What Can the Astros Do With Isaac Paredes?

Having a lot of good players is usually a good thing, but too many good players making too much money can muddle things up. That’s especially true for the Houston Astros, a team that famously has a self-imposed salary cap every year.

The “problem” comes from having five infielders — Christian Walker, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña, Carlos Correa and Isaac Paredes — and a primary DH in Yordan Álvarez. All have value and could make an impact for Houston in a perfect world, but I don’t think Astros fans or executives are clamoring for more Altuve reps in left field.

With that, here are three ways to alleviate the issue and upgrade the team elsewhere.

Trade Isaac Paredes

The rumor that has lasted all offseason allegedly is coming to a head as spring training opens. Paredes still has two years of team control, including 2026, and has a proven track record of success.

The problem is he was a negative defender at third base in 2025 (-3 Outs Above Average and -4 Defensive Runs Saved) and relies heavily on air pull (53.7% pull percentage, 28.0% hard hit percentage).

There are a few teams that could fit as landing spots for Paredes, and a couple of wild cards that could make a move to truly elevate their lineup.

The obvious contenders are the Brewers and Pirates, who could both use an impact bat to round out their lineups. The wild cards are the Yankees and Phillies, who are both World Series contenders as is, but can make a leap by acquiring a potential 30-homer threat to fill a void.

Here are mock trades for all four potential landing spots.

Milwaukee Brewers

• Brewers get Isaac Paredes
• Astros get UTIL Tyler Black, RHP Bryce Meccage, RHP Coleman Crow

Paredes’ value is in a weird spot because of his clear limitations and struggles as a Cub, but this feels like a decent return for a guy without a spot. He would replace the newly-acquired Luis Rengifo at third and likely slot into the middle of the order, even if he might not be hitting in a friendly environment for his swing.

Black would immediately be a utility depth piece, potentially filling the void in left field on a regular basis (we’ll get to that later). His speed and contact ability could counter Zach Cole’s boom-or-bust style, but both hit left-handed. Black has an immediate fit and one option year left, providing some flexibility.

Meccage has the size the Astros clearly covet based on their mid-minors stable of arms, and fared well enough in Low-A Carolina to keep his prospect intrigue in a deep system.

Crow is a 25-year-old flier who spins it well, an archetype the Astros have done well with. He’s battled injuries as a pro but shoved at Double-A Biloxi last year (2.51 ERA in 43 innings).

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Pirates get Isaac Paredes
• Astros get C Endy Rodriguez, RHP Zander Mueth, INF Wyatt Sanford

This return seems a little light on paper, but remember the Astros almost have to do something. This trade lets the Pirates slide Jared Triolo into a utility role and gives them some thump from the right side, even if it’s another negative defender.

Rodriguez gives Houston some catcher depth with upside for more. He’s fallen behind Joey Bart, Henry Davis and Rafael Flores Jr. in the Pirates system, but is still a switch-hitter who had success in the upper minors before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Mueth had a tough time in Low-A Bradenton last year, but is still 20 and provides the upside to be a mid-rotation starter. Sanford was a 2024 draftee who dominated on the complex before settling in at Bradenton, and is still a ways away from a 40-man decision.

New York Yankees

• Yankees get Isaac Paredes, RHP Kai-Wei Teng
• Astros get OF Jasson Domínguez

This is a bit more complex and would likely require another team to take on Ryan McMahon’s contract and these two AL rivals to put their differences aside, but this would be an ideal landing spot for Paredes’ batted ball profile.

Dominguez is currently slated to head back to Triple-A in 2026, and this would get him out of the expectations put on him by the Yankee faithful from his time as a prospect. He would provide the Astros with their starting left fielder and get them out of their infield backlog.

It would require a little extra going to New York because of Dominguez’s recent pedigree and years of control remaining, and Teng would give the Yankees some much-needed pitching depth early in the season.

Philadelphia Phillies

• Phillies get Isaac Paredes
• Astros get 3B Alec Bohm, RHP Moisés Chace, RHP Sean Youngerman

Paredes for Bohm doesn’t make a ton of sense unless you consider Bohm a bench piece, which is a seamless fit on this current Astros roster. The bench could be backup catcher César Salazar, middle infielder Nick Allen, outfielder Joey Loperfido and Bohm. Loperfido or Cole can even platoon with Smith and this all works out.

Bohm could also be rerouted or dealt at the deadline, but it provides a chance for him to change places and get out of what has become a somewhat toxic situation for him in Philadelphia.

Chace and Youngerman are electric arms that can sweeten the pot for taking back Bohm. Chace is on the 40-man roster, and Youngerman hasn’t made his professional debut, so they provide depth in different parts of the organization.

Rotate the DH

This option keeps the roster intact, but requires some creativity and maybe even prayer.

Álvarez is not a good defender and is often hurt, so Houston wants to limit him to the DH role at all costs. Correa isn’t necessarily Mr. Reliable either, and he could use some innings off his feet. Altuve is getting older, and a day or two at DH every few weeks wouldn’t hurt, and Paredes isn’t Nolan Arenado in the field.

It’s not ideal, but a rotation could get most bats in the lineup every day and keep guys all over the diamond fresh, especially if Astros manager Joe Espada is comfortable enough with Paredes manning second base every now and then.

In this scenario, you assume you sit Yainer Diaz on days he doesn’t catch, Walker plays first every day, Peña holds down shortstop daily and Jake Meyers, Smith, Cole and Loperfido can handle the open outfield spots all the time.

Paredes still sits a fair bit in this scenario given Álvarez’s importance to this lineup and team, but it lets Paredes stay in the mix, keeping him fresh and “launching” balls into the Crawford Boxes.

Wait Until He’s Useful

This feels like the worst of the three options because Houston would be resigning a $9.35 million contract to a bench role, but it is what it is.

As previously stated, Álvarez, Correa and Altuve are all aging, brittle or both and could use some days off here and there. Paredes can plug in. Maybe playing a little second base, no matter how good it is, could increase his trade value.

Paredes would also likely be the best insurance plan in the league in case any infielder outside of Peña gets injured, which isn’t the worst spot to be in. (And even if Peña were injured, Correa would move to short and Paredes would take over third.) He’s an expensive insurance plan (too soon, Puerto Rico?), but contenders need depth.

And that’s not to say Paredes wouldn’t ever play. He’s obviously valuable and can cycle in, but Correa, Peña, Altuve and Walker are Houston’s guys. They all got paid and hold immense value for the team, both on the field and spiritually.

No matter how you look at it, Isaac Paredes feels like a sitting duck on this Houston roster. He’s both immensely valuable because of his production and team control, but not as valuable because of his unique batted ball data, defense, and the situation the Astros have put themselves in.

Houston general manager Dana Brown said he isn’t done after dealing Jesús Sánchez for Loperfido, and shipping off Paredes feels like the move he meant.