Astros have 2 clear trade candidates during MLB offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Houston Astros fired general manager Dana Brown in August and have recently parted ways with manager Jose Espada.
The upcoming offseason should be a significant one for the AL West club, which won the division despite a mediocre 81-81 record.
The Athletic's Chandler Rome wrote that Houston's front office, specifically owner Jim Crane, could look to shed payroll this offseason.
Who might Houston be willing to trade?
"Expect [Isaac] Paredes and [Christian] Walker to be discussed as potential trade pieces, though moving Walker could require Crane paying down a substantial portion of the $20 million he’s owed next season," Rome wrote.
"Pitcher Cristian Javier, slated to earn $21,000,000, could be in the same conversation."
Paredes, who hit 25 home runs and drove in 94 runs, has a $13.35 million 2027 club option that the Astros will most likely pick up, per Rome. He can play either corner infield spot.
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Meanwhile, Walker is a three-time Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman who connected for 29 homers with a .727 OPS. He's eight years older than Paredes and would be more of a financial commitment for an interested club.
Houston could also try to find a trade suitor for Javier. But he's thrown just 134.2 innings since the start of the 2024 season due to injuries.
Crane may have to get creative if the Astros want to solve their logjam in the infield or decrease payroll in 2027.
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