The Astros have been a fixture in the AL playoff picture for over a decade, taking home World Series trophies in 2017 and 2022. They served as the perfect blueprint for rebuilding franchises, stockpiling young talent and continually getting the most out of overlooked players.

Unfortunately, the club’s core is reaching the end of its lifecycle, and last season was the first time Houston missed out on the playoffs since 2016. The team has struggled to right the ship so far in 2026, limping to a losing record to start the season. If things don’t turn around, the once-vaunted Astros may look to sell off pieces at the trade deadline for the first time in a decade. Let’s dive into what they could recoup if they do go down that road with a series of plausible trade proposals.

Trade 1: Isaac Paredes to the Phillies

Phillies get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Isaac Paredes	13.9	Gage Wood	6.0
		Dante Nori	5.9
		Cody Bowker	2.4
Total	13.9	Total	14.3

 

Much like the Astros, the Phillies are nearing the end of their championship window, but could choose to push more chips into the center of the table to try to bring home a ring. Third base has been a black hole for the Phils this year, as the perennially underwhelming Alec Bohm has posted a tragic sub-.500 OPS early this season. Phillies fans are out for blood, and finally pulling the plug on Bohm may be the only way to satiate them.

The Astros would have the perfect answer to that dilemma, as their own hot corner occupant is two-time All-Star Isaac Paredes. The 27-year-old made a name for himself with a .797 OPS over three seasons with the Rays, and despite a slow start this year, has been just as good in his year-plus in Houston. Notably, his chief skill is pulling home runs over short left field fences, and Citizens Bank Park is one of the only other venues besides Houston where that would still work.

Paredes is earning a shade over $9 million this season, and has an affordable $13.35 million club option for 2026, which dampens his surplus value a bit. However, it would be well worth it for the Phillies to pony up for an answer at a position that has haunted them for years.

In exchange for Paredes’ services, the Phillies could put together a package of their last two first-round picks – pitching prospect Gage Wood and World Baseball Classic hero Dante Nori, as well as 22-year-old project arm Cody Bowker.

 

Trade 2: Bryan Abreu to the Mets

Mets get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Bryan Abreu	-0.2	Boston Baro	3.5
Steven Okert	0.1	Nick Morabito	2.6
Cash	6.0
Total	5.9	Total	6.1

 

The Mets are in bad shape. The team with an almost $400 million payroll has struggled mightily this season, and their playoff odds are rapidly decreasing. Still, deep-pockets owner Steve Cohen is motivated to push for a World Series ring.

One area that has plagued the team so far has been the bullpen, where splashy free agent additions Devin Williams and Luke Weaver have been underperforming. The Astros have a pair of veteran arms that could be just what the doctor ordered for Cohen’s squad

Right-hand reliever Bryan Abreu is in his final year of team control, and has thrived in both a setup and closing capacity over eight seasons in the Space City. He’s been blown up so far this year, but he certainly has the ability to turn his season around. Also of interest to the Mets should be 34-year-old southpaw Steven Okert, who has posted solid numbers in two seasons with the Astros after bouncing around the league for years.

Abreu and Okert would be nice arms to have, but hardly worthy of a Mason Miller-esque haul. In exchange for the pair, the Astros could reel in versatile infielder Boston Baro and speedy outfield prospect Nick Morabito, while kicking in a few million bucks to balance the scales.

 

Trade 3: Christian Walker to the Pirates

Pirates get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Christian Walker	-19.9	Alessandro Ercolini	1.3
Cash	20.0
Total	0.1	Total	1.3

 

The Astros have not had much success with free agent first basemen. They splurged on former MVP José Abreu ahead of the 2023 season, and ended up cutting him halfway through his three-year deal due to horrendous performance. In an effort to rectify that mistake, Dana Brown gave longtime Diamondbacks slugger Christian Walker a three-year, $60 million contract two offseasons ago.

Year one of that deal was an absolute disaster, as Walker posted an ugly .717 OPS after putting up marks of over .800 in the previous three seasons. The three-time Gold Glover has been back to his old self this year with an .885 OPS over his first 28 games. Still, at 35 years old and with almost $40 million still to be paid out, Walker remains well underwater on his deal.

Despite his negative value, Walker should garner some interest from teams in need of thump, and the Pirates fit that bill. They made a run at Kyle Schwarber over the winter, and after whiffing on that pursuit brought in Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn. Marcell Ozuna was supposed to solidify the designated hitter spot, but has a tragic .496 OPS thus far.

Walker would do a nice job picking up the slack from Ozuna, and shouldn’t cost much considering his salary. If Dana Brown is willing to retain $20 million of Walker’s remaining contract then he could reel in San Marino-born right-hander Alessandro Ercolani.

 

Trade 4: Jake Meyers to the Orioles

Orioles get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Jake Meyers	9.7	Braxton Bragg	7.9
		Ethan Anderson	2.6
Total	9.7	Total	10.5

 

The Orioles jettisoned their longtime centerfielder Cedric Mullins at last year’s trade deadline firesale, and have struggled to replace him in 2026. They have a glut of once-touted outfield prospects in Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers, but none of that trio have distinguished themselves at the big league level. As a result, journeyman Leody Taveras has received the lion’s share of the playing time up the middle.

The O’s haven’t quite recovered from their disastrous 2025 season, hovering around .500 to begin this year, but are looking worlds better and have their eyes set on a postseason return. As a result, they may want to solidify their centerfield situation before Taveras turns back into a pumpkin.

Enter Jake Meyers, who has provided an excellent glove during his six years in Houston, and has stepped up his offensive game recently. He had a breakout 107 WRC+ last year, which, combined with his defense, earned him 2.3 fWAR.

Meyers is under team control through 2027, and would do a nice job keeping centerfield warm until top prospect Enrique Bradfield is ready to take over in Baltimore. In exchange for a year-and-a-half of Meyers, the Astros could reel in young control artist Braxton Bragg and switch-hitting catching prospect Ethan Anderson.

 

Trade 5: Tatsuya Imai to the Blue Jays

Blue Jays get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Tatsuya Imai	-3.2	RJ Schreck	4.6
Cash	10.0	Landon Maroudis	2.8
Total	6.8	Total	7.4

 

Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai was a coveted free agent this winter, as a three-time NPB All-Star who is still only 27. He leveraged that into an unusual deal for an $18 million AAV over three years, with the opportunity to opt out after each season.

That may be beneficial for Imai, but it tanks his trade value, as an acquiring team is running the risk that he’ll either perform well and opt out – making him a pure rental – or he’ll fare poorly and stay with the team on an upside-down contract. Any team trading for Imai would be assuming that suite of risks. Still, pitching is always in demand at the deadline, and if the former Seibu Lion shakes off a rough early start and lives up to his billing, he would be an enormous boon to a contending team. (Note that, as a recent free agent, he can't be traded until June.)

Speaking of contending teams, the reigning AL-champion Blue Jays have gotten off to a shaky start in 2026. They’re under .500, and lost free agent rotation acquisition Cody Ponce for the year. That leaves a top-heavy rotation of Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease, followed by spare parts Eric Lauer, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin.

Assuming he’s performing, adding Imai to that mix would do wonders for the Jays’ starting pitching woes. Given his somewhat costly, convoluted contract, Imai shouldn’t go for a huge prospect haul. Triple-A outfielder RJ Schreck and 21-year-old right-hander Landen Maroudis should be enough to get a deal done, as long as Houston is willing to chip in some cash to soften the blow.

 

And now for the big two:

 

Trade 6: Yordan Alvarez to the Brewers

Brewers get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Yordan Alvarez	50.6	Luis Pena	35.0
Cash	30.0	Garrett Mitchell	30.4
		Jett Williams	19.8
Total	80.6	Total	85.2

 

A full-scale rebuild wouldn’t go over well with fans, but it may be necessary. The Astros’ aging, expensive roster is waning, while years of poor development and subpar draft positioning have led to a bottom-of-the-barrel farm system. If General Manager Dana Brown decides to tear things down to the studs, his most coveted asset would be Yordan Alvarez.

The 28-year-old has dealt with some injury issues, but when he’s on the field he’s among the best hitters in baseball. In his eight major league seasons Alvarez has crushed 181 homers and slashed .299/.392/.580, leading to an insane 166 OPS+. The Cuban slugger is halfway through a six-year extension, and is owed a shade under $80 million the rest of the way.

The notoriously frugal Brewers are smack dab in the middle of their competitive window, boasting an elite minor league system and a major league roster that reached the doorstep of the World Series last year. For a franchise that has yet to capture a championship, it may be worth cashing in some major assets to bring in a game-changing talent.

The Brewers have an all-around solid roster, but outside of Christian Yelich lack a top-tier bat in the heart of their order. The outfield has been a bit of an area for concern, as phenom Jackson Chourio has been injured to start the year, resulting in underwhelming replacements Brandon Lockridge, Blake Perkins and Greg Jones receiving playing time.

In exchange for two-plus years of a Hall of Fame-caliber hitter, Milwaukee will need to part with multiple impact prospects and a major league contributor. The headliner of the deal would be 19-year-old infielder Luis Peña, who has shown a legitimate five-tool skillset in the low minors. 

Also going to Houston is jack of all trades Jett Williams, who was acquired from the Mets this past winter in the Freddy Peralta deal. Williams is nearly big league-ready, and profiles as a high-floor Ben Zobrist-type. Last but not least is centerfielder Garrett Mitchell, who has worked to a terrific .804 OPS over 522 career plate appearances, and would immediately become the Astros’ best outfielder.

That package would be tough for the Brewers to part with, so it would only be fair for the Astros to cover some of the tab. Kicking in an additional $30 million to knock down the more expensive years of Alvarez’s deal should do the trick.

 

Trade 7: Hunter Brown to the Cubs

Cubs get:	Surplus Value:	Astros get:	Surplus Value:
Hunter Brown	79.2	Moises Ballesteros	25.3
		Jefferson Rojas	18.4
		Jaxon Wiggins	17.6
		Ethan Conrad	15.6
		Jonathan Long	5.3
Total	79.2	Total	81.2

 

Trading Hunter Brown would be just about as crazy as trading Yordan Alvarez. Last season’s Cy Young Award runner-up has two more years of team control remaining after this season, and is earning an eminently affordable $5.71 million in his first trip through the arbitration process. He’s currently nursing a shoulder strain, but he’s started a throwing program and is expected back soon. So if someone’s going to trade for Brown, it’ll take a big package.

One team that may be willing to pay that price is the Cubs, whose offense has been firing on all cylinders, as the team has a collective .790 OPS thus far. If there’s one area that could use a boost, it’s a starting rotation that is missing front-line arms Cade Horton and Justin Steele for the foreseeable future.

On top of those injuries, back-end arms Matthew Boyd, Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon have struggled so far, leaving Edward Cabrera and Shota Imanaga shouldering most of the load. Hunter Brown would assuage those issues and more, stepping in as a ready-made ace with postseason experience.

Acquiring Brown and his 3.44 career ERA would pretty much wipe out the upper echelon of Chicago’s farm system, as they’d need to offer up 20-year-old shortstop Jefferson Rojas and budding top-of-the-rotation hurler Jaxon Wiggins just to get the Astros to pick up the phone. Add in sweet-swinging centerfield prospect Ethan Conrad and slugging Triple-A first baseman Jonathon Long and we’re getting closer to a deal.

It would really hurt, but the Cubs will need to cough up big league catcher Moises Ballesteros and his 1.097 OPS this season to get a deal across the finish line. That pretty much cleans out all of Chicago’s prospect capital, but it gives them one of the ten best pitchers in the game to pitch game one of a playoff matchup. It’s a big gamble to take, but if it helps them win a World Series then it’s all worth it.

 

Conclusion:

If the Astros become deadline sellers they would be in a unique spot. They don’t have many appealing rental pieces that could bring in mid-tier prospects while they aim for a quick turnaround. That would make a short-term retool less palatable, but a full-scale teardown would bring in a major amount of future pieces.

Committing to a rebuild would be tough on a fanbase that’s gotten used to perennial contention, but it may be a necessary evil for a team that doesn’t have a clear direction. If Alvarez and Brown are made available they would shoot to the top of every contender’s wishlist, and the packages the Astros could command for them would set the franchise up for its next World Series window.