The Houston Astros need Jose Altuve to be Jose Altuve.
In 2025, the Astros have experimented with moving their diminutive 35-year-old second baseman to left field. It's paid negative dividends, as Altuve has a .702 OPS, his lowest mark since 2013, and -0.8 bWAR in 62 games.
Not only has Altuve's left field defense been poor (-3 outs above average), but there's a solid chance it could be throwing off his offense as well. Though his OPS is higher in his starts in left field than they are at second base this season, his best split by far is as a designated hitter (.885 OPS), when he doesn't even have to think about picking up his glove.
As the trade deadline approaches, one baseball writer believes the Astros have to do something to end the left field experiment.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Bradford Doolittle wrote a trade deadline preview for all 30 teams, and his biggest suggestion for the Astros was to make a move that ensured Altuve wouldn't need to man left field for the rest of the season.
"The offense is at its lowest ebb since the rebuilding days more than a decade ago. Houston will have to hope for positive regression in some cases -- Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, Yordan Alvarez's health," Doolittle wrote.
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"That might be enough to keep Houston alive into October once again. Still, any kind of roster reconfiguring that gets Altuve out of left field might not be the worst idea."
Altuve has been the face of this Astros team during their eight-year playoff streak, and he's played 1,779 games at second base, the most of any active player at the position.
Maybe that's not something the Astros should have messed with in the first place. And July will be their last chance to press the do-over button.
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