The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Houston Astros made some moves to shore up their roster for another AL West title defense.
It wasn’t a complete overhaul, but the Astros addressed their most pressing needs while dealing with a string of injuries that’s tested their depth.
The deadline activity started with acquiring Ramon Urias from the Baltimore Orioles. That move made more sense once it became clear that third baseman Isaac Parades might be out longer than expected with his hamstring injury.
After trading for Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez, Houston pulled off their biggest move of the deadline.
They brought back Carlos Correa.
The Astros sent lefty pitcher Matt Mikulski to Minnesota to reacquire the two-time All-Star who helped deliver their 2017 World Series championship. Correa spent six seasons in Houston from 2015 to 2021 before his free agency journey took him to Minnesota.
Correa’s likely heading to third base this time around. Jeremy Pena has established himself as the everyday shortstop, though he’s also working his way back from injury.
The timing works out well for Houston. Yordan Alvarez is trending toward a return after being sidelined since May, which means the heart of their lineup is coming back together despite Parades’ setback.
How It All Fits Together
Once everyone’s healthy, the Astros should have a pretty clear defensive alignment. Yainer Diaz behind the plate, Christian Walker at first, Jose Altuve at second, Correa at third, and Pena at short. Brice Matthews gives them a solid infield option when Altuve needs a breather.
The outfield picture includes Sanchez, Jake Meyers, and Cam Smith getting regular reps, with Taylor Trammell also in the mix.
At designated hitter, that’s where Alvarez belongs once he’s back. Until then, Victor Caratini or Mauricio Dubon will likely fill that spot.
The Astros didn’t check every box on their wishlist, but they’ve added depth and brought back a familiar face who knows what it takes to win in Houston. With their core pieces getting healthy, they’re positioning themselves for another October run.
