Who’s really on second base for the Astros moving forward? Joe Espada’s comments about José Altuve being the primary second baseman in 2026 — while also experimenting with him in left field in 2025 — raise bigger questions about Houston’s infield direction. We break down what Espada’s words actually signal and how much positional flexibility the Astros are building into their roster.
We also discuss whether Isaac Paredes is a legitimate option at second base if the Astros choose not to trade an infielder, or if he’s better suited as a versatile, matchup-based piece. Plus, we map out how playing time could realistically be distributed in a no-trade scenario with Carlos Correa at third, Jeremy Peña at short, Altuve at second, Christian Walker at first, Yordan Alvarez at DH, and Paredes floating around the infield.
To wrap it up, we ask a key lineup question: should the Astros pursue left-handed hitter Ryan O’Hearn? Would his bat help balance a right-heavy lineup, and does he fit better as a first base/DH option or a platoon piece? We break down the pros, cons, and whether O’Hearn makes sense for Houston’s roster construction.
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