Isaac Paredes -- Trade Rumors

Ken Rosenthal stated that the Houston Astros will likely trade either Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker by the August 3 trade deadline if the franchise cannot recover from its current struggles. The Astros have stumbled to a 15-23 record, currently sitting fourth in the AL West with a -37 run differential. Rosenthal ruled out trading centerpiece Yordan Alvarez, stating he cannot imagine the team moving him. Both Paredes and Walker have been subjects of trade speculation throughout the season. Christian Walker underperformed last year with a .238 average and 72 runs but has rebounded this season with 9 home runs and a .950 OPS. Isaac Paredes, a back-to-back American League All-Star, has been a frequent trade candidate due to an infield logjam, though injuries have since changed that dynamic. Paredes is batting .265 with just 3 home runs in 2026. Previous trade interest has linked Paredes to the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. With the Astros showing significant inconsistency—their last streak of more than two consecutive wins came at the end of March—the likelihood of a bounce-back before the August deadline appears low, making a trade increasingly probable.