Astros' 'most valuable' trade chip is All-Star not named Yordan Alvarez

Jul 14, 2026 - 20:20

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Astros' 'most valuable' trade chip is All-Star not named Yordan Alvarez originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Astros are not likely to sell at this year's trade deadline.

Led by AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez, the Astros still have an opportunity to make a deep postseason run in a weak American League.

Also, general manager Dana Brown is in the final year of his contract. It's highly doubtful he will give up on the season by trading away the AL West club's top players.

The Athletic's Chandler Rome wrote Tuesday that the Astros have held trade discussions with other clubs, but nothing is imminent.

Rome added that there is a clear favorite as to who on Houston's roster is the most valuable trade chip.

"If we’re being truthful, shortstop Jeremy Peña is the most valuable trade chip the Astros have, but it’s difficult to imagine any scenario in which they move him before the offseason," Rome wrote.

Pena, an All-Star in 2025, is hitting .287/.347/.426 with six home runs and a .773 OPS in 51 games this season.

Almost certainly, there would be a handful of teams that call Brown about Pena if the Astros were to make him available.

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"Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker would net interest, too, but Houston would be weakening an already top-heavy major-league team by moving them," Rome added.

Clearly, moving Alvarez is out of the question.

But the next few weeks could decide Pena's fate in Houston. The 28-year-old will become a free agent after the 2027 season.