Why would #Astros choose to move Jose Altuve to LF and not Isaac Paredes?

It seems crazy to think that even with Altuve volunteering to move positions, that the Astros would go along with it and actually move him, but there is some logic behind it 

Altuve’s defensive metrics are 2B are, shall we say, very much below average. Like bottom of the league below average. 

Moving Paredes to the OF, where he would likely be below average as he learns the position, would make the Astros weak at 2 positions. 2B and LF 

Paredes does have some experience at 2B, where he’s played 67 games, and the team expects he will have better metrics at 2B than Altuve. 

So by shifting Altuve, the team will only be weak at one defensive position - LF - instead of 2. 

It’s a product of advanced data and, more importantly, incredible selflessness of the greatest player in franchise history to be all about winning and only about winning. 

Altuve’s incredible team-first mentality - one not shared by Rafael Devers in Boston (he refused to move from 3B despite Bregman being a far superior defender and the biggest reason he’s not getting the deal he wanted in Boston) - and the team clearing 8.5M of Ryan Pressly’s contract should indicate the #Astros and Bregman will reunite, and soon. 

If Bregman doesn’t return to the Astros after all of this, then either the #Mets walked in with $200M or something really stupid happened. Everything is lining up for Bregman to return to Houston 

Bregman’s deal would represent a major shift in philosophy for Houston. As the biggest FA contract they’ve given out 

A strong/successful year could further that shift in philosophy- as it could lead to the extension of team ace Framber Valdez, who is the winningest pitcher in the league over the past 5 seasons. 

Adding Bregman back also likely means they fill Pressly’s spot from within (Forrest Whitley) and it will be Jake/Chas in CF/RF with perhaps Pedro Leon or Zach DeZenzo  getting a shot to show they can be the guy in RF which would hopefully push Chas to CF and Jake to the bench. 

Melton will get a shot to show in ST but he’s likely at best a mid season call up - he needs at lest half a season at AAA to hit before being called up permanently. He will likely be considered starting RF in 2026 unless he takes a step backwards this season. 

Right now timelines look like Melton 26 and Smith/Matthews 27 
Smith is going to be learning RF, Matthews is a different story. 
Matthews has been a SS primarily but has gotten experience at 2B and 3B. If Bregman returns 3B is blocked.  That would leave MI open where both Paredes and Jeremy Pena are FA after the 2027 season. 

If Paredes plays 2B decently and hits, and Matthews shows he can handle SS at MLB level, Pena could find himself on the block his last year of Arb before FA.