Jeremy Peña had the numbers to make a real run at a Silver Slugger finalist spot. Instead, the Astros shortstop got squeezed out when the American League shortstop finalists were announced, with Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto taking the third and final berth over him.
That omission stands out because Peña’s offensive case was stronger than Neto’s in the areas that usually tell the story. Peña finished with a batting average 38 points higher than Neto’s, and he also held the edge in OPS, .802 to .766, and wRC+, 124 to 116. On a rate basis, there wasn’t much room to argue Neto was the better hitter.
The problem for Peña was less about quality and more about volume. He appeared in only 112 games after dealing with injuries to his hamstring, calf and finger, and that kind of missed time can matter a lot in awards voting. Silver Slugger winners are chosen by MLB managers and coaches, and those voters often lean on the numbers that jump off the page rather than digging deep into advanced comparisons.
The award itself is one of the sport’s more respected honors, with one winner at each position in each league. Peña looked like a strong candidate to at least be named a finalist, but the injury interruptions left him short when the ballots were cast.
No one is going to object to Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle or Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. landing finalist spots. The head-scratcher is Neto getting in ahead of Peña, even though the Astros shortstop put together the better offensive season by the measures that usually matter most.
In Other News...
Jeremy Pea Just Entered A Trade Debate Astros Fans Can't Ignore
The shortstop market has a way of turning ordinary roster talk into a bigger conversation, and Jeremy Pea is right in the middle of it. On Foul Territory, Erik Kratz pointed to Pea and Zach Neto as the kind of players who can shape the discussion simply because quality shortstops are so hard to find, which makes every name with real value stand out even more. Pea has been one of Houstons top shortstops since 2022, and that alone gives him a prominent place in any broader trade debate.
For the Astros, the intrigue comes from the position itself as much as from Peas profile. Kratz noted that moving a shortstop of that caliber would be a major decision, and Netos career-high 27 home runs last season only underscored how few players at the position bring that kind of impact. Whether Houston ever entertains that kind of move is still unclear, but Peas name now sits in a conversation Astros fans cant really ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Still Have One Rotation Need That Could Shape 2027
The Astros long-range rotation picture already has a clear shape, but it also has one obvious omission. Looking ahead to 2027, the projected group is all right-handed arms, which leaves Houston without the kind of left-handed starter that can change a matchup or balance out a staff over a full season. That kind of need does not always get solved with a splashy signing, and in this case the search may be pointing toward a cheaper, more practical answer.
Foster Griffin is one name that fits the profile. The 31-year-old free agent has recent All-Star experience, but his track record has been uneven enough to keep the price in range for a team that likes to shop carefully when it can. For Houston, the appeal is straightforward: a lefty with enough big-league history to matter, and enough uncertainty to make the fit worth debating as the Astros keep mapping out what their staff could look like two years from now. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Face A Familiar Outfield Decision They Still Havent Solved
Lamonte Wade Jr. has spent the better part of his career as a useful, movable piece, and this winter adds another turn to that path. After stops with the Twins, Giants, Angels, White Sox and Astros, he reaches free agency again with Houston still sorting through the same kind of outfield depth question that has followed him from club to club.
The appeal is easy to see from the Astros side. Wade had strong seasons with San Francisco in 2023 and 2024, then endured a rough 2025 before settling in a bit more after arriving in Houston in 2026. The fit now comes down to whether the Astros see enough left in the bat and enough versatility in the role to bring him back as part of their 2027 outfield mix. [Read more 🡒]