Correa's return sparks memories of more Houston homecomings

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DETROIT -- Carlos Correa’s surprising return to the Astros in last month’s trade with the Twins has been a solid move so far. Correa slashed .339/.391/.492 with two homers and eight RBIs in his first 15 games with the Astros and has fit seamlessly into the clubhouse, almost like he never left.

Correa’s second act in Houston came with a position switch, with him taking over at third base left for Isaac Paredes, who pulled his hamstring on July 19. Correa, one of the most popular players in club history and a standout performer during the Astros’ rise from a 100-loss rebuilding club to World Series champion, is under contract for three more seasons after this year, so he’s not going anywhere for a while.

The return of Correa prompted a look at how some other high-profile players who left the Astros performed when they returned to Houston later in their careers:

2B Joe Morgan
First Astros stint: 1963-71
Second stint: 1980

Morgan was signed as an amateur free agent by the Colt .45s after the 1962 season and played nine years in Houston before the infamous trade to the Reds. Morgan was a two-time All-Star in his first stint in Houston but became a superstar in his eight years in Cincinnati and carved out a Hall of Fame career as an integral member of the Big Red Machine that won the World Series in 1975-76 (Morgan won the NL MVP in both of those seasons).

Morgan returned to the Astros as a free agent prior to the 1980 season and hit .243 in 141 games while helping Houston reach the playoffs for the first time by winning the NL West, but his trade to the Reds remains the worst in club history.

C Brad Ausmus
First Astros stint: 1997-98
Second stint: 2001-08

Ausmus initially came to the Astros in a nine-player trade with the Tigers after the 1996 season before being traded back to the Tigers in 1999. After two more seasons in Detroit, the Astros brought him back in another trade with the Tigers at the 2000 Winter Meetings. He stayed eight more years and guided a talented pitching staff led by Roy Oswalt, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte to the World Series in 2005.

OF Carlos Beltrán
First Astros stint: 2004
Second stint: 2017

Initially traded to the Astros from the Royals in June 2004, Beltrán batted .258 with 23 home runs, 53 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 90 games that season in Houston and represented the Astros in the All-Star Game. The Astros went 36-10 down the stretch and made the playoffs, where Beltrán became a star by walloping eight homers in October.

Beltrán was booed relentlessly by Astros fans for years after he signed a seven-year, $119 million contract to join the Mets. But those boos changed to cheers after he signed a $16 million deal with Houston prior to the 2017 season. Beltran hit .231 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs with the Astros and won a World Series ring before retiring after the season.

RHP Justin Verlander
First Astros stint: 2017-22
Second stint: 2023-24

The 2017 trade that brought Verlander to the Astros after 13 seasons in Detroit was one of the most impactful in club history. Verlander helped the Astros win the World Series in 2017 and 2022. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 ALCS and won the AL Cy Young in 2019 and 2022 (he finished second in ’18).

Verlander signed with the Mets prior to the 2023 season, but was re-acquired by the Astros at the Trade Deadline after making only 16 starts with New York. He started 23 games for the Astros in 2023-24, going 12-9 with a 4.55 ERA while battling injuries. He was left off the roster for the AL Wild Card Series last year.

Don’t forget…
3B Ken Caminiti and LHP Mike Hampton

Both established themselves with the Astros and made their first All-Star teams in Houston – Caminiti in 1994 and Hampton in 1999. After four terrific years in San Diego, which included winning the 1996 NL MVP Award, Caminiti returned to the Astros in 1999-2000 and hit 28 homers in 137 regular-season games. He was 8-for-17 in the NLDS that year against the Braves with three homers and eight RBIs.

Hampton was traded to the Mets after winning 22 games in 1999 and played with the Rockies and Braves before re-signing with Houston in 2009. He went 7-10 with a 5.30 ERA.