3 bold trades Astros could make this offseason to solve their lingering Carlos Correa problem

The impending return of Carlos Correa brings the Houston Astros right back to the same problem they faced all off-season and through the first month of the 2026 season - how do they handle having too many infielders and not enough spots?

The plan at the start of the season, if you want to call it that, was to rotate playing time for both Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes. Walker got off to a very hot start, Paredes had a slow start as he was still working back to full health from last season's severe hamstring strain.

The Astros didn't have to worry about t his issue very long, as Correa would suffer a freak accident in the batting cage and tear a tendon in his ankle. The injury was expected to cost him the entire season. It nearly has.

However, Correa has progressed to the point where he is expected to take part in rehab games this week and be able to return to the team for the final week of the season (and hopefully the playoffs). It has put that same old question back on the page.

At the start of the season, I had suggested making Yordan closer to an everyday LF and DHing Jose Altuve. Altuve hit notably better last season in the DH role than as a fielder and Yordan historically hits better when he plays the field (although he hits really well as a DH too). At this point in time, it seems Yordan is less of a liability in LF than Altuve would be. The Astros had played Isaac Paredes at 2B in the preseason a couple of times and looked like they were fine with doing so. However, it played out that the team preferred to keep Yordan off the field defensively.

Keeping Altuve at 2B to start the season is understandable, as he graded out at 0 Outs Above Average. He was essentially a league average defender in 2025. This was a notable change from 2024 when Altuve was a -9 OAA, grading out as the second-worst qualified defender at 2B.

This year, Altuve's defense has plummeted again. Altuve is rated as a -11 OAA, worst among all qualified 2B. Father Time is sometimes cruel in reminding us he is undefeated.

The team is now looking at the potential of finishing the season and the postseason should they make it with Altuve at DH, Yordan in LF and Correa at 2B. Correa has never played 2B, but his athleticism and baseball IQ should help him adapt quickly. At the least, he represents a major defensive upgrade over Altuve.

In the offseason, the Astros will need to make significant changes. The current roster construction doesn't work. They are too close to the tax line that owner Jim Crane doesn't want to surpass. Their outfield offensive production is embarrassingly poor. The continually injury-ravaged pitching staff desperately needs reinforcements.

Here are three bold off-season trade ideas that would help the Astros reconfigure the roster, maximize value, and position the team to be better in 2027 (if there is a 2027 season) and beyond:

1) Trade 1B Christian Walker to the Arizona Diamondbacks (along with cash considerations) for minor league pitcher Junior Ciprian.

Walker had his best seasons in Arizona, and gets to return to the scene of those greatest succeeses. The DBacks have struggled with 1B since Walker was allowed to leave via free agency. In this scenario, the Astros would cover $13.5M of the $20M Walker is owed, making him a very affordable 1-year, $6.5M bounce back candidate for Arizona.

The Astros get a young power arm, albeit one with only two pitches. Ciprian is Arizona's #19 propsect. He is 21 years old, and he moved up from A to High-A mid-season. He's a 6-foot-3 righthander who works out of the stretch only, but has gotten the opportunity to start because of his stuff. His fastball hits the upper 90s, he throws it at the top of the zone and gets swings-and-misses. He also has a high-80s slider than generates major swings-and-misses as well. He currently lacks a true third pitch, which would be the difference between being a starter and a reliever. He is working on developing a changeup to help against lefty bats.

2) Trade SS Jeremy Pena to the Atlanta Braves for minor leaguers LHP Cam Caminiti, SS Alex Lodise, and RHP Luke Sinnard.

It has become apparent the Astros are not going to meet Pena's contract demands, which means the best thing they can do is take the Kyle Tucker approach to him and trade him for the best deal they can get. As Pena is a fan favorite, it would make the most sense to trade him to the National League where Houston fans won't have to see him much. The Braves have struggled finding any consistency at SS for a few seasons now, and their high contender status makes them more likely to make a big move for a player they could see as a "final piece of the puzzle" type.

Caminiti, 20, is the Braves #2 overall prospect. He is a 6-foot-2 lefty starter who was promoted to Double-A mid-season, and he has pitched very well there with a 2.08 ERA and 32K in 31.1IP since his promotion. He has a true three-pitch arsenal featuring a 94 MPH fastball, a low-80s slider that misses bats, and a mid-80s change that he is commanding better than he did in past seasons.

Lodise, 22, is the Braves #5 prospect. He has risen from A ball to High-A to Double-A this season, and hit at all 3 levels. In 92 AB at Double-A, he is hitting .283 with 3 HR, 5 2B, 12 RBI and 15 R. Atlanta thought his glove and arm were good enough to translate to being a MLB SS, and took him in the 2nd round in the 2025 draft.

Sinnard, 23, is the Braves #13 prospect. He is a 6-foot-7 righthander who missed his 2024 collegiate season because of Tommy John surgery. After working out for Atlanta, they took him in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft, expecting him to rebound well from TJ surgery. So far it looks like they guessed right. Sinnard's velocity on his fastball regularly rides at 95, and he can hit 98. It has a high spin rate and he misses bats with it. He also throws a high-80s slider that generates swings-and-misses, a low-80s splitter he uses like a change that also gets whiffs, and he's added a sinking two-seamer as well. He has progressed from Rookie ball to High-A to Double-A this season, albeit with limited innings. He has a three-quarter arm slot, which paired with his size, makes it hard for batters to find the ball quickly. He could be a starter long-term.

3) Acquire RHP Drew Rasmussen from the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league pitchers Juan Fraide and Nick Potter.

Houston needs starting pitching badly. The Rays do not want to pay Rasmussen's $20M club option. Rasmussen has certain red flags about him, as he has had three elbow surgeries in his career, however he has been injury free the past two seasons and pitched like a front of the rotation arm. The injury history and the need for Tampa to lose his salary equate to a chance for the Astros to get an impact starter without giving up a high ranking prospect.

Fraide, 20, is the Astros 20th ranked prospect. He is 5'11" righty with a mid-90s fastball, a sweeping mid-80s slider and a slow curve with big break. He is also listed at 161 lbs. He has the stuff of a future starter but his durability is in question. He is clearly several years away from potentially being major league ready. Fraide was 6-2 with a 2.89 ERA for Class A Fayetteville in 62.1 IP.

Potter, 22, is a 6-foot-4 righty with power heat. He generally throws upper-90s and can touch 100 MPH. His secondary pitches need work. He has a low-80s slider that needs more refinement. He threw occasional cutters and changes in college but they are raw. His command also needs improvement if he is to ever become a late inning pen option, but the tools are there to make him an intriguing project.

Trade Summary:

Trading Walker opens 1B for Isaac Paredes, who has experience at the position, to move across the diamond and allows Correa to return to 3B, where he is an elite defender. Correa could also return to SS if he feels up to it, as he did state that he looked forward to playing 3B to keep his body fresher when he was reacquired by the Astros. Hence, Correa at 3B makes the most sense here.

Trading Pena opens a hole at SS. In the deal, the Astros get a potential SS of the future in Lodise. In the meantime, they could look to their own system and give Sugar Land Space Cowboys SS Pascanel Ferreras an opportunity. Ferreras is hitting .320 with a .384 OBP and .874 OPS for the Space Cowboys in 253 AB. He's hit 6 HR and 23 doubles at Triple-A this season. He could be given a chance to compete with Nick Allen (.279 AVG this season for Astros) to prove he can handle the position or at least be a stopgap until Lodise is ready. Fan favorite Mauricio Dubon is a free agent this offseason as well.

While Caminiti and Sinnard offer a front- and mid-rotation upside in the near future, Rasmussen gives them a legit 1-2 punch with Hunter Brown immediately. Brown and Rasmussen return the front of the Astros rotation to a high end status. If Cristian Javier is able to continue his rejuvenation, the Astros top 3 would be really strong. Hayden Wesneski is looking like a solid fourth starter. Peter Lambert, Ronel Blanco and AJ Blubaugh can compete for the back of the rotation. If Tatsuya Imai doesn't opt out of his deal, I would expect him to be traded as well.

These deals give the Astros an immediate boost to the rotation, as well as prepare them for the next few years with high upside talent. It will also give them the opportunity to shed underperforming players and find better value on the free agent market, particularly in the OF and in the bullpen.

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