"After losing Kyle Tucker in a trade to the Cubs last winter, the team not only missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade but struggled to find production in the outfield. Their 88 wRC+ on the grass was the eighth-weakest in the majors, and while strong defense from Jake Meyers in center field helped to raise their ranking in terms of fWAR, the club's outfield still ranked just 20th in baseball even by that measure."
"As presently constructed, Meyers figures to handle center field with some combination of Loperfido, , , Brice Matthews, and Zach Dezenzo platooning in the corners. Smith is the only one with even 400 plate appearances at the big league level for his career of that group, and he's a 23-year-old coming off a middling rookie season after getting just 32 games in the minors."
"For most of the offseason, the industry consensus was that they were most likely to accomplish that by dealing away Isaac Paredes. Paredes, at least on paper, was blocked all over the diamond after the team acquired Carlos Correa to play third base at last year's trade deadline. With Correa at third, Christian Walker at first, and Yordan Alvarez at DH, there wasn't much of anywhere for Paredes to play."
The Houston Astros face significant challenges reshaping their outfield following Kyle Tucker's trade to the Cubs. The team's outfield production ranked eighth-weakest in baseball with an 88 wRC+, contributing to their first playoff miss in a decade. Currently, Jake Meyers anchors center field while unproven prospects like Joey Loperfido, Brice Matthews, and Zach Dezonso platoon in the corners. Most possess minimal major league experience, creating instability. The team previously considered trading Isaac Paredes to acquire outfield help, but a finger fracture to Jeremy Pena may alter their strategy, potentially requiring Correa to shift positions.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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