FIFY (Sorry Marwin, and your top of the 9th homerun in the mother f’n World Series off of Jansen, IN LA, without the aid of the trash can, to tie the game, will forever be one of the greatest Astro moments of all time
I was with you until you dropped the Luis Valbuena comparison. There’s a much higher chance Matthews and Dezenzo don’t become starters (on a playoff team) than they do of becoming star level players.
Paredes is a career 117 wRC+ player that can play on the grass. I'm a little surprised with how good his stats look the past 2 years (though, I didn't realize he was so young when he debuted), but he's got nearly three years of hitting at a high level in his age 23-25 seasons. ZiPS currently has him projected as the 32nd best position player in 2027. Thinking the Astros have 10 position players better than a guy projected to be the 32nd best position player seems like either hate or just completely undervaluing him. Dezenzo has hit 31 homers across his minor league and MLB career (i.e., since 2022). Paredes did that in the majors in his age 24 season in 2023 while playing on the grass and only striking out 18% of the time (Dezenzo's age 24 season was last year). They are about a year apart in age and Paredes has a 10 WAR lead. The best prospects in baseball on average aren't as good as Paredes.
I think he's drastically prospect happy while completely underrating Paredes. Maybe Paredes will fall apart. Being a contact hitter that only has power on pulled balls is a little scary in that he might have a drop in power numbers, but his contact nature should keep it from going like Chas last year. Unless he falls apart, guys that produce like Paredes just don't get benched as teams just don't end up with 10 guys (or even 9 for before the DH) that good. The Mariners 10th best position player in 2001 had a WAR of 2.2 and only 5 guys better than Paredes's 2027 ZiPS projection.
He was an all-star. He's a very good player. We got an amazing haul for one season of Tucker who was never going to resign here. I forgot to add that he would even have more homeruns playing in Minute Maid.
Look at how many of his singles doubles, and triples would be homeruns in minute maid over the last two season. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/isaac-paredes-670623?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb
I should have put "hate" in quotes as I used that word solely because it had been used before in this discussion or left it out as I had put "completely undervaluing him" (i.e., how a lot of people use hate).
I don't dispute anything you are saying. We will see what happens. Big chance I am wrong. The numbers say I am likely wrong. I do worry about Paredes aging quickly and having a shorter career based on his baseball savant metrics and body type but he should be fine for 3+ more years. Any way, it's a win-win. If Paredes exceeds my expectations and plays well enough to keep the youngsters from taking his positions, the Astros win. If Dezenzo, Smith, and Matthews all play well enough to force him into a utility position, the Astros win.
If you can force a young former all-star that hit 31 homeruns into a utility position, you are competing with the Dodgers in terms of talent.
None of those three are seriously in contention to play at a high level at third base any time soon. They just do not have the defensive chops. Dezenzo could be a left fielder if Altuve proves to be ineffective there. Mathews could develop at 2nd base given time. Smiths best fit is also in the corner outfield and he could be a seamless replacement of Tucker there. Paredes will be extended at third base for an additional 3 years after this season. 2025 Astros Play Offs 1st base Walker 2nd base Rodgers SS Pena 3rd base Parades Bench IF Dubon C Diaz Bench C Caratini DH Alvarez/Altuve Bench Bat Dezenzo LF Altuve/Alvarez CF Meyers RF Smith Bench OF Melton
I wonder if Dezenzo can play some 2nd base. He was a SS. If he could play 1B/2B/#B/LF/RF this would make him an ideal utility player.
His lateral quickness is one of his weaknesses. He probably wouldn’t be embarrassing at 2B, but he would not be good.
If Houston had a player expected to play 140+ games at 2B then Dezenzo would be fine as the backup there. But really with Altuve and Dubon locked into the roster it’s not a big deal if their other “utility” player can’t play 2B regularly. For me if they aren’t going to make Dezenzo the everyday RF then I’d like to see him get work at all 4 corners as the primary backup (getting more work in RF as he could play primarily against RHP in lieu of McCormick). If I were GM, this is how I’d project playing time assuming everybody stayed healthy (and McCormick rebounds): C: Diaz 110g Caratini 50g 1B: Walker 140g Dezenzo 20g 2B: Rodgers 60g, Guillorme 60g, Altuve 20g, Dubon 20g SS: Pena 130g Guillorme 20g Dubon 10g 3B: Paredes 130g Dubon 10g Dezenzo 10g Guillorme 10g RF: McCormick 100g Dezenzo 60g CF: Meyers 100g Dubon 30g McCormick 20g LF: Altuve 100g Alvarez 20g Dezenzo 20g Dubon 20g DH: Alvarez 120g Diaz 20g Altuve 10g Paredes 10g
Looks about right to me If they don't trade for Arenado then I would put Smith at 3B, Parades at 2B and platoon Dezenzo, Gamel in RF. I don't think Chas will ever get back close to what he was. If they trade for Arenado then Smith in RF and Arenado at 3B, with Dezenzo as the utility guy
Here is a fun fact that I hadn't seen until today. Isaac Paredes lead the league in pitches seen per plate appearance in 2024. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/stats...cpa&season=2024&seasonType=reg&sortOrder=desc
Christian Walker is 11th on that list as well. Hopefully we work pitchers a little more this year. How many times would the starter have less than 65 pitches through 5 last year? It seemed like a lot.
