Don’t get too excited by the name-drops for Alvarez and Peña. Both would make a mushroom cloud if they actually landed on the market, but Houston GM Dana Brown went out of his way to push back on any such talk.
Walker and Hader feel a bit more realistic, if only because the Astros might not get a better chance to ditch their contracts. Walker has his slugging stick (18 HR, 122 OPS+) back after a down 2025, while Hader has mostly looked like himself (1.29 ERA, 11.0 K/BB) since returning from a biceps strain.
At this point in the year, Paredes should have 10-15 home runs left in him. Maybe more if he goes to a park with a favorable left field fence, though it’s obviously hard to beat Daikin Park in that respect.
As for those relievers, each is a mid-level talent except for maybe Abreu. He has a beastly 6.66 ERA, but there’s still good stuff hiding underneath hideous walk and home run rates.
