If you can play SS, you can play second base. Second base is the easiest of the infield positions minus first.
I think the only thing that could prevent crane to not sign off is the luxury tax this season. We would need to figure out to send some dead salary back. Maybe McCullers, Brendan Rodger, and Chas could make the numbers work.
In this scenario there may be some growing pains but I would not expect a poor result. A few random and scattered plays that looked like Altuve was out there on stilts. But it wouldn't matter anyway because he wouldn't play 2B until next year. 2025) Correa plays 3B. If Paredes manages to come back it won't be with more than 15-20 games left. Lets say 20: 1B) Walker 16, Paredes 4 3B) Correa 12, Paredes 8 SS) Pena 16, Correa 4 DH) Yordan 16, Paredes 4 Everyone gets 4 days off in the final 3+ weeks. 2026) Develop a plan in the offseason and work Paredes and Correa out at the expected positions leading up to the season.
The Correa rumors are obviously a longshot, but if these talks were happening I'd insist on Christian Walker going the other way to help offset the salary. You could then acquire O'Hearn to play first. Correa plays third and Paredes can take over first base next season. As for 2B, Altuve/Dubon can handle it depending on who's pitching that night. If you can't get O'Hearn, who is the best option at 1B, then any league average hitter/fielder can replace Walker's poor production. I don't think Paredes will play again in the regular season (maybe the last week if he's on the same timeline as Bregman earlier this year), so I didn't factor him into this year's infield equation.
If Houston adds Correa, he plays 3B for the next 3 seasons. If Paredes comes back this season, he will need a rehab stint and he can use that to get back in the groove of playing 2B. Problem solved.
If he’s not involved in the trade he either goes down and works on his swing and miss issue, moves into a utility role supplanting Dubon, or moves to CF.
I agree I would keep Brice Matthews and be willing to trade Dezenzo, Whitcome, Melton Framber Valdez, Brendan Rodgers can be traded for talent Could Brice Matthews shift to short stop in preparation of Jeremy Pena leaving (Pena turning down Astros offers)?
