Fansided

Houston Astros rumors: 3 trade targets to replace Carlos Correa

By Brad Berreman

Oct 31, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) during the third inning of game five of the 2021 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) during the third inning of game five of the 2021 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

2.  Nick Ahmed, Arizona Diamondbacks

Realistically, coming off a 110-loss season in 2021, the Diamondbacks are not going to legitimately compete in the NL West this year and probably next (at least). So veterans could be offloaded in earnest, and the now 32-year old Ahmed stands as a trade candidate with two years and a little over $18 million in total left on his contract.

Ahmed is a quintessential glove-first shortstop, with a career OPS of .671. But he had a power surge over the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, with 35 combined home runs with 152 total RBI and 66 doubles over that span. The only dramatic difference from those two seasons compared to the last couple is a drop in barrel rate. If he can start squaring the ball up a lot better, or even a little better in a smaller ballpark like Houston’s….

Ahmed hit a career-high 19 home runs in 2019. According to Baseball Savant, adjusted for ballpark to created expected home runs, he would’ve had more home runs in every park in the AL West that year (at least 23 in all four).

Still a good glove with some offensive upside that could be tapped in a small home ballpark and within a better lineup, Ahmed looks like a viable trade target for the Astros. There’s no replacing Correa with a comparable player, unless…

Home/Houston Astros