If the Phillies don’t expect Schwarber back (which would really surprise me), here’s a hypothetical for matching up with the Astros on a trade: Astros get: RP Orion Kerkering Phillies get: 1B Christian Walker CF Jake Meyers RP Kaleb Ort $3M 2026, $3M 2027 Gets the Phillies a 1B that lets them move Harper to DH (or into the OF if needed), and a replacement for Bader in CF. Ort is a throw-in who can serve as a depth BP arm. Astros get an elite 7th inning RP who comes with 4 years of control and they shed 85% of Walker’s remaining contract.
I can't imagine THIS Astros team can afford to get rid of 2 of their top 9 projected position players (#6 and #8 by fWAR) and get no hitting back.
“Two of their top 9” is a pretty generous way to describe 2 guys who posted a wRC+ of 99 and 107 respectively. Obviously Houston would need to replace them in the lineup, but they’re extremely replaceable.
The “2 of their top 9” part might be technically accurate, but the “this Astros team can’t afford to get rid of them” part isn’t.
But the "and get no hitting back" part makes it accurate. The current position player roster minus Meyers and Walker: Makes Cole, Melton, or Matthews the everyday CF Makes some combination of Dezenzo, Dubon, Urias or Whitcomb the starter if Paredes, Correa, or Pena get hurt. Makes Salazar the backup catcher essentially making this an 8 bat team 20-25% of the time. Keeping Walker leaves a proven MLB backup at 1B, 3B, and SS. This team has not exactly kept players on the field.
I'm more than fine with moving Walker and Meyers. Put Parades at 1B, Cole in CF and Dezenzo in left and also trading for a vet LHB OF.
A hypothetical blockbuster with Arizona: Astros get: 2B/CF Ketel Marte RF/1B Pavin Smith Diamondbacks get: 2B Brice Matthews CF Jake Meyers SP AJ Blubaugh OF Jesus Sanchez 1B Christian Walker $5M (2026), $5M (2027) Diamondbacks fill all of their roster holes (1B, 2B, CF, DH, SP) without spending money. Astros add a superstar and a good lefty bat and still have money to spend on pitching. Astros roster: CF Marte 1B Paredes DH Alvarez 3B Correa SS Pena 2B Altuve LF P Smith RF Smith C Diaz Bench: Dubon, TBD, Urias, Cole SP: Brown, TBD, TBD, Javier, Arrighetti, Pearson RP: Hader, Abreu, TBD, Sousa, King, Okert, McCullers
Was listening to MLBnetwork Radio on SiriusXM on my way home from work and they dove in to the Astros roster and the infield flux. They debated the Walker/Paredes 1st base situation and noted that with Walker entering his age 35 season at 20 mil a year- wouldn’t have much value on the trade market (which we already know). They also noted how perfect a fit Paredes is at Daikin Park and how he’s exactly the type of player Dana Brown seems to want around. One of the guys went on to say that if the Astros really want to fill some holes with controllable, young players at positions of need, they should shop Peña. They highlighted how dry the shortstop market is this offseason(especially with Bichette’s ability to stick there long term). Maybe the Astros make one more run over the next couple weeks to ink Peña to a long term deal, but if they don’t, it wouldn’t shock me to see his name mentioned in trade talks- especially if Dana gets an offer he can’t refuse.
Next to Hunter Brown, Pena is the most valuable trade chip the Astros have. If they want to make a major move that will dramatically change their short and long term outlook, trading Pena is the best chance to do that. They should only do that if they have faith in Correa’s ability to play SS for the next 2 seasons and if they are overwhelmed by what they’re offered for Pena, but it’s definitely true that the SS market is barren and Pena could potentially bring back a lot of value.
In a vacuum I love the idea of trading Pena, as I have lost faith in extending him and this roster can use high ceiling cheap talent that he would bring. Very similar to Tucker ( less valuable per, but 1 additional season of control) last year. However they would need another SS. I don't see Correa, Dubon, or any current prospects as 100+ game starters at SS. obviously Correa could do it but I think he has accepted the Ripken/A Rod career path as we all have.
I think carrying both Urias and Dubon on the roster provides some pretty good insurance for making Correa the everyday SS. If he gets hurt or worn down, one of those guys would very likely be able to step in and provide above average to average defense with below average to average offense. Both guys have at least one 2+ fwar season on their resume. Bottom line that I think everybody agrees with is that for it to make sense for the Astros to trade Pena, they would need to receive an overwhelming return. But in that scenario, they have the pieces to trade him and be able to not have a gaping hole at SS even if they don’t bring in another one from outside. If trading Pena brings back a prospect haul that takes Houston’s farm system from being ranked in the 25-30 range to being ranked in the 10-15 range while also freeing up enough money to add a short term lefty OF bat or innings eating SP4/5 or elite 7th inning RP, it is probably worth it.
There will likely be a flurry of moves across the league before the 40 man roster deadline this afternoon.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...mmo-kodai-senga-available-in-trade-talks.html Depending on how much money NY will eat, Nimmo might make a good target for Houston. A swap of Nimmo for Meyers makes sense for both sides if the Mets are willing to eat enough money. Astros get: OF Brandon Nimmo $40M ($8M/yr 2026-2030) Mets get: CF Jake Meyers Mets get the elite defensive CF their GM wants. Astros get a long term lefty corner OF bat with high ceiling/floor for $12M/yr.
The biggest issue I have with keeping both Dubon and Urias on the roster is neither has any options. An MLB team has 3 bench spots after the b/u catcher is considered. That means you only have 1 more bench spot unless you project at least one of them as starters. Even if you are 100% satisfied that 6 or 7 other players can he everyday starters, you have no platoon options - I'm talking to you center and right field. And if you have Walker, Altuve, Pena, Correa, and Paredes covering 4 positions you have NO bench spots left.
I agree that if all 3 of Correa, Paredes, and Pena are on the roster, there’s not room for both Urias and Dubon. But my comment was made in the context of trading Pena, in which case there’s room for both guys (and in fact both guys have increased value to Houston).
Makes sense. I did not follow 100% I guess there are worse things than Dubon starting 100 games at SS if the other 8 starters are 2019 level. To me trading Pena would completely depend on if they got enough to still compete in 2026 and improve the roster for 2027-2031/2ish.
Prospects I would Iike that I think would be reasonable returns for Doobie: SS John Gil 3B David McCabe Any pitcher Miller likes
Wasn't Acuna and the Braves relationship very rocky? What about a package centered around Pena and Acuna?
