When it comes to the Houston Astros, all anyone can seem to talk about right now is third baseman Isaac Paredes. The 26-year-old infielder has been linked to trade rumors for quite some time.
He is still set to play for the Astros, and Houston and Paredes avoided an arbitration hearing by meeting in the middle and agreeing to a $9.35 million contract. However, things heated up recently when reports emerged that the Boston Red Sox are among several teams showing interest in acquiring Paredes.
Making this trade could make sense for the Astros. Paredes is one of the most talented third basemen in the league, but the Astros are navigating a crowded infield, and moving Paredes as a puzzle piece could help balance the roster.
So, what could a deal look like? In a mock trade scenario reported by Chandler Rome of The Athletic, per SI.
Red Sox Receive: INF Isaac Paredes
Astros Receive: INF Mikey Romero (No. 6 prospect), RHP Juan Valera (No. 11 prospect), LHP Hayden Mullins (No. 15 prospect)
In this scenario, the Red Sox would gain an All-Star-level infielder, while the Astros would receive three intriguing prospects and retain top farm system talents like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle.
Meanwhile, the Astros are focused on maintaining roster balance, particularly with the need for a left-handed pitcher. Moving Paredes could free up salary space and give Houston more flexibility to address other roster needs.