It is time for the Houston Astros to end the Jose Altuve in left field experiment.
A career second baseman well on his way to Cooperstown, Altuve was forced to learn the outfield for this outfield-depleted Astros squad. He has played nearly twice as many innings in left (277) as at second (131 and 2/3) this season, and the defensive shift could explain his poor performance at the plate.
Altuve is 35 years old now, but his .270 batting average, .720 OPS, and 101 OPS+ are all significantly down from his career totals (.300 batting average, .866 OPS, 143 OPS+ from 2022-24).
Houston is 37-30 and in first place in the American League West, but this is a team with October, not the division, on its mind. Adding a power bat would greatly increase their odds in this relatively weak American League.
A recent MLB.com article listed Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward as their most intriguing trade chip at this year’s deadline. Prying him from Los Angeles would be a difficult task, but not an impossible one with the right package.
Here is what a Ward to the Astros deal could look like:
Houston receives: OF Taylor Ward
Los Angeles receives: RHP AJ Blubaugh (No. 9)
Ward has quietly developed into a solid power hitter out West, and despite a lackluster .204 batting average, he still has a .730 OPS, a 101 OPS+, 18 home runs, and 20 walks to 78 strikeouts. This is all coming off a 25-home run, .246 batting, .730 OPS, 111 OPS+ 2024 campaign.
He is a solid, albeit nothing special, defensive left fielder, but still represents an upgrade over Altuve, who could slot back into his natural habitat in the infield.
Ward is also not a free agent until after the 2026 season, and at 31 years old, still has plenty of quality years left.
Blubaugh and his top-10 prospect status might be too rich for the Astros to sacrifice, but a 6.61 ERA and a 1.699 WHIP over 47 and 2/3 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land could encourage them to move him for immediate batting support.
