The Houston Astros have been anything but quiet this offseason. From letting Framber Valdez walk to trading for Mike Burrows and signing Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, Houston’s front office has shown it’s not afraid to shuffle the deck. But even with those moves, there’s one puzzle piece that still doesn’t quite fit: the infield.
Right now, the Astros are dealing with a bit of a traffic jam on the dirt. Too many capable gloves, not enough spots.
And while depth is always a good problem to have, Houston may need to clear the logjam if they want to stay agile heading into the season. The most logical path?
A trade - and according to one proposal, Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker could be the odd man out.
Let’s focus on one scenario that’s been floated: the Astros sending Paredes and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Hunter Barco and Gold Glove infielder Jared Triolo.
On the surface, it’s a deal that checks a lot of boxes for both sides. Paredes, still under club control for several more seasons, would give the Pirates a young, versatile bat with pop and playoff experience. Pittsburgh, who reportedly had interest in Eugenio Suárez before he signed with Cincinnati, could pivot to Paredes as a long-term solution at third base.
In return, the Astros would be getting two intriguing pieces. First, there’s Jared Triolo - a 28-year-old who brings elite defensive value across multiple infield positions.
He took home a Gold Glove in 2024, and that glove travels well: he’s logged innings at third, first, and even second base. While his bat hasn’t fully caught up to his glove - he owns a career .236 average and .667 OPS - his defensive versatility and team-friendly contract (under control through 2029) make him an ideal depth piece for a contending roster like Houston’s.
Then there’s Hunter Barco. The 25-year-old southpaw has only dipped his toe into the majors - three innings, three strikeouts, zero earned runs - but his minor league resume is promising.
Across 54 games (47 starts), Barco has posted a 3.04 ERA with 227 strikeouts over 183.2 innings. That’s the kind of arm you stash, develop, and potentially plug into the rotation or bullpen down the road.
With at least six years of club control left, he’s a long-term play with upside.
Now, losing Isaac Paredes wouldn’t be easy. He’s a proven contributor who’s shown he can handle the heat of big moments.
But if the Astros are serious about balancing their roster and building for both now and the future, this kind of deal makes a lot of sense. Triolo gives them defensive insurance and flexibility, while Barco adds a high-upside arm to a pitching pipeline that’s always in need of reinforcements.
Bottom line: this trade proposal doesn’t just clear up the infield - it injects controllable talent into two key areas of the roster. For a team looking to stay competitive in the AL without sacrificing long-term stability, that’s the kind of move that could pay off big.