The Houston Astros aren’t done tinkering just yet. With Spring Training on the horizon and most of the big-name free agents already off the board, the trade market is where teams like Houston could still find ways to sharpen the roster for a deep 2026 run.
Two potential trade scenarios have surfaced recently-each offering the Astros a different kind of upgrade. One is a bullpen boost, the other a bat swap that could help balance the outfield.
Let’s break them down.
Trade 1: Christian Walker to Padres for Bradgley Rodriguez
This one’s all about timing and opportunity. The proposed deal would send first baseman Christian Walker-along with some cash-to the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-handed reliever Bradgley Rodriguez.
From the Padres’ perspective, it’s a power play-literally. San Diego ranked 28th in home runs last season, and their projected production at first base isn’t much better heading into 2026.
Right now, they’re staring down a mix of Gavin Sheets and Jake Cronenworth at first, which FanGraphs projects as the second-worst combo in the league by WAR. Shifting Cronenworth back to second full-time and plugging Walker into first could give that lineup some much-needed thump.
As for Houston, the move would be about retooling the bullpen. Rodriguez is a big-league-ready arm who could slot in immediately as a right-handed option behind Bryan Abreu. That’s an area where the Astros have some depth concerns, so adding a controllable, MLB-ready reliever makes sense-especially if it means moving on from Walker while he still has trade value.
Walker’s bat still plays, but with the Astros’ infield depth and some younger options pushing for time, this could be a classic case of selling high before the market cools.
Trade 2: Jake Meyers to Angels for Josh Lowe
The second deal is more of a roster fit swap than a headline-grabber, but it’s the kind of move that could quietly pay off for both sides.
In this scenario, the Astros would send outfielder Jake Meyers to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Josh Lowe, who was just acquired from the Rays earlier this offseason.
For the Angels, it’s a defensive upgrade. Meyers is a glove-first center fielder with legitimate range and instincts-something L.A. clearly needs.
There’s even been talk of moving Mike Trout back to center, which, given his injury history, feels like a risky proposition. Meyers gives them a much safer option defensively, even if his offensive profile has been inconsistent.
That said, he did post a career-best .292/.354/.373 slash line in 2025, trading some power for better contact and on-base ability.
From Houston’s side, Lowe brings a bit more pop from the left side of the plate. While his overall 2025 numbers were underwhelming, he still slashed .242/.307/.420 against right-handed pitching and is only a couple of seasons removed from a 3.7-WAR campaign in 2023. He’s not a natural center fielder, but the Astros could use him in a corner or rotate him through the DH spot, depending on how the rest of the lineup shakes out.
It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s a smart baseball trade-each team addressing a specific need without giving up a cornerstone piece.
The Astros have been one of the more aggressive and forward-thinking organizations in recent years, and these kinds of moves-targeted, strategic, and rooted in roster construction-are a big part of why. Whether either deal actually goes down remains to be seen, but they both reflect a front office still looking for ways to fine-tune a contender. With the AL still wide open behind a few heavy hitters, every edge counts.
