%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201055.1%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201055.1%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%230E203C%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23EC4324%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M58.3%2C200.3h82.4c12.4%2C0%2C21.7-1.5%2C28-4.5c20.2-9.6%2C30.2-26.1%2C30.2-49.3c0-3.2-0.2-9.3-0.6-18.3h-65.1v14.9%0A%09%09c-0.9%2C3.9-3.4%2C5.8-7.5%2C5.8H73.2c-5%2C0-7.5-2.5-7.5-7.5V59.2c0-5%2C2.5-7.5%2C7.5-7.5h52.5c5%2C0%2C7.5%2C2.1%2C7.5%2C6.4v10.8h65.7V55.7%0A%09%09c0-16.3-3.8-28.3-11.4-36.1c-8.8-12.9-24.7-19.3-47.4-19.3H58.9C47%2C0.3%2C38%2C1.7%2C32%2C4.3c-21.3%2C9-32%2C26.1-32%2C51.4v88%0A%09%09c0%2C16.5%2C3.6%2C28.7%2C10.9%2C36.6C20.1%2C193.7%2C35.9%2C200.3%2C58.3%2C200.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22596.6%2C64%20596.6%2C0.8%20400.1%2C0.8%20400.1%2C64%20442.7%2C64%20442.7%2C51.3%20466.1%2C51.3%20466.1%2C148.1%20442.1%2C148.1%20%0A%09%09442.1%2C199.9%20554.8%2C199.9%20554.8%2C148.1%20531.5%2C148.1%20531.5%2C51.4%20554.8%2C51.4%20554.8%2C64%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22942.4%2C148.5%20942.4%2C200.2%201055.1%2C200.2%201055.1%2C148.5%201031.8%2C148.5%201031.8%2C51.2%201055.1%2C51.2%201055.1%2C0.8%20%0A%09%09943.1%2C0.8%20943.1%2C51.3%20966.3%2C51.3%20966.3%2C80%20888.9%2C80%20888.9%2C51.3%20912.6%2C51.3%20912.6%2C0.5%20800.1%2C0.8%20800.1%2C51.4%20823.5%2C51.4%20823.5%2C148.6%20%0A%09%09800.1%2C148.6%20800.1%2C200.1%20912.6%2C200.1%20912.6%2C148.6%20888.9%2C148.6%20888.9%2C116.4%20966.3%2C116.4%20966.3%2C148.5%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22315.5%2C83.9%20299.6%2C34.9%20283.7%2C83.9%20232.2%2C83.9%20273.9%2C114.1%20258%2C163.1%20299.6%2C132.8%20341.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09325.4%2C114.1%20367%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22715.6%2C83.9%20699.7%2C34.9%20683.8%2C83.9%20632.3%2C83.9%20674%2C114.1%20658%2C163.1%20699.7%2C132.8%20741.3%2C163.1%20%0A%09%09725.4%2C114.1%20767.1%2C83.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Three Potential Acquisitions for the Astros As Jose Altuve Recovers
With Jose Altuve set to miss the first two months of the season, the Astros depth will be tested. They entered Spring Training with two utility options: David Hensley and Mauricio Dubon. After Altuve went down, it appears Hensley will be the primary second baseman.
The loss of a utility player is detrimental, as it now becomes harder for Dusty Baker to build in off days for the likes of Alex Bregman, José Abreu and Jeremy Peña. Might the Astros pivot and try to land a stopgap option to preserve Hensley as a utility option? Let's look at three players Houston could attempt to land while Altuve is out.
Tony Kemp
A reunion with Tony Kemp could be in the cards. Kemp was beloved in Houston by teammates and fans alike. Beyond just his affable nature, he could be an asset for the Astros.
He plays both second base and left field, two positions the Astros have faced injury concerns. He could split time with Hensley at second base, and occasionally spell Yordan or Brantley in left. For his career, he is worth five defensive runs saved as an outfielder, but -8 as a second baseman.
He isn't a world beater, at the plate, but is an upgrade over Mauricio Dubón. Kemp hit .235 with a .307 OBP and .641 OPS last season, but the year prior posted an .800 OPS and 126 OPS+ in a much deeper lineup than what Oakland trotted out last season. Dubon posted only a .565 OPS last season batting in a loaded lineup and for his career has a 79 OPS+.
Kemp also is a threat on the basepaths, going 11/12 in stolen bases last season, a number that could go even higher with the bigger bases.
Additionally, he's cheap. Kemp is on an expiring contract worth $3.725 million. The Oakland A's are going nowhere fast, and Kemp could likely be landed for a very minimal cost.
Chad Pinder
Another player with Oakland Athletics ties. Pinder has played all of his big league career with Oakland, but just went through camp with the Reds, where he was released today.
Pinder can play the outfield, second base and third base. Like Kemp, he is better in the outfield than at second, but he is a capable stopgap that isn't going to play the position 140 times this season.
Chandler Rome reported back in January that Dusty Baker wanted the Astros to sign Pinder this offseason, and while he often opines he doesn't have the authority for such a thing, maybe his words will now carry some weight.
Pinder had a down year last season, and his batting profile doesn't exactly fit with Houston, as he doesn't walk often while striking out with a deal of regularity. Though for his career, he is a .242 hitter with a .711 OPS and 96 OPS+ that is right about league average.
He's not a flashy move, and better options may exist, but if Dusty has his way, Pinder may be back in the familiar territory of the AL West here soon.
Marwin Gonzalez
We'd be remiss if we didn't include one of the most beloved players in franchise history, and the originator of the Astros utility player infatuation, Marwin Gonzalez. There is just something magic about Houston for Marwin Gonzalez. Over his two stints in Houston, Gonzalez is a .262 hitter with a .736 OPS. He doesn't have an average over .248 or an OPS over .698 with any other team.
Unlike the others on this list, Gonzalez is a solid defensive second baseman. He's the most versatile defender on the list, able to play first, second, third, shortstop and left field.
While a switch hitter, Marwin doesn't bring much against righties any more. His splits against lefties are more promising, and there could be a plattoon of sorts where Hensley handles righties and Marwin faces lefties.
As of now, nothing credible links Marwin to Houston, but he could be a stopgap option that the fans could get behind after the loss of Yuli Gurriel.