Houston could use infield support with Paredes out.
How will the Houston Astros survive without third baseman Isaac Paredes?
The 26-year-old in his first year with the Astros was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right hamstring strain.
It is a brutal blow not only for Houston, who is already without Yordan Álvarez and Jeremy Peña, but for Paredes, who was enjoying a .259 batting average, an .829 OPS, a 130 OPS+, and 19 home runs on the year.
Here is what manager Joe Espada said about Paredes’ injury, via Chandler Rome of The Athletic:
“This is a pretty significant injury,” Espada said Tuesday. “We are waiting on some results, but it’s definitely something that’s going to keep him out for a while.”
Rome also had this to add about a possible Paredes fill-in:
“Finding a left-handed hitter who can play anywhere on the infield is an obvious priority…Colorado’s Ryan McMahon is an ideal fit for the Astros, but his $12 million salary calls into question whether Crane would cross the luxury tax.”
Let’s assume Crane, seeing a relatively weak American League and confident in his team, decides to eat the luxury tax. What would the Rockies' McMahon bring to Houston?
The 30-year-old is making $12 million this season before going up to $16 million for the next two years. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2028 and has the infield versatility to fit alongside this (when healthy) stellar group.
McMahon has recorded 20+ home runs each of the last six campaigns, excluding a COVID-shortened 2020. He has 16 so far in 2025, with a .219 batting average, a .721 OPS, a 93 OPS+, and, most concerningly, 48 walks with an NL-leading 125 strikeouts.
He is far from a perfect player, and the high strikeout rates are cause for concern. But, seemingly everyone the Astros touch turns to gold, and McMahon could have a similar success story over the next few summers.
For now, McMahon is an immediate replacement for Paredes, who could be out longer than originally anticipated.
Category: Baseball
