The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox are two of at least five teams involved in trade talks with the Houston Astros focused on infielder Isaac Paredes, according to reports from The Athletic’s Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal. While the Red Sox have been connected to Paredes throughout the winter as they seek infield reinforcements, this marks the first time Pittsburgh has officially entered the conversation, signaling broad interest in the two-time All-Star’s availability.
Boston’s Infield Upgrade Pursuit and Complex Trade Proposals
Boston’s search for additional infield depth has been among the most active offseason stories, with names like Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Ketel Marte, Eugenio Suarez, Nico Hoerner, and Brendan Donovan drawing trade and free agent consideration. Negotiations have included a proposed three-team trade involving the Astros and St. Louis Cardinals that would have sent Paredes to Boston and Donovan to Houston, with prospects flowing toward the Cardinals as part of a rebuilding strategy.
Ultimately, the Cardinals chose a different three-team deal involving the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, sending Donovan to Seattle and receiving Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete, Colton Ledbetter, plus two Competitive Balance Round B draft picks for 2026. The availability of these draft picks likely influenced the Cardinals’ preference, as these are among the few draft selections that teams can trade, while Red Sox and Astros lacked comparable assets in this context.
Potential Rosters and Positional Alignments From a Hypothetical Deal
Had the Cards accepted the Red Sox-Houston offer, both AL teams would have addressed significant needs: Paredes would slot in as Boston’s everyday third baseman, balancing the lineup’s handedness and allowing Marcelo Mayer to shift to second base. For the Astros, Donovan’s versatile skill set would probably translate into a full-time role in left field, complementing their established infield of Carlos Correa at third base, Jeremy Pena at shortstop, Jose Altuve at second, and Christian Walker at first base. With Yordan Alvarez occupying the designated hitter role, and neither Alvarez nor Altuve suited for outfield duties, Paredes’ presence could create competition for playing time in Houston’s infield if all players remain healthy.
Astros’ Uncertainty Amid Trade Discussions Surrounding Their Infield
Astros General Manager Dana Brown has publicly stated contentment with their current infield roster, though some reports suggest this may be strategic posturing as the team reportedly considers dealing from their surplus of infield talent. Among possible trade candidates, Isaac Paredes is viewed as more movable than Christian Walker, whose large contract and six-team no-trade clause complicate potential trades.
“Paredes is more likely to be dealt than Walker, whose cumbersome contract and limited no-trade clause make it more difficult to move him.”
?The Athletic Sources
Walker is entering his age-35 season under a three-year, $60 million contract signed last winter. His performance in his first Astros season resulted in a .238/.297/.421 slash line over 640 plate appearances, equating to a 99 wRC+. In comparison, Paredes missed nearly two months of the 2025 season due to a hamstring injury but posted strong numbers during his active time, hitting .254/.352/.458 over 438 plate appearances.
Why Trading Paredes Could Help Houston’s Roster Balance
The Astros face a complex dilemma in potentially trading one of their better and more affordable players to manage an infield surplus. Their other infielders appear less likely to move for varied reasons, making Paredes the most logical trade asset. Moving him could simultaneously relieve positional overcrowding and allow Houston to acquire a needed left-handed bat for the outfield.
Possible Direct Swap Between Astros and Red Sox
A straightforward solution for the Astros and Red Sox could be trading directly, as Boston possesses an abundance of left-handed hitting outfielders. Among them, Jarren Duran is considered the most likely to be traded. However, Houston reportedly prefers Wilyer Abreu, partially due to financial considerations: Abreu is still under team control and won’t reach salary arbitration eligibility until after the next season, while Duran is set to earn $7.7 million in 2026 with rising salaries through his remaining arbitration years.
Other Trade Scenarios and Third-Party Possibilities
Whether the Astros and Red Sox eventually finalize a deal or require the involvement of a third team remains uncertain. Additionally, Houston could consider trading Paredes outside of the Boston or Pittsburgh markets due to the substantial interest in his services from multiple organizations.
Pirates’ Recent Moves and Fit for Paredes
The Pirates and Astros recently collaborated on a notable December three-team trade with the Rays. Pittsburgh traded starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston, bolstering their lineup with acquisitions like Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum. Along with the signing of Ryan O’Hearn and the addition of Jhostynxon Garcia in an earlier deal with Boston, Pittsburgh has prioritized strengthening their offensive capability.
Securing Paredes would likely be their biggest offensive acquisition yet, addressing a key need at third base. Jared Triolo is slated as the Pirates’ starting third baseman, but while his defense is solid, his offensive production has been limited, hitting only .221/.303/.334 over 822 plate appearances during the 2024-25 seasons.
Meeting Houston’s preferences could prove challenging for Pittsburgh. Although the Pirates have several outfielders who bat left-handed or switch-hit, such as Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Jake Mangum, and Jack Suwinski, none appear to align perfectly with what the Astros seek. Cruz is unlikely to be traded, Reynolds’ contract could be too costly, and Mangum and Suwinski do not provide clear offensive upgrades for Houston.
Additional Teams Potentially Interested in Paredes
Aside from Pittsburgh and Boston, other teams might explore opportunities to improve their corner infield positions through a trade for Paredes. Among them are the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Oakland Athletics. While some teams have established starters at first or third base, they could consider Paredes an upgrade worthy of negotiating a multiteam deal.
Implications and Next Steps in the Isaac Paredes Trade Market
As trade talks advance, Isaac Paredes has emerged as a key piece with widespread interest across several clubs, especially given the Astros’ crowded infield and teams’ varying roster needs. For the Pirates, acquiring him could significantly improve their offense and patch a critical third base hole. For Boston, Paredes provides a cost-effective right-handed presence and defensive stability at third base.
Houston’s willingness to address their surplus and left-handed hitting deficits through trading Paredes could trigger a notable transaction that reshapes multiple rosters in the coming weeks. The involvement of multiple teams, combined with financial and roster-fit considerations, suggests that trade negotiations may evolve further before a consensus is reached.
