Houston Astros games have looked significantly different this year, seeing as Jose Altuve has spent most of the spring manning left field instead of second base.
Whether or not Altuve will be at second come the summer—and, ideally for the Astros, the fall—is another conversation.
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In fact, Altuve’s time in the outfield may be nearing its end. Altuve has started three of his last six games at second and served as the DH in a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter proposed the Astros officially end the Altuve-left field experiment while they still can.
“With Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Dubón both struggling at the plate,” Reuter wrote, “shifting Altuve back to the infield and targeting a corner outfielder might be the best way to bolster a lackluster offense at the deadline.”
Houston Astros outfielder Jose AltuveRaymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
As of publication, neither Espada nor general manager Dana Brown had commented on making Altuve a full-time second baseman again.
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Remember, though, that Houston moved to Altuve to left field over defensive concerns. He enters Saturday batting .244 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and -0.8 bWAR in 42 games for a 23-21 Houston club.
If the Astros do pursue a corner outfielder, Athletics left fielder Miguel Andujar makes perfect sense—so long as the A’s don’t mind trading in the division. Andujar owns a .314 average, three homers, 19 RBI, and a .779 OPS for the A’s, who have lost seven of 10 and could sell at the deadline.
Andujar will become a free agent after the year, and he’s capable of playing right field and the corner infield spots. He’s also displayed an impressive eye, striking out only 15 times in 121 plate appearances.
Don’t expect to see Yordan Alvarez back in left field, though, at least not permanently. He’s only played 48 innings across six games as an outfielder thus far.
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