The Houston Astros are having a season to forget—and it just got worse.

News broke Tuesday that star infielder Carlos Correa will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after undergoing ankle surgery. The 31-year-old shortstop and third baseman played just 32 games this year, earning $21.5 million for his limited time on the field. For a team already struggling, this is a tough pill to swallow.

Correa's contract—originally signed with the Minnesota Twins for $200 million—has quickly become one of the most untradeable deals in baseball. While the Twins are covering part of the salary, the Astros still owe Correa $20 million in both 2027 and 2028. That's a heavy price tag for a player whose injury history is raising serious red flags.

FanSided's Zachary Rotman summed it up bluntly: "For a 31-year-old who already had injury concerns and wasn't performing at a $20 million level, that is brutal."

What makes Correa's contract even more complicated are the vesting options that could extend it through 2032. To trigger those options, Correa would need to hit specific milestones—575 plate appearances, a top-five MVP finish, a Silver Slugger award, or LCS/World Series MVP honors. Given his current trajectory, those incentives seem unlikely, but the risk alone is enough to scare off potential trade partners.

As Rotman noted, "I'm not sure there's a single team out there willing to take the risk of this happening, and I don't blame them."

For Astros fans, this is a brutal reminder that even World Series champions aren't immune to the harsh realities of long-term contracts and player health. As the team looks ahead, that $200 million deal looms larger than ever.