The Houston Astros are off to a very slow start this season. Through 17 games in the months of March and April, Houston is 6-11 as they prepare to welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to town for a weekend series.
It’s still very early in the season, but it would not be a surprise if the Astros end up selling off some pieces at the trade deadline to set themselves up for the future. They have a lot of depth in their infield, but just not enough places to put some of their players.
Former All-Star Isaac Paredes is somebody that could find himself on the move if Houston decides to sell. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report believes that he could be a top trade candidate if the Astros can’t turn their season around, with the Milwaukee Brewers being the best landing spot.
“An infield logjam as a result of the Carlos Correa reunion last summer made Isaac Paredes a popular name on the trade market during the offseason, and while he ultimately stayed put, he remains a logical trade candidate,” Reuter wrote.
“Third base has been a black hole for the Brewers, with newcomers Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton splitting duties and hitting a combined .153/.254/.220 with zero home runs.”
Isaac Paredes Could Be Top Trade Candidate at Deadline
Paredes hit 20 home runs last season with 53 RBI. He also slashed .254/.352/.458 with an .809 OPS. This season has been a bit of a struggle for the two-time All-Star, hitting just .220 and posting a .639 OPS without any home runs.
However, a change of scenery could potentially benefit him, especially if Houston can’t turn its season around. The Astros missed the postseason last year, while the Brewers won 97 games and had the best record in Major League Baseball before falling short in the National League Championship Series to the eventual back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Brewers traded Caleb Durbin to the Boston Red Sox before the start of spring training, so there is an opening at that spot for Milwaukee, as what they currently have just isn’t getting the job done, and it’s an area that they could stand to improve if they remain in the thick of the playoff race.
The Astros could bring back some solid prospects in exchange for Paredes, which could ultimately set them up well for 2027 and beyond, so it will be interesting to see where things are headed for them later this year.
Still Time for Astros to Recover
Ultimately, it is too early to panic and automatically deem the Astros a seller in the month of April. They still can overcome their tough start and potentially get back to the top of the American League West.
But what they do at the deadline depends on where they sit in the standings. If they can’t recover, then it makes perfect sense for them to sell, and Paredes is a good trade candidate with three years of club control remaining.
We’ll see if a deal ultimately comes to fruition.
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