Astros May Have Two Players to Use As Trade Chips This Offseason

The Houston Astros have a lot of thinking to do this offseason after an early playoff exit, which includes the future uncertainty of manager Joe Espada.

When considering how the Astros could improve the roster this offseason, that will likely have to do with making changes to the roster whether that includes trades or free agent signings.

Focusing on the trade aspect in particular, Bleacher Report MLB analyst Joel Reuter ranked the top 25 MLB trade chips for the 2026-2027 offseason, and there were two Astros included on this list. The players for Houston included on that list were shortstop Jeremy Pena and third baseman Isaac Paredes.

For Pena and Paredes it is going to be an interesting situation to see if they will be traded, but as indicated by their appearance on this list, the possibility of both or either of them getting traded is definitely a possibility.

Starting with Pena, he was ranked No. 8 on this list, which suggests that he may have a higher likelihood than many other players on this list of being traded.

In terms of Pena's contract, the Astros have arbitration (meaning team control) for Pena through 2027 with a projected 2027 salary of $13.1 million. 

The reason why Pena could be traded is the fact that as Reuter notes, Pena signed Scott Boras as his agent and because of that it is very unlikely that Pena will sign an extension because for Boras the general philosophy is to wait to sign until becoming a free agent so all 30 MLB teams can bid and the players signs the best possible contract.

As a result of that philosophy, the Astros may want to trade Pena so they do not lose him for nothing because in a trade they could attain draft capital or young talent which could help this team.

Regardless, if Pena and Boras do not decide to agree with the Astros on an extension, it seems highly likely that Houston will end up trading Pena to get something in return rather than losing him for nothing.

Now, looking at Paredes, he was ranked No. 14 on this list and is also in quite an interesting situation as his contract has a $13.4 million club option in 2027.

The main reasoning for Paredes being a trade candidate is the fact that the Astros were unable to find consistency in 2025, and as Reuter talks about, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are aging stars, and Houston has to be able to replace them sooner rather than later to ensure that this team can still remain competitive.

Additionally, Reuter also talks about the fact that Paredes is a looming free agent just like Pena, and with the number of players the Astros have on the infield, it would make sense to trade Paredes to not only get something in return, but also clear some space so the rotation can become a bit clearer when it comes to the infield.

So, as the Astros move through this offseason, it will be intriguing to watch if they move Pena, Paredes, or both of them because, depending on what Houston gets in return, that could set them up for a very successful 2027 campaign.

More From Astros Roundtable:

Astros' Manager Joe Espada Expected to Visit Mariners For Potential Change of Scenery

What Would the Astros' Infield Look Like Without Christian Walker

Are Hunter Brown and Peter Lambert the Top Options on the Mound For Houston in 2027

Top 3 Young Astros Players Who Could Step Up in 2027