The Astros seem to have one thing of a nook infield logjam. They acquired Carlos Correa on the deadline, and Jeremy Peña’s presence meant Correa wanted to maneuver to 3rd base. That made sense whereas Isaac Paredes was injured however is a more durable match if everyone seems to be wholesome. The Astros have Christian Walker signed for 2 extra seasons at first base. Yordan Alvarez stays the first designated hitter, and the Astros would most likely welcome the chance to get Jose Altuve extra DH at-bats if they might discover them.
Primarily based on that glut of nook bats, there’s been hypothesis concerning the Astros buying and selling an infielder this offseason. Most of that has revolved round Paredes or Walker, however common supervisor Dana Brown downplayed the concept that the Astros had been trying to transfer both participant. That’s significantly true of Paredes, who turned in a .254/.352/.458 line with 20 homers in 102 video games throughout his first season in Houston.
“He was top-of-the-line guys at seeing pitches and dealing counts and it’s one of many the explanation why we went out and traded for him,” Brown informed reporters on the GM Conferences on Wednesday (hyperlink by way of Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle). “We want that worth in our lineup. It’s the precise path we’re attempting to take it. We really feel like if we commerce him it could be weakening our lineup. So proper now, we’ve got no real interest in buying and selling him.”
Paredes was the centerpiece of the Kyle Tucker return from the Cubs. He ranked fifth on the crew in on-base share and tied for third in homers regardless of lacking a lot of the second half with a major pressure of his proper hamstring. Paredes returned late within the season however was restricted to DH work. Brown mentioned he’s at the moment at roughly 65% well being and can “doubtlessly” be accessible for Opening Day (by way of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com).
The 26-year-old’s swing is geared for pull-side pop that makes him a really perfect slot in Houston’s Daikin Park, the place the Crawford Packing containers depart a brief porch in left area. The 2-time All-Star was an achieved hitter with the Rays, so it’s not as if he’s solely a product of the park, however he’s completely tailor-made even for a lineup that skews very closely to the correct facet.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Paredes for a $9.3MM arbitration wage. He’ll undergo that course of as soon as extra earlier than hitting free company throughout the 2027-28 offseason. There’d be vital curiosity if the Astros did determine to buy him, possible for beginning pitching, however they’re clearly continuing as if he’ll be of their lineup. Brown mentioned the Astros should not contemplating him for an everyday function at second base, so he’ll be again principally within the corners.
Whereas that’d seemingly level within the path of a Walker commerce, the GM indicated that’s not at the moment into account both. “We haven’t talked about Walker in a commerce. Walker’s our on a regular basis first baseman,” Brown mentioned. He’s in a a lot completely different spot from Paredes. He’s signed for $20MM yearly for his age 35-36 seasons. Walker had a team-leading 27 homers this 12 months, however he hit .238 with a career-worst .297 on-base share. The three-time Gold Glove winner additionally posted uncharacteristically middling defensive grades. Baseball Reference felt he was proper round substitute degree total, whereas FanGraphs had him at one WAR.
That’s not the type of season that may internet Walker $20MM per season on a multi-year deal if he had been a free agent. The Astros would possibly have to eat round half the cash simply to maneuver him for a middling return. That will open first base for Paredes and reallocate a little bit of payroll room for rotation provides, but it’d depart them with extra lifeless cash on a primary baseman proper because the José Abreu contract lastly comes off the books. The Astros might worth Walker’s energy and defensive repute sufficient to carry him in hope that he rebuilds some worth.
Buying and selling Correa or Peña appears much more far-fetched. “We’re not likely attempting to drag from the infield within the commerce market, just because we really feel like all these guys are going to be a part of the highest of our lineup,” Brown mentioned usually. “I believe they’re all going to hit someplace between 1 and 6. So I wouldn’t attempt to make any strikes from the infield standpoint.” That blanket assertion most likely doesn’t apply to utility gamers Ramón Urías or Mauricio Dubón, who’re respectively projected for $4.4MM and $5.8MM of their ultimate seasons of arbitration. The Astros might commerce or non-tender both or each.
Brown spoke usually concerning the Astros bouncing gamers across the diamond to maximise relaxation alternatives for his or her veteran hitters. Correa has by no means performed second base, although he’d presumably be able to doing so. One speculative choice can be to get Correa semi-regular second base work on days when Paredes is on the scorching nook. They’ll have Altuve proceed bouncing between second base, left area and DH with Alvarez splitting time between DH and left.
That carries into an outfield that ought to function a pair adjustments. Houston traded for Jesús Sánchez so as to add a left-handed bat who might play proper area down the stretch. Sánchez performed terribly, batting .199/.269/.349 with a number of defensive lapses. He’s projected at a $6.5MM arbitration wage and below membership management for 2 seasons. Chandler Rome of The Athletic writes that the Astros are open to commerce inquiries on Sánchez, although it appears extra possible they gained’t discover curiosity and can merely non-tender him at subsequent Friday’s deadline.
That’ll possible depart the Astros in the hunt for one other left-handed hitting outfielder. Rookies Zach Cole and Jacob Melton might consider however have restricted monitor data. Taylor Trammell might be on the roster bubble. Shifting on from Sánchez and including somebody like Max Kepler, Cedric Mullins or Mike Yastrzemski in free company would make sense.
Notably, Brown wouldn’t decide to second-year outfielder Cam Smith breaking camp in 2026. The previous first-rounder, acquired alongside Paredes within the Tucker deal, hit .236/.312/.358 throughout 493 plate appearances as a rookie. It was hardly a disastrous exhibiting for a participant with such restricted skilled expertise, and Smith performed a superb proper area regardless of being drafted as a 3rd baseman. But he struggled considerably within the second half (.154/.247/.242) and could possibly be due for a glance towards Triple-A pitching.
“We noticed glimpses of it final 12 months, however we’re going to wish him to be extra constant,” Brown mentioned (by way of Rome). “I’d suppose he comes again and tries to play with extra consistency and makes the required changes, however we’ve got to be open to sending him again to Triple-A if he hasn’t turned the nook. … There’s so much to be mentioned for guys that work onerous within the offseason after which make the required changes. We’re hoping that Cam does that. If he does that, we’ll be excited.”
Optioning Smith would give the Astros the pliability to pursue an on a regular basis proper fielder. Jake Meyers ought to be again as the first middle fielder, although Rome experiences that Houston has acquired a good bit of commerce curiosity within the 29-year-old. That’s to be anticipated, as Meyers is a plus defender who’s coming off a profession 12 months on the plate. He hit .292/.354/.373 over 381 plate appearances with dramatically improved strike zone self-discipline. He’s controllable for an additional two seasons and projected at a discount $3.5MM fee. It’s troublesome to examine a Houston crew already in search of outfielders buying and selling Meyers, nevertheless it’s attainable one other membership tries to pressure their hand by placing a controllable beginning pitcher on the desk.
