Astros moving Jose Altuve is 'best way' to improve Houston ahead of MLB trade deadline

The Houston Astros haven't been good enough so far in the 2025 MLB season.

That's the kind of reality that makes a contender search long and hard as the season moves toward the trade deadline.

Jose Altuve might be the solution, although not in a traditional trade deadline way.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report suggested that moving Altuve, not to another team but to another position, may solve some Astros problems.

Altuve moved out to left field from second base this season, and it hasn't gone particularly smoothly.

Houston got the bats of Mauricio Dubon and Brendan Rodgers in the lineup more frequently at second base by moving Altuve, but they haven't hit well.

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Reuter writes that the Astros should bring Altuve back to second base so they can seek a left fielder from a trade market that is larger for outfielders than it is for second basemen.

“With Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Dubón both struggling at the plate, shifting Altuve back to the infield and targeting a corner outfielder might be the best way to bolster a lackluster offense at the deadline," Reuter wrote.

Altuve is hitting .256 with four home runs so far this season after a very slow start.

Now 35 years old, Altuve isn't the player he once was. But the best way for this Houston team to have its best time is to let its veteran hitters have a chance to regress positively to the mean while finding an additional piece to brighten the picture.

Altuve won't ever be traded, but he can certainly move to his old home on the diamond.

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