Jose Altuve DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.