I agree with that; and it works, but it may not make the team any better. Paredes is very well suited to our ballpark.
I agree, the impact to 2026 is questionable, but this trade certainly improves the longer term outlook.
Duran has one more year of control than Paredes. I don’t see Paredes blocking Matthews. Altuve is the one blocking Matthews. I’m not sure it improves the longterm outlook.
What about this one: Astros get: OF Jarren Duran OF Wilyer Abreu P Peyton Tolle Red Sox get: 3B Isaac Paredes OF Cam Smith P Spencer Arrighetti Astros transform their OF and lineup with cheap controllable players plus an extremely high upside P. CF Duran SS Pena DH Alvarez 3B Correa 2B Altuve RF Abreu 1B Walker C Diaz LF Sanchez Bench: Allen, Salazar, Cole, Matthews SP: Brown, Imai, Javier, Burrows, Tolle, Weiss RP: Hader, Abreu, King, Okert, Pearson, Munoz, McCullers That is a STACKED roster and Imai is the only meaningful player slated to be a free agent after the season. The trade is an overpay by Boston but that’s what Houston should require to be motivated to trade Paredes. Astros would flip Meyers for prospects.
I imagine Tolle would be where Boston would hang up. Swapping in Early for Tolle still probably makes it a really good trade for Houston. Taking the pitcher out from Boston’s side probably makes it a totally fair deal but I don’t think I’d really like that deal for Houston. Hell, this trade creates the risk that Isaac Paredes puts one in the Crawford Boxes in Game 7 of the ALCS… to knock Houston out of the playoffs. It needs to carry a premium.
Melton, Whitley, Tyler White? I'd add all of them. Throw in Seth Beer as a sweetener if that's what it takes.
It would be interesting to know the Astros value on Arrighetti. It could be higher than Tolle, especially when considering players’ current devlopment. It still limits Alvarez’ access to LF, and forces the Astros to rely on Altuve as a full-time 2B. But the deal certainly has eye appeal for the Astros.
I have heard Dana Brown talk about Yordan in LF, but Espada has consistently shot that down saying he wants him to be the primary DH. Let's say Brown has a fantastic draft and several current prospects raise their status and the farm is regarded in top half of organizations, Weiss and Burrows both have great seasons, and Cam Smith outperforms Kyle Tucker. Brown is extended but Espada isn't. The new manager considers Yordan the primary LF and Altuve the primary 2B in 2027. The Astros dismissed a GM after winning a World Series, why not a manager?
Alvarez and Altuve are both at risk of debilitating injuries at any time and asking them to play in the field only increases those risks. It seems unfair to the players and their team mates to put them in that position.
It is not a perfect world. Walking out to your mailbox can he an injury risk. You could also say it seems unfair to the team and teammates to put Altuve at second base or left field where his poor fielding costs them runs and wins. And, at his age wouldn't it also makes sense to protect him from injury by keeping him out of the field? I understand the argument but there is no perfect solution. There can't be 2 DH only players on a team. I think considering everything, the best choice would be to DH Altuve more which requires Yordan to pkay more LF. To me the benefits outweigh the risks but clearly Joe Espada does not agree.
