Once considered the finest defensive player anywhere on the field, Carlos Correa might be headed for another position change. Out since May with an ankle injury, Correa could return within the next couple weeks as the Houston Astros attempt to lock up an American League playoff berth. If he does, the 31-year-old could do so at his third different infield spot this season.
As he rehabs in Florida, Correa took ground balls at second base, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reported Saturday. In his 12-year MLB career, which includes winning the Platinum Glove at shortstop in 2021 before moving to third base last season, Correa has never played an inning at second. The effort to keep Isaac Paredes at third base and move Jose Altuve off second base is logical.
Paredes has been Houston's best position player this season, with 3.9 WAR and 21 home runs entering Monday. Altuve, meanwhile, has aged into one of the worst defensive second basemen in the game at 36 years old. Correa is better defensively than both Paredes and Altuve at their respective positions, so the Astros can't lose with his glove at either spot.
The only thing that might give the Astros pause is that moving Altuve to designated hitter would force Yordan Alvarez to play left field, where the lumbering slugger would be prone to more wear and tear. Before they worry about their postseason lineup, though, the Astros actually need to qualify. It's possible they would need to win the AL West to make the playoffs, and they're jockeying for position with the Texas Rangers.
There is no room to experiment. Whatever the Astros choose to do with Correa, it needs to work right away, or else the only position he'll be taking in October is on his couch, watching the playoffs on TV like the rest of us. More MLB: After Injury Setback, Red Sox Ace Trending Back Toward Return
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