More questions about Carlos Correa and Isaac Paredes at third base | Houston Astros roster analysis

Fifth in a series on the Houston Astros' 2026 season, which ended with an AL West title but a sweep in the opening round of the playoffs.

Third base

Entering spring training, the crux of the Houston Astros' infield logjam lay at third base. Carlos Correa's return at last year's trade deadline had displaced Isaac Paredes, an All-Star in 2025 before a hamstring injury curtailed his season.

The issue resolved itself, though not how Houston would have hoped. Correa made 20 of 32 starts at shortstop, as Jeremy Peña dealt with injuries, before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury in early May. Paredes served as the everyday third baseman the rest of the way.

The end result was productive. Houston's third basemen - with Paredes making 135 starts and Correa another 12 - ranked third in the majors in OPS (.825) and fifth in wins above replacement (4.1), per Baseball Reference. With both Correa and Paredes under club control for 2027, now, the position is an area of offseason intrigue again.

What went right

The question entering spring was how Houston would fit Paredes regularly into the lineup. In addition to his production, Paredes mounts the Astros' longest and most disciplined at-bats, helping balance out numerous aggressive hitters around him. With an avenue to everyday playing time, Paredes delivered on both fronts while playing in 155 games.

Paredes ranked second among Astros hitters in OPS-plus (127), RBIs (94) and bWAR (4.0), behind Yordan Alvarez. He averaged the most pitches per plate appearance among qualified major-league hitters and had the AL's eighth-lowest strikeout rate. None of the seven qualified AL hitters with a lower strikeout rate hit more than 12 home runs. Paredes hit 25.

The Astros tasked Paredes with hitting behind Alvarez, a large responsibility given teams' propensity to pitch around Alvarez. Paredes led them in plate appearances with men in scoring position. His .802 OPS in those situations was second-highest among Astros hitters with at least 40 such plate appearances, as he finished tied for sixth in the AL in RBIs.

What went wrong

Correa's season began with promise as he posted a 123 OPS-plus in his first 32 games (a 100 OPS-plus is league average). But on May 5, Correa tore the peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle during pre-game hitting. The injury led to surgery, and Correa's attempt at a late-season comeback was halted by concern that he could jeopardize his availability for early 2027.

Though Paredes proved a more than capable replacement, Correa's injury left the Astros without their de facto captain for much of the season. Correa was around the team for home series during his rehab and accompanied the Astros on their season-ending road trip. But his impact both on and off the field was minimized.

Correa's comeback attempt reached the point that he inquired about being activated in mid-September. Soreness in his ankle helped show that the surgically repaired tendon was "not where it needed to be," he later said. Correa's injury history invites concern, but after opting for recovery, Correa said his doctor told him the tendon should be fully healed by December.

Number to note

27: Isaac Paredes' batting run value in 2026, per Baseball Savant.

It was overshadowed by Alvarez's MVP-caliber season and diluted by Paredes' own slow start. But for the majority of the year, Paredes was one of baseball's most impactful hitters by some catch-all metrics, a fact Houston might factor into its infield discussions this winter.

Among 300 qualified MLB hitters, Paredes ranked 15th in batting run value, per Baseball Savant. AL hitters with a higher run value were Alvarez, Willson Contreras, Randy Arozarena, Pete Alonso, Ben Rice, Junior Caminero and Miguel Vargas. Paredes ranked 11th among AL hitters in weighted runs created-plus.

Mostly, Paredes magnified his unusual profile. His hard-hit rate ranked in the bottom 10% of hitters. But he made a career-high 72.8% of contact in the air, including a career-high 27.9% line-drive rate, and had a whiff rate more than 10% below MLB average with the AL's fifth-highest walk-to-strikeout ratio. He also proved willing to ease his pull-happy approach late in counts and finished with a career-high 147 hits.

Contract status

Correa is signed through 2028 on the six-year, $200 million deal he received from the Twins. According to Cot's Contracts, the Astros will pay $20.5 million of the $31,833,333 million that Correa will earn in 2027, with the Twins covering the rest. Correa's deal includes a series of team options starting in 2029 that can vest based on plate appearances or awards finished in the previous year.

Paredes is entering his final year of salary arbitration eligibility. The Astros do hold a $13.35 million team option on him for 2027. MLB Trade Rumors projects Paredes would receive $15 million in arbitration, so the Astros might be inclined to exercise the option. If they decline the option, Paredes would go through the arbitration process again this winter.

Nick Allen, Raynel Delgado and Braden Shewmake also made multiple starts at third base this season for Houston. Allen, the utility infielder, is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn $1.8 million for 2027 in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Delgado, who finished the year on the 40-man roster, is not yet arb-eligible. Shewmake, not on the 40-man, ended the season on the Triple-A Sugar Land roster.

In the minors

Third base appears relatively thin at the upper levels of Houston's system. Eight different players logged double-digit games at third base for Triple-A Sugar Land this season. Delgado, who also played in 20 major-league games, had the most. Trevor Austin, 25, played primarily third base at Double-A Corpus Christi, where he had an .803 OPS in 113 games, before a late promotion to Triple-A.

Xavier Neyens, the Astros' first-round draft pick in 2025, played both shortstop and third base at Single-A Fayetteville but exclusively third base after a promotion to High-A Asheville. Neyens, 19, posted an .874 OPS with 20 home runs in 103 games at those levels. The Astros selected Beau Peterson, a prep infielder whom they project to play third base, in the fourth round of this year's draft.

Key question

Who will enter 2027 as the third baseman?

Correa, presuming his ankle is fully recovered, seems the logical answer. Yet when asked in September if he expected to play third base next season, Correa gave an open-ended response.

"I don't know," Correa said. "I'm ready to play third, second, short, first - wherever they need me, I'll be ready."

Correa shifted smoothly from shortstop to third base after the Astros re-acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline and spoke of putting in significant work last offseason to get more comfortable at the position. He had previously eyed a move to third base, he said, believing it can help his career longevity. Initially, at least, the Astros said he would be their third baseman had he returned from surgery this season.

A potential wrinkle, however, is how Houston handles its infield this offseason. The Astros still have their infield surplus, now with both Peña and Paredes entering their final seasons under club control. Houston had trade discussions about Paredes last winter. Peña, meanwhile, could be its most valuable trade chip this offseason if the team considers moving him, similar to Kyle Tucker two winters ago.

Correa's flexibility could factor into decisions. If he is willing to play shortstop again, might the Astros be more open to explore a trade of Peña? Does Paredes' offensive production this season increase his trade value - or Houston's desire to keep him in its lineup? Correa has played solely on the left side of the infield professionally, so keeping him there seems prudent. But exactly where remains to be seen.

Summary

In 2025, the Astros brought back Correa to play third base after losing Paredes to injury. This year, they lost Correa and plugged Paredes back into the position. Doing so was a luxury, but given the resources their infield surplus is set to command, the Astros likely face decisions this offseason on how to clear it up. Resolving third base projects as part of that discussion. Correa will play everyday somewhere. How much the Astros value Paredes' presence in their lineup will be something to weigh.

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This article originally published at More questions about Carlos Correa and Isaac Paredes at third base | Houston Astros roster analysis.