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The Houston Astros are going to do something that nobody saw coming at the beginning of the offseason; move their franchise icon Jose Altuve to left field.
At 34 years old, it's a risk.
His defense has begun to decline at second base in recent seasons, something that has been attributed in part to his decreasing range. So the notion of putting the 14-year veteran with almost 2,000 Major League games worth of mileage on his legs into the outfield was met with some skepticism.
But the Astros have stuck with the idea, giving him countless reps in camp before they trotted him out there in game settings this spring.
It hasn't been all rosy.
There is a still work to do if Altuve is going to be a net positive in his new position instead of a defensive liability, but it's also safe to say Houston has been impressed by what they have seen so far.
On Altuve in left, Espada said: "[He's done] enough for me to feel good about playing left field."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 13, 2025
Manager Joe Espada didn't stop there.
He made sure to give the franchise legend a shoutout after he overcame a first inning blunder that resulted in Ivan Herrera of the St. Louis Cardinals getting a triple out of what would normally have been a routine play for an experienced outfielder.
"He [told] me after that, 'I'm going to stay out there for nine innings.' That's the effort I want, that's the leadership that we're looking for and that's Jose Altuve for you in a nutshell," the skipper said, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Espada has a point.
Altuve didn't have to make this change.
If he would have played out his career at second base, not only would he have been the best player at that position in franchise history, but there's a good chance he would have been considered that across all of Major League Baseball.
Altuve wants to win, and moving into left field gives the Astros a better chance of accomplishing that.
There will still be growing pains as he gets more familiar with playing in the outfield, but the fact he was even willing to go through it at this stage of his career says a lot about him.
More must-reads:
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- Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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What Yankees fans can expect from Ryan McMahon
Ryan McMahon probably wasn’t the name every die-hard enthusiast of the Bronx Bombers was waiting in anticipation to be announced. In their pinstriped hearts, Yankee fans had already reserved third base for D-Backs’ slugger Eugenio Suárez. But before jumping to conclusions, let’s first browse through what advantages and pitfalls this newly minted Yankee comes with by lining up some pros and cons. Off the bat, one of the key reasons the Yankees had interest in McMahon was his defense. Since last season, defense has been a sensitive topic around the Bronx. While the hot corner hasn’t been a severe part of this concern, knowing that the Yankees’ defense isn’t going to get worse is mildly reassuring. McMahon has recorded four outs above average and four defensive runs saved this year. These numbers have declined since his stellar glove work in 2023, but still fairly solid. It also helps that the Yankees didn’t need to overpay for a third baseman, but McMahon’s upside can be easily offset by his major downside. Hitting .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs, McMahon’s bat offers plenty more than that of Oswald Peraza, but it might not move the needle very much unless he can make his power play in the Bronx. With his left-handed bat and the Yankees’ short right porch, there is a chance this could work. Even more encouraging is the fact that McMahon has been a 20+ home run hitter for most of his career. His average exit velocity of 94 mph this season ranks him in the elite 98th percentile of hitters. However, this could be a little misleading. McMahon’s numbers seem to be heavily influenced by the mile-high altitude in Denver. Below you can see his home-away splits for this year: Away from Coors Field, McMahon’s performance has been abysmal. Also, his 127 strikeouts were the most in the National League up until his trade. His overall stats and splits aren’t exactly enamoring, but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. McMahon’s bat has been heating up lately. In the past seven games, McMahon is hitting .292 with three home runs. Over the past two years, the Rockies' third baseman excelled in the first half and slumped heavily in the second. If this trend has reversed and he excels in the second half of this season, Yankee fans could be in for a real treat. Will McMahon be the addition that pushes the Yankees to the World Series this fall? Probably not, but one can always hope. Still, when Gerrit Cole returns next season, McMahon might be the piece that puts New York over the top. The 30-year-old one-time All-Star is signed through 2027, giving fans enough time to find out.
Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
Report: Steelers Brought In Big Name Safety For Free Agent Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been looking to improve their safety depth after trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick. On Day 2 of training camp, they signed Chuck Clark, a safety that previously played for the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. He will now be teaming up with another ex-Raven in DeShon Elliott. Pittsburgh has been loading their defense with players whom Baltimore let walk in free agency over the past two offseasons. It continues with Clark, and it could potentially keep going, with more players still available. Ari Meirov recently posted that on the same day as the Clark signing, the Steelers brought in safety Marcus Williams for a visit as well. Williams spent the previous three seasons with the Ravens, where he has dealt with injuries and inconsistencies. He has yet to play in more than 11 games in a season with Baltimore, which is likely why he is still available as July comes to a close. He had just 33 tackles and two passes defended in 2024, as he appears to be on the decline at this point in his career. Williams would most likely be a depth piece in this case. Elliott will be one starter, and there will be a training camp battle between Clark and Juan Thornhill for the other spot. Even with three capable safeties being on the roster, you can never have too much depth, so bringing in someone like Williams likely wouldn't hurt at all, especially with Thornhill's injury history. The more, the merrier. Steelers Keep Going To Ravens Well For Defense As mentioned before, Williams would join Clark and Elliott as former Raven safeties to wear the Black and Gold as they all reunite in Pittsburgh. They are not the only ones to switch sides in this heated rivalry, however. The Steelers have also signed Malik Harrison during free agency in 2025 to add to the linebacker core as a run-stuffer. Jeremiah Moon was claimed off waivers from Baltimore by Pittsburgh early in the 2024 offseason. The Steelers also grabbed a Baltimore linebacker to be the quarterback of their defense. Patrick Queen was given a three-year deal in the 2024 free agency period to be the primary communicator of the unit. While that did not work out too well that year, hopefully can be better with another year in the system while also being surrounded by more of his former teammates from the Chesapeake.
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