Astros gamble that franchise legend can fill their outfield hole

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had been talked about as a candidate to play left discipline in 2025. That place change is ready to occur.

Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reported that supervisor Joe Espada stated Altuve will play the vast majority of his video games in left. Espada additional stated that they don’t wish to shuttle Altuve between second and left, indicating that he shall be an outfielder, a minimum of for this season.

Outfield had been the weakest hyperlink for the Astros. Outfielder Kyle Tucker had been traded to the Cubs, leaving a collection of query marks in his wake. Left discipline was large open, with Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick atop the depth chart in heart and proper respectively. 

Yordan Alvarez, who spent 53 video games in left in 2024, will nearly completely be used as a delegated hitter through the upcoming season.

Shifting Altuve to the outfield comes with dangers. He had by no means performed within the outfield at any stage as an expert until Friday. Altuve solely has a complete of six innings at any place apart from second base within the majors, all of that are at shortstop. Though he had been understanding in left through the offseason, there’s a distinct distinction between shagging fly balls and a recreation scenario.

In principle, this transfer will enhance the Astros protection. Utility man Mauricio Dubon has saved 12 runs at second in nearly a 12 months’s value of motion throughout his profession. Altuve, whereas a former Gold Glove winner, had declined defensively at second, having cost the Astros four runs on the keystone over the previous three years. 

There may be one main downside with this plan — can Altuve change into a reliable defensive outfielder? He’ll flip 35 this season as he learns a brand new place. Whereas the Astros have a number of weeks left to make that willpower, they’re playing that this transfer will work out.