Astros’ roster hole gives Pirates leverage in possible Isaac Paredes trade

For all of general manager Dana Brown’s public insistence that the club is comfortable with its infield depth, the subtext is hard to ignore: the Houston Astros are still searching for a left-handed outfield bat. And that search is precisely where the Pittsburgh Pirates might quietly hold an advantage in trade talks involving Isaac Paredes.

Paredes was a centerpiece return for Houston in the Kyle Tucker deal because the organization believed his pull-heavy right-handed power would play perfectly at Daikin Park. It did, with home runs and a .254/.352/.458 slash in just 102 games before a hamstring strain cut his season short.

But if the Astros’ front office is intensifying efforts to trade him — as reported — that suggests their roster imbalance outweighs their attachment. The Astros are heavily right-handed, and their outfield mix lacks thump from the left side. They’ve reportedly explored multiple avenues — including frameworks involving Brendan Donovan — and those doors have closed. Other potential matches have pivoted, and the market has tightened.

Meanwhile, the Pirates need a third baseman. Jared Triolo is a plus defender, but his bat (.221/.303/.334 over the past two seasons) isn’t scaring anyone. The front office has made it clear they want offensive upgrades, and Paredes is exactly that.

The complication? Salary ($9.35 million) and fit after signing Marcell Ozuna. Pittsburgh added right-handed power but still lacks lineup balance and certainty at third. If Houston insists on a left-handed hitting outfielder in return, perhaps the Pirates could interest them in a lightly used Jack Suwinski?

Admittedly, it's a reach. Yes, Suwinski has underperformed to the tune of a sub-.200 batting average. Yes, Pirates fans are desperate to get him off the roster. But allow us to dream for a moment.

Suwinski provides left-handed power, multiple years of club control, the ability to play all three outfield spots, and a former 26-homer season on his résumé. (Let's just maybe gloss over the fact that said 26-homer season was three years ago.)

Houston doesn’t necessarily need a finished product. They need handedness balance and upside. Suwinski offers both at a controllable cost, and his profile checks boxes that other teams simply can’t match as cleanly right now.

Pirates could package Jack Suwinski in a trade for Houston's Isaac Paredes

To be clear, no one is suggesting that this would be a one-for-one deal. Including Joey Bart could sweeten the pot. Houston doesn’t have long-term certainty behind the plate, and Bart showed flashes of offensive competence and defensive growth. Add a mid-tier prospect, and Pittsburgh might present one of the more compelling packages on the board.

From the Pirates’ perspective, this would be a calculated reshuffling. They'd be turning a volatile outfielder into a steady third baseman, capitalizing on Houston's positional desperation, and addressing a glaring infield need without surrendering elite prospects.

Would this be “wishful thinking” for Pirates fans eager to move on from Suwinski? Sure. Would Houston prefer a higher-floor left-handed bat? Of course. But the direct trade scenarios involving Paredes are narrowing. The market is less clean than it was two weeks ago.

The Astros’ need for a left-handed outfielder is structural, not theoretical. And if Pittsburgh is willing to be creative, that structural hole could give them unexpected leverage in landing a player who fits their biggest roster gap.