The Astros seem to have one thing of a nook infield logjam. They acquired Carlos Correa on the deadline, and Jeremy Peña’s presence meant Correa wanted to maneuver to 3rd base. That made sense whereas Isaac Paredes was injured however is a harder match if everyone seems to be wholesome. The Astros have Christian Walker signed for 2 extra seasons at first base. Yordan Alvarez stays the first designated hitter, and the Astros would most likely welcome the chance to get Jose Altuve extra DH at-bats if they may discover them.
Based mostly on that glut of nook bats, there’s been hypothesis concerning the Astros buying and selling an infielder this offseason. Most of that has revolved round Paredes or Walker, however common supervisor Dana Brown downplayed the concept the Astros have been seeking to transfer both participant. That’s notably true of Paredes, who turned in a .254/.352/.458 line with 20 homers in 102 video games throughout his first season in Houston.
“He was among the best guys at seeing pitches and dealing counts and it’s one of many the reason why we went out and traded for him,” Brown advised reporters on the GM Conferences on Wednesday (hyperlink by way of Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle). “We’d like that worth in our lineup. It’s the precise route we’re making an attempt to take it. We really feel like if we commerce him it might be weakening our lineup. So proper now, now we have little interest in buying and selling him.”
Paredes was the centerpiece of the Kyle Tucker return from the Cubs. He ranked fifth on the workforce in on-base share and tied for third in homers regardless of lacking a lot of the second half with a big pressure of his proper hamstring. Paredes returned late within the season however was restricted to DH work. Brown stated he’s at the moment at roughly 65% well being and can “doubtlessly” be accessible for Opening Day (by way of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com).
The 26-year-old’s swing is geared for pull-side pop that makes him a super slot in Houston’s Daikin Park, the place the Crawford Packing containers depart a brief porch in left subject. The 2-time All-Star was an achieved hitter with the Rays, so it’s not as if he’s solely a product of the park, however he’s completely tailor-made even for a lineup that skews very closely to the correct aspect.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz tasks Paredes for a $9.3MM arbitration wage. He’ll undergo that course of as soon as extra earlier than hitting free company in the course of the 2027-28 offseason. There’d be important curiosity if the Astros did resolve to buy him, doubtless for beginning pitching, however they’re clearly continuing as if he’ll be of their lineup. Brown stated the Astros are usually not contemplating him for an everyday position at second base, so he’ll be again largely within the corners.
Whereas that’d seemingly level within the route of a Walker commerce, the GM indicated that’s not at the moment into account both. “We haven’t talked about Walker in a commerce. Walker’s our on a regular basis first baseman,” Brown stated. He’s in a a lot totally different spot from Paredes. He’s signed for $20MM yearly for his age 35-36 seasons. Walker had a team-leading 27 homers this 12 months, however he hit .238 with a career-worst .297 on-base share. The three-time Gold Glove winner additionally posted uncharacteristically middling defensive grades. Baseball Reference felt he was proper round alternative stage total, whereas FanGraphs had him at one WAR.
That’s not the sort of season that will web Walker $20MM per season on a multi-year deal if he have been a free agent. The Astros may have to eat round half the cash simply to maneuver him for a middling return. That will open first base for Paredes and reallocate a little bit of payroll room for rotation provides, but it’d depart them with extra useless cash on a primary baseman proper because the José Abreu contract lastly comes off the books. The Astros might worth Walker’s energy and defensive repute sufficient to carry him in hope that he rebuilds some worth.
Buying and selling Correa or Peña appears much more far-fetched. “We’re not likely making an attempt to tug from the infield within the commerce market, just because we really feel like all these guys are going to be a part of the highest of our lineup,” Brown stated usually. “I feel they’re all going to hit someplace between 1 and 6. So I wouldn’t attempt to make any strikes from the infield standpoint.” That blanket assertion most likely doesn’t apply to utility gamers Ramón Urías or Mauricio Dubón, who’re respectively projected for $4.4MM and $5.8MM of their closing seasons of arbitration. The Astros might commerce or non-tender both or each.
Brown spoke usually concerning the Astros bouncing gamers across the diamond to maximise relaxation alternatives for his or her veteran hitters. Correa has by no means performed second base, although he’d presumably be able to doing so. One speculative possibility could be to get Correa semi-regular second base work on days when Paredes is on the scorching nook. They’ll have Altuve proceed bouncing between second base, left subject and DH with Alvarez splitting time between DH and left.
That carries into an outfield that ought to characteristic a pair modifications. Houston traded for Jesús Sánchez so as to add a left-handed bat who might play proper subject down the stretch. Sánchez performed terribly, batting .199/.269/.349 with a number of defensive lapses. He’s projected at a $6.5MM arbitration wage and beneath membership management for 2 seasons. Chandler Rome of The Athletic writes that the Astros are open to commerce inquiries on Sánchez, although it appears extra doubtless they gained’t discover curiosity and can merely non-tender him at subsequent Friday’s deadline.
That’ll doubtless depart the Astros looking for one other left-handed hitting outfielder. Rookies Zach Cole and Jacob Melton might think about however have restricted observe data. Taylor Trammell might be on the roster bubble. Transferring on from Sánchez and including somebody like Max Kepler, Cedric Mullins or Mike Yastrzemski in free company would make sense.
Notably, Brown wouldn’t decide to second-year outfielder Cam Smith breaking camp in 2026. The previous first-rounder, acquired alongside Paredes within the Tucker deal, hit .236/.312/.358 throughout 493 plate appearances as a rookie. It was hardly a disastrous displaying for a participant with such restricted skilled expertise, and Smith performed a superb proper subject regardless of being drafted as a 3rd baseman. But he struggled considerably within the second half (.154/.247/.242) and might be due for a glance towards Triple-A pitching.
“We noticed glimpses of it final 12 months, however we’re going to want him to be extra constant,” Brown stated (by way of Rome). “I might suppose he comes again and tries to play with extra consistency and makes the mandatory changes, however now we have to be open to sending him again to Triple-A if he hasn’t turned the nook. … There’s loads to be stated for guys that work onerous within the offseason after which make the mandatory changes. We’re hoping that Cam does that. If he does that, we’ll be excited.”
Optioning Smith would give the Astros the pliability to pursue an on a regular basis proper fielder. Jake Meyers ought to be again as the first middle fielder, although Rome studies that Houston has obtained a good bit of commerce curiosity within the 29-year-old. That’s to be anticipated, as Meyers is a plus defender who’s coming off a profession 12 months on the plate. He hit .292/.354/.373 over 381 plate appearances with dramatically improved strike zone self-discipline. He’s controllable for one more two seasons and projected at a cut price $3.5MM price. It’s tough to examine a Houston workforce already in search of outfielders buying and selling Meyers, but it surely’s potential one other membership tries to power their hand by placing a controllable beginning pitcher on the desk.
