[Official] Astros Offseason

Would the defense be better with Parades at 3B and Correa at 2B?

 

Yordan ran more on the days that he played LF versus DH.

IIRC Yordan played LF (53 games in 2024, 1 in 3 games) and got hurt running the bases.

I don't think that you can rule out playing LF as a contributing cause to the 2024 injury.

I will be very surprised if Yordan sees more than 1 in 3 games in the field in 2026.

 

Wastes Correa's cannon.

 

No. Nice guy. Wish him well. He got enough chances and sometimes it takes change of scenery either be good again or realise can't do it or don't have passion to give it all. If he needs Breggy daily kicking his a*s at Cubs to cut those red eye mornings and be totally focused then let him hit those 34 homers. Sweet. He was't gonna do that for Astros even if given 3 season starting spot free pass to keep figuring out stuff.

 

I doubt it but just depends on how bad Paredes is playing 2B.

 

Houston is trading Paredes today. Trading Sanchez makes absolutely no sense if they don’t trade an infielder.

 

I understand that the Astros NEED to protect Yordan's health.

Other than Hunter, he is the most important player on this team. A major injury likely kills the season as soon as it happens. However:

1. None of his major injuries have ever happened in the field.
2. He likes and wants to play LF
3. The best current lineup includes him in LF and it isn't particularly close.
4. In LF he is an MVP candidate while at DH he is simply an All-Star.

OPS in LF / DH
career: 1.045 / .920
2025: 1.092 / .664
2024: .954 / .964
2023: 1.028 / .968
2022: 1.035 / 1.003
2021: 1.161 / .773

The best version of this team plays Yordan more than 50% of the games in LF and only DH's him when Paredes has a rest day or is playing 1B or 3B.

But they have stated and proven they will not do that.

 

I think you are going to be disappointed then. IMO if there was a viable trade to be made, it would have already been done by now.

 

Unless they finally break down and give Yordan LF

( then I snapped out of the dream)

 

Umm...An IF was playing OF, or whoever Paredes is traded for is playing OF. Trading Sanchez makes just as much sense in either scenario as he was likely riding the pine whether or not Paredes is traded.

 

Yes, except there’s been no hint whatsoever from anyone with insider knowledge that any of the infielders expect to play OF or are taking reps in the OF. The manager just said this morning that Altuve will play exclusively 2B and has repeatedly said that Alvarez will play almost exclusively DH. Paredes didn’t say anything about potentially playing the outfield in his interview with MacTaggert. I am surprised this situation has festered this long; 2 weeks ago I fully expected Brown/Espada to start talking about Yordan playing more OF or Altuve/Paredes playing OF, but it’s been the opposite. So at this point I will be very surprised if they don’t trade Paredes.

 

100% it can be done, that's why I don't like this thought that it is a necessity to trade Isaac. The problem though is I don't think Espada has the brain cells to be able to toggle and manage these kinds of position rotations.

 

I like youve called your shot.

IMO , if dana is talking about infield surplus etc ... i still think its a bluff, but the one we really want to move is Walker.

I am scared about Paredes Defense tho .

 

There’s 3 aspects to this issue imho:
1. The logistics of actually finding enough playing time for all 6 of their “everyday” quality hitters. That’s not really a challenge, even if you don’t expect any injuries. It is very easy to find 140 games for each of Walker, Altuve, Alvarez, Paredes, Correa, Diaz, and Pena if you put Paredes in a super utility role, get everybody a few extra games of rest, and play Altuve and Alvarez in LF. This is really a non-issue.
2. The challenge to the manager of actually effectively deploying a plan to play everyone enough to maximize their production. This is part of a larger issue of questioning Espada.
3. The psychological impact to the players in not having a “starting spot” and being forced to sit out games when they don’t feel they should be. This is the real negative of this situation. None of these guys wants to sit and they all feel like they are good enough players that the team should want them in the lineup 150+ games. Playing less than that feels like an insult to their talent/production. Aside from Walker, it’s reasonable for these guys to be insulted by the prospect of sitting 20+ games or not having a set position.

My answer is to play Walker less until an injury solves the problem. He’s the weakest hitter and he **** the bed last season. He’s the one guy they can sit who should legitimately feel like he deserves it. But really I expect Houston to complete a trade in the next 24 hours to solve this problem.

 

Hopefully we don't get fleeced.

 

I have to believe that Brown has more than one suitor involved who have already presented “acceptable” deals to the degree that even if nothing else develops he would be satisfied with the return. He could be holding out to see if the first few days of ST uncovers an injury on another team that prompts a better offer.

Brown hasn’t made a bad trade yet so until it happens I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.

 

Paredes at 1st base is ideal; as he’s built to hit at Daikin Park. But will they be able to find takers for Walker unless they entice another team to make it worth their while?

But the Astros should not mortgage their future to unload Walker. Frankly, for this season I think the Astros could use Paredes to share time with Correa, Altuve and Walker all over the infield. Plus I can see Paredes getting his share of AB on DH. Depth should not be seen as a liability on the field.

One thing that has happened in the past is that the players are so overplayed during the regular season, that they break down in the grind of the marathon season. Heck if by the playoffs Paredes is outperforming Walker, then okay him at 1st base primarily.