The Astros don’t look like a team ready to hit the reset button just because the front office and coaching staff have changed. With core players still in their primes and veterans locked into guaranteed money, Houston is operating in win-now mode, and this offseason has to reflect that.
That urgency starts in the outfield, where the Astros have real work to do. Cam Smith is still developing and deserves his time in right field, but center and left are the bigger issues.
Dalton Varsho is a free agent, Jake Meyers was DFA’d, and that leaves a major opening in center, the most important spot on the grass. Houston also needs a dependable left fielder so Yordan Alvarez doesn’t have to keep spending time out there.
A possible trade partner may already be on the board. A report from the GM Meetings suggests the Phillies are looking to shake up their roster, with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale saying they’ve put shortstop Trey Turner and outfielder Brandon Marsh on the trade block while searching for help at third base and in the outfield. For new Astros GM Randy Flores, that should be enough to make a call to Dave Dombrowski.
Houston has the kind of infield depth that can help make a deal happen. Christian Walker and Jose Altuve are on the right side, Jeremy Peña and Carlos Correa are on the left, and that has left Isaac Paredes squeezed in. Paredes is a natural third baseman, has one year of team control left, and could be the cleanest path to landing Marsh.
There’s also a market wrinkle that matters here. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, teams don’t appear eager to move prospects for players with just one year of control left because of the possible change in free agency under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. But swapping players with one year remaining still seems to be on the table, and Marsh fits that setup as he also has one year left before free agency under the current system.
Marsh would give Houston some flexibility, too. He spent most of this season in left field, but in 2024 and ’25 he split time between left and center, which would help the Astros keep their options open as they sort out the rest of the outfield. He’s also viewed as one of the better change-of-scenery candidates out there after a rough 2026 season in which he posted a 0.4 bWAR, even though he had multiple 3+ WAR seasons before that.
If Houston is going to move Paredes, it should not stop at a one-for-one swap. Paredes is coming off a 4.1 bWAR season with 25 home runs and almost 100 RBIs, so the Astros should be asking for a sweetener as well. Marsh’s down year gives Houston some leverage, and if Philadelphia really wants to make something happen, a decent prospect should be part of the return.
The fit makes sense for Houston. The Astros need help in the outfield, Marsh has the ability to be an above-average player for them next season, and Paredes is the kind of surplus piece they can use to improve the roster while adding future value at the same time. For Flores, that’s the kind of deal worth pursuing.
In Other News...
Yordan Is Back In The Astros Spotlight For An Even Bigger Prize
Yordan Alvarezs return to the spotlight added another layer to an already notable MLB Awards night, with the Astros slugger earning Comeback Player of the Year honors in the American League. The award, voted on by MLB.com club beat reporters, recognizes players who re-emerged over the course of the season, and Alvarez was joined by Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler as the National League winner.
For Houston, it was another reminder of how quickly Alvarez reestablished himself after a season interrupted by injury and how central he remains to the clubs plans moving forward. The award itself is a nice marker of the turnaround, but it also serves as a setup for the bigger question around Alvarez now, one that goes beyond simply getting back to form. [Read more 🡒]
Yordan Alvarez Just Added Another Milestone To His Dominant Astros Run
Yordan Alvarez keeps stacking honors in a run that has already made him one of the most feared hitters in the game, and the latest recognition only adds to the sense that his 2026 season stood among the best in the league. The Astros slugger was among the players celebrated for elite offensive production, with his bat carrying the kind of impact that has become familiar in Houston.
Pete Crow-Armstrong also earned a share of the spotlight for the Cubs, but the focus in Houston is on what Alvarez continues to mean to the lineup and the standard he has set. For the Astros, the award is another reminder of how consistently he has delivered at the center of their offense, and how much his presence still shapes the conversation around the club's future. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Just Sent A Strong Message About Yordan Alvarez
The Astros are making it clear they have no interest in entertaining the idea of moving Yordan Alvarez, even with rival clubs surely circling a player of his caliber. General manager Randy Flores pointed to Alvarezs standing as one of the games premier hitters and noted that he still has two years left on his contract, a combination that gives Houston both control and confidence as the slugger continues to anchor the middle of the lineup.
Flores also didnt leave much room for interpretation when asked about trade inquiries, treating the subject more like a joke than a serious possibility. That kind of response says plenty about how Houston views Alvarez, especially with the star outfielder also sitting among the leading candidates for American League MVP honors and reinforcing why the Astros would rather build around him than even entertain offers. [Read more 🡒]