Who starts in LF? 2B? Answering spring questions from Astros fans

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart¡¯s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- We are about three weeks from the Astros¡¯ March 27 season opener against the Mets at Daikin Park and about halfway through Spring Training. The Astros still have as many questions about what their Opening Day roster may look like as they did when pitchers and catchers first reported last month, so let¡¯s open the inbox and tackle some of your roster-related questions:

At this point, who do you think will start at 2B, LF? -- @bradthompsontx

All signs point to Jose Altuve being the starter in left field on Opening Day. Altuve has been working almost exclusively in left field this spring and has started three games there. It¡¯s too early to get a good read on how well he can handle the position, though I find it hard to believe he won¡¯t be able to perform well enough in left for the Astros not to follow through with their plan.

I think Mauricio Dub¨®n starts at second base on Opening Day and likely makes most of the starts there this year, but he will continue to be moved around the diamond like he was last season. The Astros brought in three non-roster players who are battling for a backup spot on the infield, which would be primarily second base.

Luis Guillorme is a slick fielder who can work counts, Zack Short has shown some good glove work this spring and Brendan Rodgers is a former Gold Glove winner who brings the best offensive pedigree of the three.

[Yordan] Alvarez is not the worst outfielder in the league. Joe Espada is too extreme in his fearful avoidance of putting Alvarez in left. Why is this? Thanks. -- RNRBulletin

The Astros want Alvarez to play fewer games in left field this year to help keep him healthy. It has nothing to do with how well he plays left field, especially considering Altuve might not even be that big of a defensive upgrade in left. Espada said the 53 games Alvarez started in left field last year was ¡°way too many.¡± Alvarez underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in August 2020 after suffering knee problems the first two years of his career, and last year, he sustained a right knee sprain sliding into second base late in the season. The club wants to keep him off his feet as much as it can so he can get a full season¡¯s worth of at-bats.

Any chance Cam Smith ends up on the Opening Day roster? -- @fcalderon222

Smith, ranked as the Astros¡¯ No. 1 prospect and No. 58 overall by MLB Pipeline, has been the breakout star of spring camp and has certainly made a terrific first impression, but there¡¯s probably no scenario in which he makes the Opening Day roster. Smith was the No. 14 overall pick in last year¡¯s MLB Draft by the Cubs, who dealt him and two other players to Houston in December for outfielder Kyle Tucker. Smith played 32 games last season in his professional debut -- only five of which came above the Class A level. He¡¯s likely targeted to begin the season at Double-A Corpus Christi, but Smith could be a quick mover through the system.

What¡¯s the likely hood that Framber [Valdez] is traded at or before the Deadline? -- @astrosYordong

That depends on how the Astros are doing. If the club is in contention like it should be, it won¡¯t trade Valdez, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. In the unlikely event Houston slips quickly out of contention in the first half, it would behoove the team to at least listen to some offers for Valdez.

The Astros traded Tucker in December because they knew they wouldn¡¯t re-sign him in free agency, and another solid season by Valdez could price him out of a return to Houston, as well. If the Astros are in position to get something for him, they should explore it.

How are the coaches feeling about bullpen depth this coming season? I assume it¡¯d be a talking point come July/August time if we are competing which I fully expect us to be! Thank you! -- @mark_77__

There is concern internally about the team¡¯s lack of proven depth in the bullpen, especially with injuries to Shawn Dubin (shoulder) and Kaleb Ort (oblique) at the start of camp. It¡¯s not too difficult to acquire a reliever midseason as Houston had done in recent years with Phil Maton, Kendall Graveman (twice), Yimi Garc¨ªa, Will Smith and Rafael Montero, but what about the first half of the season?

The loss of Ryan Pressly punched a big hole in the bullpen and left Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu as the most experienced arms. Tayler Scott, who posted a 2.23 ERA last year, and Montero, who was designated for assignment last year, are the next most experienced arms. Lefty Bryan King and hard-throwing right-hander Forrest Whitley are in good standing, but a couple bullpen spots are up for grabs. Keep an eye on Logan VanWey, who¡¯s thrown the ball well this spring, and non-roster lefty Steven Okert.