Spring training kicks off Thursday, and MLB teams are rushing to finalize their rosters before the exhibition games begin.
The Houston Astros just made an interesting move, picking up Gold Glove second baseman Brendan Rodgers on a minor-league deal.
Rodgers, who’s 28, won his Gold Glove in 2022 with some pretty impressive defensive stats – more than 20 Defensive Runs Saved. That’s the kind of fielding that makes managers take notice.
But here’s where it gets interesting: The Astros’ star second baseman Jose Altuve has been spotted shagging fly balls in left field during spring training.
“I’m not going to share the plan with you yet because this is going to be an everyday thing,” Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters. “Altuve will play some second base. Right now, it’s just one day at a time.”
The Rockies let Rodgers go this winter after he put up decent but not spectacular numbers at the plate. It’s been a bit of a journey for him – he was once considered one of baseball’s top prospects for four straight years, though he hasn’t quite lived up to those sky-high expectations.
When Altuve’s in the outfield, Mauricio Dubon will likely handle second base duties, at least early in the season. But Rodgers could work his way into the mix if he shows his old form this spring.
The Astros have been busy reshaping their infield. They’ve brought in Christian Walker to play first base and grabbed Isaac Paredes in the Kyle Tucker trade after Alex Bregman’s departure.
It’s starting to look like Houston’s infield might be pretty different from what fans are used to seeing when opening day rolls around.
