Altuve still testing the waters in left field -- even without Bregman

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Despite not bringing back free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, a move which would have created a logjam on the infield, the Astros remain full speed ahead with trying out franchise icon Jose Altuve in left field this spring.

Or at least seeing if he¡¯s capable of handling the position.

Altuve said last month he¡¯d be open to moving to left field if Bregman returned to play third, which would push newcomer Isaac Paredes to second. The Astros approached him at the end of the season about playing left, which appears to be a decision based on improving second-base defense more than anything.

Altuve worked out Monday on a breezy back field, fielding fly balls off the fungo bat of coach Dave Clark while using slugger Yordan Alvarez¡¯s glove, joking later it was too heavy for him.

¡°I¡¯m trying not to make this a big deal or focus, or something else,¡± Altuve said. ¡°I want to get rid of this left-field conversation and try to answer every question possible and move on and start preparing for what we all care about, which is preparing for the season and winning.¡±

At 34, Altuve is the oldest player on the Astros with Justin Verlander having moved on to the Giants. The club also lost star players Kyle Tucker and Bregman, leaving Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. as the lone players remaining from the 2017 World Series team.

¡°We¡¯ve got to move on and focus on the players we have here and keep moving,¡± Altuve said. ¡°We have great talent here, good players. We¡¯re definitely going to do everything to win, and we¡¯ll see Alex down the road when we play Boston.¡±

Altuve, who won his only Gold Glove at second base in 2015, has slipped defensively in recent years. His outs above average, which peaked at plus-6 in 2018, dropped from plus-1 in ¡¯22 to minus-3 in ¡¯23 and minus-9 last year, which was the second-worst among qualifying second basemen. He had minus-13 defensive runs saved in ¡¯23 and ¡¯24. and minus-15 in ¡®22.

In losing Tucker and trying to limit Alvarez¡¯s at-bats to mostly DH this year, the Astros have an opening in left. 2024 No. 6 prospect Zach Dezenzo will get a look in left, and Chas McCormick can play left as well, though he¡¯s slotted as the starter in right.

At second, Mauricio Dub¨®n figures to get more playing time if Altuve is in left. He filled in superbly at second in ¡¯23 when Altuve injured his thumb in the World Baseball Classic and wound up winning the AL Gold Glove as a utility player. Astros manager Joe Espada said 2024 No. 4 prospect Brice Matthews will also see time at second this spring.

¡°I¡¯m not going to share the plan with you yet because this is going to be an everyday thing,¡± Espada said. ¡°[Altuve] will play some second base. Right now, it¡¯s one day at a time. I want to get some feedback from him before we discuss where we¡¯re going to go next, but he will play some second base.¡±

Altuve took fly balls in left for a couple of weeks at Daikin Park prior to the start of camp. The Astros believe he has the foot speed and is athletic enough to handle the position, especially in the small left field in Houston. Espada said depth perception, getting a good first step and taking good routes are the keys.

¡°It comes natural to him, and I¡¯m not surprised because Jose Altuve is an elite athlete,¡± Espada said. ¡°He looked pretty good.¡±

Altuve remains a solid offensive player, coming off a season in which he slashed .295/.350/.439 with 20 homers, 31 doubles, 65 RBIs and 22 stolen bases, while getting elected to his ninth All-Star team. He begins this season with 2,232 hits, which is second to Freddie Freeman (2,267) among active players.

Altuve has certainly accomplished enough in his career to have a say in which position he plays, but he has always put the team first. He¡¯s not going to stop now, even if it means a move to left.

¡°I want to be in the lineup and keep helping this team win, and keep hitting doubles and triples and homers for this team,¡± Altuve said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter where I play. I¡¯m going to try to do my best. We have a lot of talent. We have great new players that definitely are going to help this team. That¡¯s what I¡¯m excited about.¡±