One of the biggest predicaments of the Astros’ offseason has been their as-of-yet unsuccessful efforts to reshape their outfield mix. After losing Kyle Tucker in a trade to the Cubs last winter, the team not only missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade but struggled to find production in the outfield. Their 88 wRC+ on the grass was the eighth-weakest in the majors, and while strong defense from Jake Meyers in center field helped to raise their ranking in terms of fWAR, the club’s outfield still ranked just 20th in baseball even by that measure.
Things have arguably gotten worse in the outfield for Houston this winter, depending on who you’d take between Jesus Sanchez and Joey Loperfido. As presently constructed, Meyers figures to handle center field with some combination of Loperfido, Cam Smith, Zach Cole, Brice Matthews, and Zach Dezenzo platooning in the corners. Smith is the only one with even 400 plate appearances at the big league level for his career of that group, and he’s a 23-year-old coming off a middling rookie season after getting just 32 games in the minors (and only five above High-A) before making his debut. It’s a very unproven group, and it’s been no secret that even after the calendar flipped to March with Opening Day just weeks away, the Astros are hoping to find a way to add some additional stability to their outfield.
For most of the offseason, the industry consensus was that they were most likely to accomplish that by dealing away Isaac Paredes. Paredes, at least on paper, was blocked all over the diamond after the team acquired Carlos Correa to play third base at last year’s trade deadline. With Correa at third, Christian Walker at first, and Yordan Alvarez at DH, there wasn’t much of anywhere for Paredes to play. Perhaps the team was still holding out hope that the right deal would come through at some point but a recent finger fracture suffered by Jeremy Pena perhaps changes that calculus. If Pena has to miss time, Correa could be thrust back into the role of everyday shortstop, which would leave the hot corner for Paredes to get regular at-bats to open the season.
That means a major trade for someone like Jarren Duran is extremely unlikely at this point. With that being said, though, there are certainly other ways the team could look to improve its outfield even as Opening Day creeps closer. Free agency (Jesse Winker, Jason Heyward) offers a couple of interesting if unexciting options who could likely be brought into camp on a minor league deal.
The best NRI candidates have been picked over by other clubs at this point, but if a player like Michael Conforto (who the Astros reportedly had interest in before he signed with the Cubs) or Mike Tauchman fails to make their current team out of camp, then it’s entirely possible they could opt out of their current deals and find a home in Houston.
It’s even possible that a deal involving a player on another team’s major league roster isn’t completely out of the question. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco explored a handful of little-discussed trade candidates who could make sense for the Astros last month. While there’s no guarantee any of those players are available, it’s fair to think a team like the Twins (who have all of Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Alan Roden, and James Outman vying for just a few spots in their outfield mix) could be willing to part with one of those pieces. That would be especially intriguing for Minnesota if the Astros were open to listening on some of their pitching depth, given that the Twins will be without Pablo Lopez this year and David Festa is also slated to start the year on the injured list.
What do MLBTR readers think of the Astros’ outfield situation? Will they be able to find some external help before the season begins? Or will they enter the year with some combination of their internal players handling the corners? Have your say in the poll below:
Cam Smith put up a decent season at only 22 years old and hes a former 1st round draft pick. The fact that he only had 32 games of minor league experience isnt a knock on his talent unless you try to spin it that way. Let’s keep the Cubs bias to a minimum please.
That wasn’t the author’s point. The point was he probably needs more time in the minors, so doesn’t fill a spot now.
If he was going to the minors it would have happened last year. He filled a spot admirably in 2025 and like I already said hes a former 1st round pick who played all of last year at 22 years old. The expectation is he will improve not get worse.
They were too injured for anyone to replace him.
He’s hit well in spring training. OPS over 1.000
yeah, I believe the author’s point is the ‘unproven’ OF. Cam may have a ton of upside. Cam may be many things. But proven is not one of them.
He had a .600 OPS against right handers.
Tommy Pham is still available and has not played for the Astros yet…just sayin’ lol
He’s right handed.
“Strip Club Tommy, hell yea, let’s give him a call! 🤣
I really thought something involving Duran and Paredes was likely at the start of the offseason. It seemed like the best option for Houston getting an outfielder on the trade market, but with IKF and especially Durbin in the fold for Boston I don’t see that happening anymore. I wonder what ridiculous asks each side had, if there even were substantial talks.
I don’t think Boston had any interest whatsoever in Paredes.
Jarren Duran is the better player is what happened. I imagine Boston pitched Bello for Parades no pun intended haha. Houston should have absolutely jumped on that if it was there getting a controllable starter while fixing their logjam of Correa, Yordan, Walker and Parades. Duran for Parades was never happening.
The Astros could have given the Red Sox more than just Paredes for Duran. Before the Red Sox made other infield moves they certainly could have used Paredes and the Red Sox still have too many outfielders.
Astros didn’t want Duran. That’s the problem. They wanted Abreu because he is making the league minimum.
Definitely agree it was never happening 1-for-1. It would have to have been Duran for Paredes + a lefty relief arm + minor league piece(s) as a realistic framework for a deal in my mind. On paper at least it made sense for both teams to explore something with the core idea of Duran to Houston and Paredes to Boston, with Houston paying more. Supposedly Breslow was always low on Paredes because of his defense, so maybe nothing substantial ever did happen in that direction though.
DB overplayed his hand.
Houston doesn’t have minor league prospects that the RS need. Houston has a horrible farm system & I doubt Bryce Matthews was of interest to the Sox.
Houston has a good catching prospect. And the Red Sox need one of those after trading Teel.
“Houston has a horrible farm system, I doubt Bryce Matthews was of interest to the Sox.”
True. I can get why Matthews was no interest and Boston probably wanted Janek, and then DB said no.
Janek may have what stalled talks.
My guess is that they add Conforto, who’s having a nice Spring so far with the Cubs but likely won’t break camp with them.
Nah don’t trade from pitching depth. Worry about the outfield later in the season.
Forget the Cheaters the Division belongs to Seattle and possibly Texas trying to get back to relevance. If not I wouldn’t mind DeGrom on the Yankees at the deadline
2023 was a fluke.
’23 was Adolis having a career hot streak for 1 week in October
I think a good grab for them would be Mickey Moniak of the Rockies. He hit the lights out last year and was not nearly as bad defensively as the numbers say. Defensive metrics tend to be extra tough on Coors Field outfielders. As a Rockies fan, I would had to see Moniak go because I have become a big fan of his. But Colorado has a lot of young OFs coming up and simply ned the room.
What do you want from Moniak?
probably an arm in the Astros farm that they don’t want to give up
Which is…
LF at Coors is where OAA goes to die. Yeah he’s probably a plus defender by LF standards in 28/30 stadiums. I’d be into it but not for anything more than mid level prospects.
A couple of mid level prospects is not a bad get for a guy the Rox got after the Angels released him last spring. I was thinking maybe Jase Mitchell along with one of the many RHP in their 15-30 list.
We went TRIPLE of the slot value to sign Jase Mitchell. So why would we trade him now?
Because you need an outfielder. You don’t get one for free.
Do you want Caden Powell and Ramsey David? If not, what?
No, of course we don’t. But what I’m saying is why trade Mitchell after signing him for triple of the slot value. We have other prospects to trade.
The Rockies need a catcher in the low minors though. It is their weakest position on the farm. Goodman is nice, but catchers have a limited time frame and we have no real proof that 2025 was not just a fluke for him.
To be honest, I had never heard of Mitchell AT ALL, until I read his name on the prospect list yesterday. I have no real attachment to him and don’t really know his story or anything. I just know that the Rox need a catcher in the system and he slotted at right around the vaue I expected in return for Moniak.
I’ve noticed this about MLB Pipeline: Draft prospects are normally lower on the top 30 list (if they make it at all) on the list.
But there is Will Bush, and makes sense if you haven’t heard of Stros prospects.
Yeah Will Bush would be a good catching prospect option. Power hitting lefty bat catcher, who’s still young.
I’m a bit surprised at the stunning incompetence from the Astros Front Office to be in this position.
They choose to bring Correa back. They had half a regular season and an entire offseason to execute a plan. And they did absolutely nothing.
This is how a dynasty ends.
This looks more like management and ownership not being on the same page. Correa coming back is not a sane response to an injury hole. And not picking up something as common as a left hitting LF reeks of higher luxury tax avoidance concerns rather than a baseball decision.
As much as I want them to add a left handed bat, I think they are only getting a MiLB one because Jim Crane is scared of the luxury tax. I would be fine with Larnach or Moniak at this point, and I even asked Steve earlier if me being fine with Larnach means I’ve fallen too far.
Is Heyward still a free agent?
yep. The Astros can’t add anyone good without shedding payroll.
What nonsense. They are $11M under the first CBT level.
sure, but teams concerned about the CBT don’t max out before the season starts. They want a padding for in season moves.
But what about a trade for someone cheap?
It’s not a luxury tax issue, it’s a “there wasn’t a single legit everyday starter free agent outfielder after Tucker and Bellinger” issue. And then couldn’t line up on a trade. And I think Boston overplayed their hand just a bad.
It applies to trades as well, not just FA. It is why they can’t just eat some of Walker’s contract in a move.
Also turning Cole or Loperfido loose is a better option than a cooked retread like Heyward or Verdugo or Conforto.
They haven’t proven anything man. They need a proven veteran option, “if not two” according to Dana Brown. Because if Cole or Loperfido don’t work out…they’re screwed. I’m also of the idea that’s it’s not a bad idea at all to start Cam Smith in AAA, and Dana Brown thinks the same thing according to interviews. Personally, I think they’ve been trying to make a major play for someone like Oneil Cruz behind the scenes, and have high interest in Lars Nootbaar…but it hasn’t worked out. So, they’ll have to likely try to get lower tier guys like Trevor Larnach, Michael Tauchman, Mickey Moniak, Michael Conforto, James Outman, Jesse Winker, etc.
Larnach for Murray who says no?
Cam Smith is EARNING himself a roster spot in spring training.
Jayden Murray? Nah it’d have to be a legit prospect. Someone like a James Hicks & a minor piece might be able to get it done.
Ehh debatable. Good to see him starting to swing the bat well though.
Wondering, are you a Twins fan or Astros fan. It sounds like a Twins fan, but some of your other comments say you as an Astros fan. Which one? Or neither?
Houston.
In the last 5 years, every lower half injury Yordan has had was the direct result of jamming his leg into, or clumsily landing on top of, a base. I really don’t think playing him in LF more is gonna make him more injury prone than he already is. Might even help by keeping him warm between ABs. If he starts 90-100 games in LF, there’s an easy formula to get all the veteran regulars 145ish starts by rotating Paredes around the infield and DHing him the rest of the time. This really seems like the most effective solution right now.
Guys like Conforto and Verdugo may be available at the end of camp. The Astros can snag someone, just don’t expect it to be a big flashy name
If those guys are the best options you might as well just see what Zach Cole or Joey Loperfido can do.
Cole is playing his way to AAA with a bad Spring.
I believe they’ll snag Larnach or Outman when the twins drop one or both to start the seas
Please Houston. How about Benintendi for a bag of balls.
Overpay
Harsh. Funny, but harsh.
Bring back Jason Hayward!
I do not think Houston will make it this season. Have a lot of u certainties. Altuve at 2 and lousy Spring. Paredes not sure what will be. Correa and Peña and Walker. Walker not impressed with Spring. Alvarez if is DH as have seen where they want him. Brice, Cam, Joey, Jake, Cole, Trammell, all for the outfield. Jake has been talked on lately as trade as he is not set for CF either. Diaz as catching is not great. Salazar not sure with. Bringing Vasquez back. Hope Houston hangs on to Janek. But I see Houston with what they have unless something changes. Espada and Brown are done in my opinion. Neither have shown promise or more the three years.mLuhnow was the better GM and Dusty and Hinch better managers
Josue De Paula is a left handed hitting outfielder set to to explode in The Dodgers farm system but he’s now blocked by the Kyle Tucker signing
A major splash option I’ve wondered about: Steven Kwan. His salary is getting up there for a typical low budget Cleveland team, especially for a guy who only had a .704 OPS last season. Only 2 years left until he hits Free Agency, and I wonder if Cleveland may try to “cash him in” assuming they can’t extend him. Now would be the best time to trade him for maximum return with 2 years left. Houston had legit interest in Kwan at the deadline, but opted for a lesser option in Jesus Sanchez. Cleveland also has Nolan Jones who could be a DFA candidate since he’s out options, could be a reclamation project for Houston to try to bring him back to form. Jones was elite in ‘23. I’ve mentioned Oneil Cruz as a major splash option for Houston, I believe there’s interest since Pittsburgh knows Cruz is a liability in CF…but they essentially have to play him there because their other options aren’t good. They need good CF defense because they’ll have to win with pitching & D led by their young starting staff. Houston can send Jake Meyers to ensure CF & other top prospects to potentially get it done. Houston can play him in RF, his more natural position. Lars Nootbaar, another top name that should have interest. Other names of interest include Mickey Moniak, Trevor Larnach, Masataka Yoshida, Michael Tauchman, Michael Conforto, Kody Clemens, James Outman, Ben Gamel, Jesse Winker, etc.
Houston can’t afford Cleveland’s astronomical asking price. It’s I think one MLB ready, controllable starting pitcher, top 100 prospects, and more prospects. And we aren’t making a big splash anymore. We should trade with Minny.
I agree, it’s unlikely & a big ask…but still worth exploring depending on what the package might look like. Would rather a guy like Nootbaar, where you don’t have to give up as much. MN does have some interesting options, and I really think Moniak is intriguing too. Moniak is likely a platoon option only though, so that also creates challenges. People are sleeping on Yoshida too, when he essentially could be had for “free” as Boston will likely pay down the majority of that contract.
Griffin Conine is another option from Miami. A Dana Brown draft pick in Toronto.