The Astros, looking to lengthen their lineup and get more production out of first base, are among the teams with interest in Rays infielder , . As Rome explains, the bottom third of Houstons lineup has produced a disastrous .254 OBP since went on the injured list 40 games ago, shortening the lineup and leaving a lot of pre sure on the top of the batting order. Paredes is a natural fit for the Astros, though between his affordable $3.4MM salary, his three additional years of club control, his defensive versatility and this years .250/.352/.445 slash, hed fit on the majority of contenders around the league. Paredes has been Tampa Bays primary third baseman this season, but he has considerable experience at both second base and first base as well, and hes even played 50 innings of shortstop in the majors. Hes probably not cut out for long-term shortstop work, but Statcast feels hes been average or better at each of the three other infield spots. Among the 148 qualified hitters in MLB this season, only one has a higher pull rate than Paredes: Houstons own . That pull-happy approach from a righty power bat like Paredes makes the Astros Minute Maid Park and the short left field porch in the Crawford Boxes a particularly interesting fit. Paredes popped 31 homers last season and has 16 so far in 2024. The Astros have gotten virtually nothing out of first base this season. was released in Florian Xhekaj Jersey the second season of an ill-fated three-year contract. has been the primary option since. Hes hitting .230/.321/.345 on the season. Thats seven percent worse than league-average, by measure of wRC+, at a position where above-average offense is typically expected. Singleton also grades as a poor first base defender and poor baserunner. Swapping Singleton out for Paredes and then pairing him with Tuckers eventual return could have a transformative impact on the Houston lineup. The benefits of adding Paredes would be further reaching in the long-term, too. is slated to become a free agent this offseason, and while the Astros figure to be part of his offseason market, hes hardly a guarantee to re-sign. Keeping Bregman could require a longer and more lucrative contract than the Stros have given out to anyone under owner Jim Crane; s six-year, $115MM deal is the longest contract i sued under Crane, while Altuves 2018 extension that guaranteed him $151MM in new money is the largest guarantee. If Bregman doesnt stay in Houston, Paredes could shift acro s the diamond to third base in 2025. For all the reasons just listed, however, Paredes will be extremely expensive to acquire at least in terms of prospects/young talent. Any of the Yankees, Dodgers, Mariners and Red Sox (among others) stand as obvious fits and suitors for him. The market will be competitive. And, since Paredes is controllable through the 2027 season and should earn under $10MM next season in arbitration, the Rays likely dont feel a need to move him. Theyll listen, as they do on all of their players, but itll take a genuinely compelling offer to pry three-plus years of one of the games most underrated infielders from their grasp. That said, the Rays have sufficient infield depth to withstand the lo s of Paredes. Third baseman ranks as one of the sports top five prospects and is ready for a look in the majors. Camineros presence alone doesnt make Paredes expendable he could easily move to another infield position or just bounce between multiple slots on a regular basis but having a ready-made replacement does make it a bit easier to move him than if the cupboard behind him were bare. Other, more expensive veterans on the Rays (e.g. , ) seem likelier to move between now and next Tuesdays deadline, but Paredes should draw heavy interest in his own right and likely could be had with a substantial enough offer. Ken Dryden Jersey