The Yankees’ infield picture is still messy, and that’s true no matter how they sort through Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm this offseason.
Chisholm is heading for free agency, while Volpe’s status at second base is still unsettled. So even with those decisions looming, New York can’t really stand pat. The club still has room - and a need - to add another infielder to the mix.
Ryan McMahon, who the Yankees brought in at the 2025 trade deadline, hasn’t given them what they wanted. In fact, there’s a real case that he’s been one of the club’s roughest additions in a while, especially considering the contract they took on.
That leaves the Yankees with work to do, whether they go the trade route or attack free agency.
One name that makes plenty of sense is Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. Bleacher Report recently listed him as a trade candidate, and he would be one of the more attractive possibilities for New York if the Astros decide to move him.
“The moment Peña hired Scott Boras as his new agent in June 2025, the likelihood of a long-term extension prior to hitting the open market shrank considerably for the Astros.
“A wide-open AL West ultimately convinced the Astros to steer away from selling at the deadline, and even if they do view themselves as contenders in 2027, flipping Peña before losing him in free agency could still be on the table,” Bleacher Report wrote.
Peña didn’t duplicate the 2022 postseason peak that made him the World Series MVP, but his 2025 season still stood out as the best of his career by bWAR. He put together a 5.7 bWAR campaign, hit 17 home runs and drove in 62 runs while producing a 135 OPS+.
For a Yankees lineup that needs help, Peña fits the bill as the kind of bat and all-around infielder worth chasing, even if the cost would be steep and free agency wouldn’t arrive until 2028.
In Other News...
Astros Suddenly Have A Joe Espada Problem They Can't Ignore
Joe Espadas status in Houston has taken on an unexpected layer of uncertainty as the Astros manager is reportedly on the Mariners radar for their opening. Seattle is hunting for a new voice after parting ways with Dan Wilson, and president Jerry Dipoto has already signaled a willingness to think broadly about the job, including candidates with or without prior major league managing experience.
For the Astros, the timing is what makes this more than a routine rumor. Espadas contract runs out at the end of the month, and Houston now has to navigate a situation where its current manager could be exploring another high-profile opening at the same moment the club would usually be looking toward its own offseason planning. Whether this becomes a serious pursuit or just another layer of the Mariners search, it adds a complication Houston cant simply brush aside. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Suddenly Have An Awkward Joe Espada Problem In The AL West
The Astros offseason to-do list suddenly includes an uncomfortable layer of uncertainty around Joe Espada, whose standing in Houston now has another club paying close attention. Seattle is planning to interview Espada for its managerial opening, a development that puts the Astros in the awkward position of watching a division rival circle one of their own while his future in Houston remains unresolved.
Espadas deal runs through the end of November, and the Astros still have not made a decision on whether he will be back for 2027. Houston is allowing him to explore the opportunity, while Mariners president Jerry Dipoto has made clear that experience is not a requirement for the job, even if it is preferred. For the Astros, the bigger issue may be how long this can linger before it starts shaping decisions inside their own clubhouse and front office. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Face A Jeremy Pea Decision With Huge Offseason Stakes
Shortstop Jeremy Pea sits at the center of another important Astros roster conversation, and this one feels bigger than a routine contract note. Houston has to weigh whether to work toward a long-term extension, hold onto him for another season, or listen if the right trade idea surfaces, all while trying to keep the big-picture roster in balance.
The decision lands at a time when the club is already thinking hard about depth and future needs, which is why the Kyle Tucker trade still looms in the background as a useful reference point. Pea has become too important to treat lightly, but the Astros also know that standing pat is a choice with consequences, and this offseason may reveal how aggressively they want to shape the next chapter. [Read more 🡒]