Isaac Paredes or Carlos Correa at Third Base for the Astros in 2027

The Houston Astros are heading into the 2027 season with a familiar problem. A crowded infield. This past season, an unfortunate turn of events solved it: a season-ending injury. Carlos Correa suffered an ankle injury during pregame batting practice before the victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After undergoing surgery, Correa was out for the season.

That said, with the infield expected to be healthy, the Astros still have questions to answer about their lineup.

Correa is a versatile player who can play both shortstop and third base. With Jeremy Peña at shortstop, Correa took over third base. Isaac Paredes, also a third baseman, was sharing the position with the veteran. But after the injury, Paredes stepped up and held things down at third base for the remainder of the 2026 season.

After his solid performance and ability to rise to the occasion, moving Paredes out of the position is no longer an easy option. He is a capable defensive player and brings power at the plate. Between the two, who is the better choice for third base?

Starting with Paredes.

His 2026 season stats speak for themselves.

Regular Season Stats:

.262 AVG, 147 H, 25 HR, 94 RBI, 69 R, .360 OBP, .807 OPS

Career Stats: .

242 AVG, .342 OBP, .775 OPS

Paredes’ value is at the plate. His defense is slightly below average, but with 25 home runs and 94 RBI this season, there is no doubt he brings value to the lineup. He is also only 27 and not coming off ankle surgery. Improving his defense could bring even more value in the future, especially based on his recent production.

Here is a look at Correa’s 2026 regular season stats:

Regular Season Stats:

.279 AVG, 34 H, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 22 R, .369 OBP, .787 OPS

Career Stats:

.275 AVG, .352 OBP, .815 OPS

Now, with Correa only logging 32 games this season compared to Paredes’ 155, the season stats are not really comparable. However, looking at their careers side by side, Correa leads in all three categories.

That said, it doesn’t automatically make him the better choice. Defensively, Correa also has the stronger track record with his history at shortstop and being a Gold Glove winner. On paper, Correa is the better choice, but the numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

While it is highly likely these two players will share third base and the infield will shift around as they find their rhythm early in the season, Paredes makes more sense for third base. He is younger and not coming off a season-ending injury. There is plenty of room for him to grow defensively, but he is a threat at the plate and a capable defender.