Should the Astros Trade Shortstop Jeremy Peña This Offseason

The Houston Astros have lots of questions heading into the 2027 season. When it comes to trades, everything is speculation right now. The infield logjam is definitely something that needs to be sorted, and a trade is just one of the possible solutions, but who to trade is the bigger question. 

Jeremy Peña’s name seems to be thrown into the mix, though the Astros have not said they plan to trade him. So, hypothetically, what would the lineup look like without Peña, and does using him as a trade piece even make sense for the organization?

Jeremy Peña has become a staple in the Astros’ lineup as their starting shortstop. Injuries interrupted his 2026 season early on, but once he returned from the injured list, he was red hot.

Peña’s 2026 injuries began before Opening Day, when he fractured his finger in a World Baseball Classic exhibition game. He later landed on the IL with a hamstring strain against the Mariners, which resulted in a five-week absence, and then missed 10 more days in June with a mild left calf strain.

Once Peña returned from the IL, he was on. Yes, he has his up-and-down days, but overall, he is a great asset to have in the lineup. Peña finished the 2026 season batting .277, with 22 home runs and 56 RBI. He also had 12 steals and a .802 OPS in 112 games.

So, with Peña being such an asset, what would be the case for trading him?

Peña is entering his final year before free agency, with a projected salary of $13.1 million in arbitration. With Carlos Correa returning after a season-ending injury, he could easily step in at shortstop, considering that is his natural position. It would give Correa a spot back in the lineup and clear up the overcrowded infield.

That said, there is also a case for keeping Peña. The 29-year-old is younger than Correa, a great athlete, and solid at the plate. Batting leadoff ahead of a player like Yordan Alvarez, Peña has some decisions to make on the basepaths. Once on base, an aggressive player like Peña has to decide just how far to push it. He has power at the plate, he is an excellent baserunner, and an overall great athlete.

That said, his weak spot would be his 13 errors on the season. Also, Correa and Peña are not the only shortstops the Astros have; they also have Nick Allen, an elite defender but weaker at the plate compared to Correa and Peña.

So the question is, should Peña really be considered as a trade option? It is hard to say, and really the only benefit would be to solve the crowded infield situation. My verdict: Peña isn’t the right trade choice. He is a well-rounded player and a positive presence on the field and in the clubhouse. Peña has established himself as an important piece and should stay that way.