The idea of Jose Altuve shifting from second base to left discipline first emerged when the Astros reengaged with Alex Bregman late within the offseason. USA At this time’s Bob Nightengale reported on the time that there have been talks of re-signing Bregman, sliding Isaac Paredes from third base to second base and shifting Altuve to the outfield. Many initially took that with a heavy dose of skepticism; Altuve, in any case, has performed all of six main league innings at a place aside from second base — they usually have been all at shortstop.
As Houston brass continued to color a Bregman reunion as an extended shot, nonetheless, they saved getting Altuve work in left discipline. Each supervisor Joe Espada and GM Dana Brown spoke about eager to get some seems to be at Altuve in left and wanting to cut back Yordan Alvarez’s time on the outfield grass. Even when Bregman signed in Boston, the Altuve/left discipline experiment continued to progress.
The place change appears much less like an experiment and extra like a actuality by the day, and Espada’s newest feedback solely additional that shift. Chatting with the Astros beat this morning, Espada left open the door for Altuve to get some enjoying time at second base but additionally steered it would now not be his major place (by way of Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).
“Proper now, the plan is for [Altuve] to play the vast majority of his video games in left discipline,” Espada said. “The times that he performs second base opens the door for [Alvarez] perhaps getting a begin in left discipline, somebody getting a DH day. So this transfer permits us to be artistic and do stuff like that.”
Espada added that often shuttling Altuve back-and-forth between the 2 positions “is one thing that I’m going to keep away from.” The second-year supervisor stopped wanting outright proclaiming Altuve the Astros’ new on a regular basis left fielder, however it actually appears issues are trending in that path.
Altuve is a former Gold Glove winner at second base, however his protection has declined significantly as he’s entered his mid-30s. Defensive Runs Saved has pegged him at -13 or worse in every of the previous three seasons. Statcast’s Outs Above Common isn’t as down on Altuve’s glovework throughout that three-year interval however does agree he’s been a adverse since 2023, together with a very tough -8 mark in 2024.
That’s problematic in and of itself, however it’s notably egregious when Houston has among the finest second base defenders within the sport (statistically talking) on its roster already. Mauricio Dubon hasn’t even logged a full season’s price of second base innings in his profession, however in 1154 frames on the place he’s been credited with 12 DRS and eight OAA. The Astros additionally inked longtime Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers, one other plus defender at second base, to a minor league deal and invited him to camp.
On the very least, when ground-ball pitchers like Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown are beginning video games — Valdez is the highest ground-ball starter within the sport over the previous three seasons — it is sensible to have a superior defender in there. Both Dubon or Rodgers would match the invoice. Espada’s feedback make it sound like Altuve is being pushed to left discipline extra often than that, nonetheless.
Houston’s decidedly lackluster outfield combine is unquestionably an element as effectively. Proprietor Jim Crane appeared decided to dip below the luxurious tax threshold after paying the tax in 2024, and in consequence the outfield seems to be thinner than at any level in current reminiscence. The Astros traded their last season of management over Kyle Tucker to the Cubs in a deal netting new third baseman Isaac Paredes, rotation candidate Hayden Wesneski and new prime prospect Cam Smith. With Tucker gone and Alvarez ticketed for extra DH time in ’25, Altuve joins a mixture of Jake Meyers, Chas McCormick and free agent signee Ben Gamel within the outfield. There are nonetheless a handful of attention-grabbing free brokers on the market — David Peralta or Alex Verdugo might match the ’Stros — however Crane’s desire is to stay south of the $241MM tax threshold; the Astros are at present at $236.8MM, per RosterResource.
If Altuve’s outfield transfer yields early dividends, it’s simple sufficient to see it turning into a everlasting association. The nine-time All-Star is coming into the primary season of a five-year, $125MM extension signed 13 months in the past. He’s owed $30MM annually from 2025-27 earlier than his wage enormously reduces to $10MM per season in 2028-29. That extension additionally got here with a $15MM upfront signing bonus that has already been paid out.
