The arbitration deadline was on January 8, and while the Houston Astros were able to avoid arbitration with players like:
- Jeremy Peña (second year arbitration-eligible) at $9.475 million
- Jesús Sánchez (second year) at $6.8 million
- Bryan Abreu (third year) at $5.85 million
- Hunter Brown (first year) at $5.71 million
- Jake Meyers (second year) at $3.55 million
- Steven Okert (third year) at $2.325 million
- Nick Allen (first year) at $1.4 million
- Hayden Wesneski (first year) at $975,000
- Bennett Sousa (first year) at $910,000
A few players did not reach agreements, including Isaac Paredes, according to MLB.
Trade speculation surrounding Paredes isn’t new and has periodically surfaced, often in the context of payroll management. With the arbitration deadline passing and no agreement reached between Paredes and the Astros, the possibility that he may not be in an Astros jersey next season has increased.
Paredes submitted a figure of $9.95 million, while the Astros countered with $8.75 million. Although the deadline has passed, the two sides can still negotiate a deal before the arbitration hearing, which is scheduled to take place prior to Spring Training.
The counteroffer could save the team less than $1 million or potentially lead to a trade for a lower-cost player, which would provide the payroll flexibility the Astros need.
As the Astros shape the roster for 2026, payroll management and the luxury tax threshold will remain key factors in major roster decisions.