HOUSTON — The Astros and infielder Isaac Paredes avoided arbitration on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year deal for 2026 with an option for 2027, the club announced. He had been scheduled to go to an arbitration hearing on Friday.
The deal for this season is for $9.35 million, according to a source, with a club option for $13.35 million for '27. If he's in the top 10 in Most Valuable Player Award voting in '26, the club option will become a mutual option, the source said. The club has not confirmed the terms of the contract.
Paredes, one of three players acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade in December 2024, was having a solid year at the plate last season before he suffered a significant hamstring injury in July and missed two months.
He was slashing .259/.359/.470 with a team-high 19 homers and 50 RBIs in 94 games and was among the league leaders in walks before his July 19 injury suffered while running to first base in Seattle. Paredes was added to the American League All-Star team to replace Cleveland’s José Ramírez but skipped the game to deal with family matters.
Paredes opted to forgo surgery and chose instead to rehab the injury and returned to action on Sept. 19. In 102 games, the 26-year-old slashed .254/.352/.458 with 15 doubles, 20 homers and 53 RBIs for Houston last year. Paredes played winter ball in Mexico this offseason but will not participate in the World Baseball Classic, general manager Dana Brown said on Tuesday.
There's still a chance the Astros could deal Paredes to help clear up their crowded infield picture. Less than two weeks after Paredes was injured last year, the Astros pulled off a trade to re-acquire Carlos Correa, who made the move to start at third base. Paredes will play some second base this spring, but Jose Altuve will return to being a full-time starter at second this year. The Red Sox have had interest in Paredes after Alex Bregman signed with the Cubs.