The Phillies are heading into the offseason with a clear mandate: get better, and do it fast. After another shortened postseason run ended with a Wild Card Round loss to the Atlanta Braves a few weeks ago, Philadelphia is expected to be aggressive as it tries to maximize what remains of this core’s window.
A lot of the attention has centered on the lineup, and that makes sense. The offense lagged in 2026, with catcher, left field, third base and shortstop ranking as the club’s least productive spots by wRC+. The Phillies are already being connected to outside help in free agency, with Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki and Teruaki Sato among the names linked to them.
But the trade market could be just as important, and the Houston Astros look like the cleanest match.
Houston went back to the playoffs in 2026, but the season still ended at 81-81. The organization has already started making changes, parting ways with general manager Dana Brown in August and moving on from manager Joe Espada after the season.
That kind of shakeup could open the door for Philadelphia to check on two players who fit obvious needs: shortstop Jeremy Pena and third baseman Isaac Paredes.
Neither would come cheap. Both are under control for one more year before reaching free agency, which raises the price. Still, that’s exactly the sort of move the Phillies should at least explore, especially with Aidan Miller and Bryan Rincon moving through the minor league system.
The infield picture is unsettled. Alec Bohm, Luis Arraez and Edmundo Sosa are all free agents, so the Phillies need answers if those three walk. At the same time, they have to be careful not to hand out long-term money that could block the younger players coming up behind them.
That’s where a one-year bridge makes sense.
Pena would give Philadelphia a short-term fix at shortstop and a bat that has started to trend in the right direction. Over the last two seasons, he has begun to unlock more of his offensive game. His 24% strikeout rate was the second worst of his career, but the 124 OPS+ would play well near the top of the order.
He’d also bring a defensive upgrade over Trea Turner, who could wind up in the outfield if he can’t straighten things out on the dirt. Pena didn’t have his strongest year with the glove, but he has been a steady defender before.
Paredes brings a different kind of fit. If Bohm departs, the Phillies would be looking for a right-handed bat with some punch, and Paredes checks that box. The two-time All-Star has hit at least 19 home runs in five straight seasons and posted an OPS+ of at least 112 in each of those years.
He also does the little things at the plate. Paredes draws walks, avoids strikeouts better than most power hitters and has put real work into his defense. In 2026, he even spent time at second base and first base along with third, giving him more versatility than he had shown in a few years.
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Once that choice is made, the attention shifts to the rest of the baseball operation, starting with the coaching staff and then the roster itself. The timing matters because the Astros are heading into an offseason shaped by the looming expiration of the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement and the possibility of a lockout, which could compress the market and force clubs to make decisions faster than usual. For Houston, the next manager will not just inherit a dugout, but a front office preparing for a winter that could move in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Manager Search Could Bring Back A Familiar Face And Sting Yankees
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Ausmus also brings a wrinkle beyond the Astros own decision-making, since he has recently been working as the Yankees bench coach. If Houston follows through, it would not only reconnect the franchise with a former player, it would also create another ripple in New Yorks staff at a time when Aaron Boone has already seen turnover around him. [Read more 🡒]