Jose Altuve To Play "Most Of His Games" In Left Field
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will play "most of his games" in left field in 2025, manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday. The skipper left the door open for things to change due to injuries and good performances in the minor leagues, but Espada made it clear that Altuve will open the year as the team's primary left fielder. While nothing had really been official until now, this was the expectation all along for the 34-year-old veteran after he has spent all his time playing left field in spring training. As a result, Mauricio Dubon figures to see most of the starts at second base for Houston to begin the season. While Father Time will eventually catch up to Altuve, the nine-time All-Star, former MVP, seven-time Silver Slugger winner, three-time batting champ and two-time World Series champ deserves the benefit of the doubt as a high-end fantasy second baseman that is adding value with outfield eligibility.
Astros Happy With How Jose Altuve Has Looked In The Outfield
The Houston Astros have been pleased with how second baseman Jose Altuve has looked while playing the outfield in spring training. "[He's done] enough for me to feel good about playing left field," manager Joe Espada said. Even though the Astros didn't re-sign Alex Bregman in the offseason, the Astros are going forward with their plan to move the 34-year-old Venezuelan second baseman to left field on a full-time basis in 2025. The early returns defensively have been positive for Altuve, and the eventual addition of outfield eligibility in fantasy will make him an even more attractive fantasy option this year despite the fact that he isn't getting any younger. Altuve is a top-three fantasy second baseman as a former MVP, nine-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger winner and three-time batting champion. He dealt with injuries in 2023 but bounced back last year to post a 20-20 season while hitting .295.
Jose Altuve To Spend Most Of His Time In Left Field
The plan is for Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve to spend most of his time this year in left field, according to manager Joe Espada. "Right now the plan is for him to play the majority of his games in left field, and the days that he plays second base opens the door for Yordan Alvarez maybe getting a start in left field, someone getting a DH day. So this move allows us to be creative and do stuff like that," Espada said. The skipper also said moving Altuve "back and forth is something that I am going to avoid." The 34-year-old veteran is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 4 fantasy second baseman, but he's also going to add outfield eligibility in fantasy leagues in 2025, making him even more valuable. Although the former MVP and nine-time All-Star was fortunate to hit .295 in 153 games last year, he still named 20 homers and 22 stolen bases.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is set to make his spring training debut in left field on Friday when the team takes on the St. Louis Cardinals in a Grapefruit League game. Altuve has been working regularly in left field in camp and is primed to make the move to the outfield on a pretty regular basis in 2025 despite the fact that he's never played there as a professional. The move will allow outfielder Yordan Alvarez to become Houston's primary designated hitter in an effort to preserve his health after he dealt with a knee injury late last year. With Altuve moving to left, playing time at the keystone will be opened up for Mauricio Dubon. Altuve will turn 35 in May, but the former MVP still managed to hit .295 with 20 home runs, 65 RBI and 22 steals in 153 games in 2204. Gaining outfield eligibility this year will make him slightly more attractive in upcoming fantasy drafts.
Jose Altuve To Play Left Field In A Game Later This Week
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will play in his first Grapefruit League game in left field later this week. Even though the Astros didn't re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman, it appears that the team plans on playing Altuve quite a bit in left field in 2025, which should open up more playing time at the keystone for Mauricio Dubon. The 34-year-old veteran has never played the outfield in his professional career, so it will be interesting to see how he transitions. Altuve is considered a top-five fantasy second baseman at RotoBaller, but adding outfield eligibility in 2025 will only make him more valuable in fantasy. His .789 OPS last year was his worst mark in a full season since 2013, but he still managed to hit 20 home runs and steal 22 bases. Regression is coming soon, but Altuve deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday that second baseman Jose Altuve will play the outfield in his first Grapefruit League game. Altuve will work exclusively with the outfielders the next four to five days. Even though the Astros didn't re-sign Alex Bregman, it looks like the 34-year-old All-Star could still make the move to left field for Houston in 2025. If that were to happen, Mauricio Dubon would be the favorite to take over regularly at second base, with the recently-signed Brendan Rodgers also an option at the keystone. Fantasy-wise, regression could be coming for Altuve, although he still managed to hit 20 home runs and steal 22 bases last year. Adding outfield eligibility would certainly make him a bit more attractive in fantasy drafts. He hit .295 in 153 games in 2024, but with an xBA nearly 30 points lower. He ranks as RotoBaller's No. 4 fantasy second baseman.
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that second baseman Jose Altuve has been working in left field for the last couple of weeks and is also still taking ground balls at second base. "I'm not going to commit to a number of games, but that's something that we are looking at to create some flexibility," Espada said. Even if the Astros don't re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman, which would likely push Isaac Paredes to second base, it sounds as though the team is considering using Altuve in the outfield in 2025. The 34-year-old Altuve holds Bregman in high regard, so he's fully on board with a position switch if it means Bregman returns to the organization. Although Altuve's defensive metrics have declined at the keystone, he has never played left field in his career. Altuve had just a .789 OPS in 2024 but did hit 20 homers and steal 22 bases. Adding outfield eligibility would be a slight boost to his fantasy value in 2025.
According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is willing to move to the outfield for the team to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman. Rome noted that Altuve expressed he is willing to do what is asked to keep Bregman in Houston. If Bregman were to re-sign in Houston, Isaac Paredes would then shift to the keystone, moving Altuve to left field. Earlier this week, the Astros re-engaged in talks with Bregman, which is keeping the door open. In addition, earlier on Sunday, the team traded relief pitcher Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs, opening up additional salary for Bregman. The Toronto Blue Jays, Cubs, and Boston Red Sox are among the teams that have expressed interest in signing Bregman. Altuve is already viewed as one of the top second basemen in fantasy baseball but would gain more value if he had outfield eligibility. If he were to shift to left field, Mauricio Dubon would likely move to a bench role.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the team's lineup on Wednesday for the series finale against the division-rival Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park a day after the Astros clinched the American League West division title yet again. With Altuve getting the day off, rookie Shay Whitcomb will man the keystone and bat seventh versus Mariners right-hander George Kirby. After injuries limited him to 90 games in 2023, Altuve has had a great bounce-back year in 2024. The nine-time All-Star is slashing .293/.349/.436 with 20 home runs, 65 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 92 runs scored in 152 games played this season. Whitcomb, drafted in the fifth round in 2020 out of the University of California-San Diego, will be making his first start since Sept. 1. In his first 19 big-league games in 2024, he's gone 9-for-37 (.243) with three doubles, five RBI, five walks and eight strikeouts.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (side) has returned to second base and is hitting leadoff on Friday in the series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and rookie left-hander Samuel Aldegheri. Altuve injured his side in the game on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics and sat out of the series finale against the division rivals on Thursday before returning to start the weekend series in Anaheim. Fantasy managers will want to get the 34-year-old All-Star back into all starting lineups, especially against a young hurler without much experience. Altuve has been excellent for the Astros and fantasy managers all year and enters Friday's game with a .302/.357/.450 slash line, .806 OPS, 19 homers, 62 RBI, 20 steals and 86 runs scored in 576 at-bats as a contributor across all categories. He's been even better in September with a .389 average, a homer, four doubles and five RBI in nine games.
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