees)

National League

• Pitcher: Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)
• Catcher: Jacob Stallings (Pittsburgh Pirates) 
• First Base: Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Second Base: Tommy Edman (St. Louis Cardinals) 
• Third Base: Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Shortstop: Brandon Crawford (San Francisco Giants)
• Left Field: Tyler O'Neill (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Center Field: Harrison Bader (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Right Field: Adam Duvall (Atlanta Braves)

The Cardinals dominated the list of finalists in the National League with six candidates making the cut: Yadier Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Edman, Nolan Arenado, Tyler O'Neill and Harrison Bader.

The Cards ultimately had five Gold Glove recipients, setting an MLB record.

In the case of second base, St. Louis lost the 2019 and 2020 winner (Kolten Wong) and replaced him with the 2021 winner in Edman.

At the hot corner, Arenado continued his dominance as he now has nine Gold Gloves in his trophy cabinet. Only Brooks Robinson (16) and Mike Schmidt (10) have more at the position.

Carlos Correa is poised to collect a big contract this offseason after finishing fourth in WAR (5.8) among position players in the AL, per FanGraphs. Part of his value stems from playing elite defense at a premium position.

Adding a Gold Glove to Correa's catalog of achievements will certainly strengthen his leverage at the negotiating table.

The Gold Glove rollout isn't the only accolade awarded to the best in the field. Fan voting for the 2021 Platinum Glove Award is now open.

Arenado is the four-time reigning honoree from the NL. In the AL, Alex Gordon's retirement in 2020 opened the door for a new winner.

The Houston Astros have reportedly tendered a qualifying contract offer to shortstop Carlos Correa, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Heyman reported Correa will reject the offer based on interest on the open market. If accepted, the qualifying offer for 2022 is worth $18.4 million for a one-year deal.

Fox 26's Mark Berman previously reported that Houston tabled a five-year, $160 million contract offer for the shortstop.

Correa hit .279 (.850 OPS) with 26 home runs and 92 RBI in 148 games this season for the American League West champion Astros, who lost the World Series to the Atlanta Braves.

The two sides had previously agreed to a one-year, $11.7 million contract to avoid arbitration for the 2021 season. Astros general manager James Click revealed on Feb. 7 that the team has discussed a long-term extension with Correa, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Correa reportedly turned down a six-year, $120 million contract in March, per Heyman, after the 27-year-old hit .264 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 58 games in 2020.

It now appears he will test the market to see his true value.

The 6'4" shortstop has dealt with numerous injuries, including a rib fracture suffered in May 2019 during an in-home massage. 

Injuries prevented Correa from playing more than 110 games in 2017-2019. A torn ligament in his left thumb was the primary culprit in 2017, and a back ailment kept him sidelined for a month-and-a-half in 2018.

When healthy, he is one of the game's greatest hitters at his position. That's evidenced by his work in 2021, which has featured Correa playing at his All-Star peak in a relatively injury-free year.

He was also the recipient of the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year Award and earned an appearance in the 2017 All-Star Game before helping the Astros win the 2017 World Series.

The question is where Correa will spend next season after thus far failing to agree to a long-term deal with Houston.

The Houston Astros have reportedly offered star shortstop Carlos Correa a five-year, $160 million deal, per Fox 26's Mark Berman.

The deal is worth $32 million per year, but it's unclear if Correa has any plans to accept the offer. 

It is a significant increase from what the franchise previously offered. Correa was offered a six-year, $120 million deal and five-year, $125 million contract in the past, per the Houston Chronicle.

The deal would make Correa the second-highest paid shortstop in baseball behind New York Mets star Francisco Lindor, per Spotrac. However, several high-profile free-agent shortstops could also receive similar deals, including Trevor Story, Corey Seager and Javier Baez. 

Astros general manager James Click told reporters earlier this week that the team would put it's best foot forward to re-sign Correa. However, Houston could end up in a bidding war to retain the former Rookie of the Year. 

Several teams could be interested in making a run for Correa this winter, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. 

If the Dodgers lose Seager in free agency, it wouldn't be surprising to see the franchise make a run at Correa. L.A. brought in Trea Turner at the 2021 trade deadline, but he mostly played second base with Seager at short. 

The Mets could also make a run for the 27-year-old if they don't bring Baez back. He would be paired with Lindor in New York's infield, provided he or the latter would be interested in potentially switching positions to second base. 

The Yankees might be targeting a shortstop, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the club tried to land Correa. New York struggled to effectively fill the position during the 2021 campaign with Gio Urshela and Gleyber Torres. Correa would fit like a glove. 

Boston is also reportedly interested in signing a shortstop this season, with Xander Bogaerts reportedly prepared to decline his option after the 2022 season. The plan would be for Bogaerts to play second base, per The Athletic's Jim Bowden. 

Correa had a great 2021 season, hitting .279/.366/.485 with a career-high 26 home runs and 92 RBI. He's hitting .277/.356/.481 across seven seasons with the Astros.  

Freddie Freeman's last swing under his current contract with Atlanta delivered the World Series dagger. 

The first baseman has played for the new World Series champion for all of his major league career, but he is now out of contract. 

Freeman is one of the most coveted free agents on the market, but that is if he gets there. Atlanta would be smart to do everything in its power to keep Freeman for 2022 and beyond. 

The Houston Astros face a similar conundrum with Carlos Correa, who will be wanted by every franchise that wants to make an upgrade at shortstop. 

Correa is one of the top players on the free-agent market, and it may be harder for the Astros to keep him than for Atlanta to retain Freeman because of the abundance of interest from other clubs. 

Biggest Offseason Questions for World Series Participants

Will Atlanta Re-Sign Freddie Freeman? 

Freeman just completed an eight-year, $135 million contract that he signed in 2014. 

The 32-year-old has been the face of the Atlanta franchise for quite some time and finally got to taste the glory of winning a championship Tuesday. 

Freeman has accomplished everything possible in an Atlanta shirt now. He is a five-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger winner and a National League MVP. 

In some regards, now would be the perfect time for a star to move on to another club since everything possible has been accomplished. 

But Freeman is the heart and soul of the franchise, and there is a real possibility it will be back contending for a repeat title in 12 months.

Atlanta will get Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mike Soroka back from long-term injuries, and its pitching staff will be bolstered by a few young arms like Kyle Wright who were showcased in the World Series when Charlie Morton went down with a broken leg. 

Atlanta has one of the best foundations for multiple years of success and does not have to re-sign Eddie Rosario or Jorge Soler to achieve that success. 

Acuna will patrol the outfield again in 2022, and top-rated prospect Christian Pache should have a chance to win an Opening Day roster spot. Drew Waters could also be in the mix for one of the outfield spots depending on how he performs in spring training. 

Few teams have the organizational depth that Atlanta has, and it would make a lot of sense for both parties to continue their union. 

Of course, Atlanta will have to pony up a pretty penny for Freeman, but any cost is worth it because of what he has meant to the franchise. 

Where Does Carlos Correa Land? 

Correa will be the most-wanted player in a loaded free-agent shortstop class. 

The 27-year-old is at least a year younger than any of the other marquee names at the position who are set to hit the open market. 

Trevor Story is 29 and appears to be on the way out of Colorado, a path that many other Rockies have taken in search of big deals. 

Corey Seager is 28 and is likely to leave the Los Angeles Dodgers since Trea Turner seems ready to shift over to short.

Javier Baez would have one of the top players on the free-agent market in any other year, but right now he is the fourth-best option at his position. He is 29 and did not make a massive impact on the New York Mets' push for a playoff spot. 

Correa enters free agency off a 26-homer season in which he drove in 92 runs and produced an .850 OPS. 

The No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft produced an OPS of .850 or better in four of his seven seasons in Houston. He hit at least 20 home runs in five of those years. 

Correa would be the centerpiece of any lineup he would join. There are countless teams in the rebuilding mode that could use his plate presence and defensive skill to move up the list of World Series contenders. 

The Detroit Tigers should be on the top of the list of suitors. The American League Central side wasted no time reshaping its roster on Wednesday, as it brought in catcher Tucker Barnhart from the Cincinnati Reds. 

Detroit has a handful of impressive young pitchers and a few nice bats that it has brought up to the majors in the last two years, but it needs a superstar in the heart of the order to replace Miguel Cabrera as the team's most recognizable player. 

With the Tigers and others circling around Correa, it will be hard for Houston to keep him, especially with a handful of big contracts already on the books. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are on deals until the 2024 season, Lance McCullers Jr. is locked down until 2026, and the team still has to pay Yordan Alvarez. 

Shortstop Carlos Correa acknowledged that Tuesday's Game 6 of the World Series may have been his final game as a member of the Houston Astros.

Correa, a pending free agent, told reporters he was thinking about the possibility of his ninth-inning at-bat being his last with the team, saying: "That's the only thing that was going through my mind, to be honest."

The veteran shortstop also addressed Astros fans, saying: "To the fans, I want to say thank you for your support. My time here was amazing. … I got here as a boy and turned into a man."

Houston entered Game 6 down 3-2 in the series and needing a win, but the Braves prevailed 7-0 and won their first World Series since 1995 in the process.

Correa has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Astros, but his contract is set to expire.

Originally the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft, Correa experienced a great deal of success with the Astros from 2015 to 2021, earning two All-Star nods, a Rookie of the Year award and a World Series win.

If the 27-year-old does sign elsewhere, he saved one of his best seasons for last in Houston. In 148 games during the 2021 campaign, Correa hit .279 with a career-high 26 home runs to go along with 92 RBI and 104 runs scored.

That production was more in line with what he did during his first three MLB seasons, when he had a .288 batting average and hit 22 homers and 83 RBI per year.

Correa's production dropped off a bit over the next three seasons, but he returned to his peak just in time to cash in during free agency, whether it's with the Astros or another team.

The Puerto Rican star also performed well during the playoffs, hitting .283 with one home run, nine RBI and 10 runs scored in 16 contests.

Houston has grown accustomed to losing key players in free agency in recent years. Ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole signed with the New York Yankees ahead of the 2020 season, and outfielder George Springer joined the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of this season.

Given everything he has contributed and meant to the Astros over the years, losing Correa would be right on par with those departures.

Correa could be part of a massively talented free-agent class, especially when it comes to shortstops, as Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Trevor Story and Javier Baez are set to be available on the open market as well.

For each remaining game of the World Series, the Houston Astros will have to stave off elimination and defeat the Atlanta Braves twice in order to capture this year's crown. 

But they'll get to do so Tuesday at home after the Braves squandered their opportunity to end the series in Atlanta on Sunday. 

Though their offense was MIA through the first few games of the series, the Astros have roared back to life, overcoming an early four-run deficit in Game 5 to surge ahead to a 9-5 win. They'll look to keep that momentum going at Minute Maid Park with their backs against the wall. 

The Astros are looking for their second World Series win in four years since they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in 2017. The Braves hope to win their first Series since 1995, when they bested the Cleveland Indians in six games.

Let's take a look at the odds and prop bets for Tuesday's Game 6 (courtesy of DraftKings) as well as make some predictions about which team is likely to come out on top. 

World Series Game 6 Odds and Prop Bets

Game 6 Run Line: Astros -1.5 

Game 6 Moneyline: Braves +115 (bet $100 to win $115); Astros -135 (bet $135 to win $100)

Total Runs: Over 9 (+110); exactly 9 (+600); under 9 (-110)

First Score: Astros and win (+170); Astros and lose (+700); Braves and win (+180); Braves and lose (+275)

Extra Innings: Yes (+800); no (-1600)

Grand Slam: Yes (+1500); no (-3500)

Team Total Runs: Braves over 3.5 (-145); Braves under 3.5 (+115); Astros over 4.5 (-105); Astros under 4.5 (-125)

World Series Game 6 Score Prediction 

If the Braves are going to clinch their first World Series title in 26 years, they'll likely need a good game from left-hander Max Fried, who takes the mound in Houston on Tuesday. Fried has gone 1-2 this postseason with a 5.40 ERA. 

After having gone through the entire bullpen in Games 4 and 5, however, this is the reality the Braves face in Game 6. 

The Astros, however, are not sitting pretty with their pitching order. Houston looks to start Luis Garcia (1-2, 7.62 postseason ERA) on short rest. In Friday's Game 3, Garcia allowed one run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

But Houston has hit lefties well, and the return to Minute Maid Park means the return of the designated hitter. That's bad news for the Braves as the Astros offense has already begun to show a return to strength. 

If we take pitchers out of the equation for this game for a moment—and neither team is in great shape there—we have to assume Houston's offense will tip the scales. 

Atlanta's Jorge Soler has hit two home runs with a 1.074 OPS through five games in this series, and given that he'll likely serve as the DH in this game, it's a safe bet he produces some offense Tuesday. 

However, the Astros have Jose Altuve at the top of the order, and his 21 runs this postseason is tied with Carlos Beltran for the most in a single postseason. And Carlos Correa is coming off a three-hit Game 5 that improved his Series average to .263 (5-for-19).

All the pieces are in place for the Astros to have another emotional win, this time at home, on Tuesday. 

However, that may not be the case for Game 7. 

Prediction: 6-3, Astros

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With the Astros holding a five-run lead in the eighth inning of World Series Game 2 against Atlanta, Dusty Baker made an unconventional move. 

The heart of Atlanta's order was up: Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Jorge Soler. But instead of replacing Astros reliever Phil Maton with their usual setup man, Kendall Graveman, Baker went straight to All-Star closer Ryan Pressly. 

Perhaps in 1993, when Baker made his managerial debut, burning the closer in the eighth inning would have been against the grain. 

But in today's game, it's understood to throw your best reliever against the best hitters in high-leverage situations, even if it means flipping the order of using the setup man and closer. 

This worked almost exactly as planned. After walking Albies, Pressly struck out Riley, got Soler to fly out and then struck out Joc Pederson.

It made for a much more comfortable ninth for Graveman, who needed just 10 pitches to retire Adam Duvall, Travis d'Arnaud and Dansby Swanson. 

"Some people find many of the new technologies or strategies or just new things in the field threatening," then-Washington Nationals assistant general manager and director of research and development Sam Mondry-Cohen told The Athletic, speaking of his time working with Baker in 2016 and 2017.

"Dusty's not going to be threatened by anything. He just knows how to adapt and grow."

That's Baker in a nutshell. The 72-year-old Astros manager is the second-oldest in Major League Baseball, behind only the 77-year-old Tony La Russa. He is the winningest manager to never win a World Series and the only one to win division titles with five different clubs. 

A significant part of what has allowed Baker to be so successful is his adaptability. He's blended analytics and sticking with his gut into a managerial skill. 

Zack Greinke was impressed last year by Baker's ability to read people and trust what he sees. In Game 4 of the 2020 ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays, Baker intended to take Greinke out during a mound visit with heavy base traffic.

But Baker looked into Greinke's eyes, listened to catcher Martin Maldonado and trusted his instincts. 

Greinke got out of it, striking out the red-hot Randy Arozarena and eventually Mike Brosseau. 

"Not everyone has that skill. Not many people do," Greinke said of Baker after the skipper stuck with him. "He's been impressive in that regard, for sure."

Baker has watched baseball—and the world for that matter—change a lot since he was called up to the major leagues by Atlanta as a 19-year-old in 1968. 

He went from carrying around Satchel Paige's fishing rods and being on deck for Hank Aaron's 715th home run to beat Babe Ruth's record, to becoming a World Series champion and All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, to managing Barry Bonds (the son of his own childhood idol Bobby Bonds), Sammy Sosa, Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Joey Votto, Bryce Harper and now an Astros team playing in its third World Series in five seasons. 

Along the way, Baker was credited with popularizing the high-five, which now seems synonymous with sports. 

To hear Baker tell it, he didn't invent anything. It was the final game of the 1977 season when Baker hit his 30th home run that year, and then-rookie teammate Glenn Burke was ready to celebrate. The two slapped hands as Baker reached home plate, and the high-five was officially introduced to pop culture. 

"The guy has been around the game for, what, 50 years or so?" Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa said during the ALDS. "He knows it all. I mean, he's seen it all. He's been through it all. He's always ahead of the game. So if you see, whenever I'm playing, I'm sitting next to him and trying to pick his brain. Why are you doing this? Why are you doing that? I want to learn the game as much as possible. What better guy to learn from than Dusty Baker that's been around for so long? So, yeah, he's that guy."

The relationships Baker has built with these Astros since taking over in wake of the sign-stealing fallout have been special, as Correa explains. 

"From the moment he got here, he didn't have it easy. He had to deal with a lot, especially that spring training 2020. He loved us from the moment he met us, and he had our backs from the moment he met us. So for me, that truly means a lot.

"Coming from a different team, he had no part of what happened in the past. He still was there for us every single second of the way. And also the stories that he's got, he's got so many great stories that I'm going to tell my kid. He's a great manager, but an even better human being. I'm grateful that I got to meet him and work with him."

Baker will manage Game 6 of the the World Series on Tuesday night. Winning a title is the only accolade missing from his Hall of Fame manager résumé. Even La Russa, who's had his fair share of feuds with Baker, said Baker already has Hall of Fame credentials.

One of Houston's pertinent offseason questions is whether to re-sign Baker or look for another manager this offseason. 

Astros owner Jim Crane said after the team clinched the AL pennant that Baker deserves another chance to manage next season. He's certainly proved the game has not passed him by.

Even as fans continue to criticize his moves, whether it's a lineup change or how he manages the bullpen, everyone with credibility in the game continues to swear by him. 

The core figures of the Houston Astros' 2017 World Series title run who are still on the roster made a massive impact on the 2021 World Series on Sunday night.

Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa combined for five hits and three RBI in Houston's Game 5 win over Atlanta.

Houston kept the series alive thanks to its experienced bats and an impressive bullpen performance. The Astros relievers limited Atlanta to one run after Adam Duvall's first-inning grand slam.

Atlanta is still the odds-on favorite to win the World Series, but Houston gave itself a chance to rally back on home soil with its Game 5 victory.

World Series Odds

Game 6 Moneyline: Houston -125 (bet $125 to win $100); Atlanta +105 (bet $100 to win $105)

Series Price: Atlanta -220; Houston +190

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Important Stats

Houston's 12 Hits in Game 5

Houston's bats came alive against Atlanta's bullpen in Game 5.

The Astros scored 11 runs in their first four games and almost matched that output Sunday night, plating nine runs off 12 hits.

Correa paid off his move up to the No. 3 spot in the batting order, as he delivered three hits. Yuli Gurriel also produced a trio of hits in his elevated role in the order.

Bregman only had one hit out of the No. 7 spot, but it was an important one to get the Astros back in the game and boost his confidence a bit. He delivered an RBI double that drove in Gurriel in the second. That run ignited the comeback that put the American League champion in the lead in the fifth inning.

The third baseman is still 2-for-18 in the World Series, but his RBI double in Game 5 could help with his approach at the plate in Game 6 and in a potential Game 7.

After Sunday, Houston has five hitters with five more or hits in the series. Atlanta has the same number of players with that total.

Austin Riley's 3-Hit Game 5

Austin Riley has the most hits of any player in the series.

The Atlanta third baseman boosted his total by going 3-for-4 with a double in Game 5.

Riley's efforts did not help Atlanta come back from Houston's offensive surge, but it is a positive sign for an Atlanta order that could take advantage of the Astros' starters at Minute Maid Park. He has yet to hit a home run, but he has three doubles and a trio of RBI. If he reaches with an extra-base hit in Houston, it could set up Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall or Travis d'Arnaud for a game-changing hit.

The 24-year-old could also use an extra-base hit to drive in Eddie Rosario, Freddie Freeman or Ozzie Albies. The members of that trio combined for 13 hits.

Atlanta Carries Slightly Better Staff ERA

Despite giving up nine runs Sunday, Atlanta enters Game 6 with a slightly better staff ERA than Houston.

The NL champion has a 3.68 ERA compared to the 3.77 ERA mark the Astros produced through five games.

Atlanta saved Luke Jackson, Will Smith and Tyler Matzek for the remaining games in Houston by not using them while down in the latter stages of Game 5. Jackson and Smith both have 0.00 ERAs.

Phil Maton and Ryan Pressly have zeroes in their ERA columns out of the Houston bullpen. Maton is one of two relievers to pitch four games in the series.

Atlanta's staff ERA could go down further if Max Fried turns in a solid start in Game 6. Fried has a 10.80 ERA after he conceded six earned runs in his Game 2 start. He gave up two earned runs in his first 12 innings of work this postseason but has let up 11 earned runs in his past two appearances.

Luis Garcia seems like he will be Houston's Game 6 starter. Dusty Baker used Game 2 starter Jose Urquidy in relief Sunday. Garcia walked four batters, conceded three hits and gave up an earned run in 3.2 innings in Game 3.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

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