The Astros may be staring at an offseason puzzle that only has one clean solution: move an infielder.
Houston’s group has gotten crowded in a hurry, with Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa both handling third base and deserving regular at-bats. Add Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena and Christian Walker to the mix, and the Astros are suddenly trying to fit five players into four infield spots.
“The DH spot does exist, but should be occupied by Yordan Alvarez on most nights. A trade involving one of these infielders to fill another need makes the most sense,” FanSided's Zachary Rotman wrote.
Paredes stands out as a name to watch because he has just one year left on his contract. The two-time All-Star delivered a big season, finishing with 25 home runs, 94 RBIs and a 127 OPS+ across 155 games.
Rotman noted that “Walker is likely the one Houston would want to move, but he's also the least valuable. Paredes is the likeliest to go, but he's also the most versatile of the bunch.
"Pena is the best infielder on the roster, but he's also on an expiring contract and is unlikely to sign an extension, so might Houston try to get what it can for a player likely to be in another uniform in 2028 anyway?” Rotman added.
Paredes’ value goes beyond third base, since he can also play first and could even fill a DH role for a contender if the roster lines up that way.
There are complications, though. Altuve’s defense at second base is below par, while using Alvarez in left field would come with injury risk the Astros may not want to take.
Pena may be the most valuable trade chip in the group, which leaves Houston’s front office with a difficult call and a clear offseason dilemma.
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