Carlos Correa had asked to move to third base with Twins as early as 2023

CLEVELAND – Carlos Correa started his first career game at third base Friday, after playing 1,193 games at shortstop, during his first game back with the Houston Astros following his surprise trade deadline deal.

It was a change Correa contemplated for years. As a free agent prior to the 2023 season, before signing with the Twins for a second time, he agreed to play third base for the New York Mets before his 12-year, $315 million contract was nixed because of medical concerns around his ankle.

Correa asked manager Rocco Baldelli at least twice about moving to third base during his Twins career, Baldelli confirmed. It was brought up after the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

“He brought up the question of playing third base after seasons ended, so he could prepare if it were to happen going forward,” Baldelli said. “As we know, finding good shortstops, it’s a very difficult thing to do. It was something that we thought about and considered, but we didn’t necessarily have the ability to do with the way our infield fit together.”

The conversations about moving Correa to third base during his Twins career didn’t last long. Royce Lewis initially came up through the minor leagues as a shortstop, but he was blocked at the big-league level by Correa. After he underwent two surgeries to repair a ligament in his knee, he shifted to third base during the 2023 season.

The Twins contemplated moving Lewis to second base last winter, but that was not related to changing Correa’s position for this season. Brooks Lee debuted last year, but he wasn’t guaranteed a spot on the big-league roster entering spring training.

“For [Correa’s] time with us, he played a very good shortstop,” Baldelli said. “To move a guy off shortstop who is playing a really good shortstop for you, we weren’t going to do that.”

Lee will be the Twins’ primary shortstop for the rest of this season.

“It’s definitely a different clubhouse without him, but I’m excited,” Lee said. “It’s the position I’m probably the most comfortable at, so I’ll do my best and we’ll see what happens.”

Alan Roden, acquired from Toronto in the Louie Varland/Ty France trade, was the only Twins’ trade deadline addition who was sent straight to the big leagues.

The lefthanded-hitting Roden hit atop the lineup in his first two games with his new organization. He batted second Friday and hit leadoff Saturday.

“You have a guy that can play all three outfield positions, that you think can really hit from the left side and controls the [strike] zone a good bit,” Baldelli said. “I think that’s a good place to start when you’re looking at a young player.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Roden, listed at 5-11 and 215 pounds. “I’m doing everything I can do back them up on that foresight.”

• José Ureña, a 33-year-old veteran righthanded pitcher added to the roster after Thursday’s trade deadline, is scheduled to start for the Twins in Sunday’s series finale in Cleveland. Simeon Woods Richardson was initially scheduled to pitch. Baldelli declined to say why Woods Richardson was pushed back, but it does not appear to be injury related.

• Kody Clemens and Mickey Gasper will be the primary first basemen following the trade deadline. Edouard Julien “could find himself over there in maybe a certain configuration,” Baldelli said, but he will stick at second base.

• Luke Keaschall’s rehab assignment with the Saints must end by Wednesday — position players are allotted a maximum of 20 days on a rehab assignment — so he’s likely nearing a return to the Twins roster. He is not expected to play any outfield this season, recovering from a forearm fracture, so he will be used as a second baseman and designated hitter.

• Keaschall went 2-for-3 with a triple and Aaron Sabato homered twice and drove in four runs as the Saints beat host Toledo 10-4 on Saturday night. Newly acquired James Outman went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.