What should the Houston Astros do about their first base problem?

We’re pretty used to seeing the Houston Astros waltz all the way to the ALCS, but it looks like this year may be the first time since 2016 that they won’t make it. Their offense is pretty weak across the board, and their pitching has been struggling and injured, leading to their current record of 25-33. The glaring hole, however, is at first base. A position they invested heavily in, the Astros got virtually nothing out of it.

Ahead of 2023, Houston signed Jose Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million deal. He was coming off a season with an OPS above .800, and even though his power was down, Abreu hadn’t shown many signs of slowing down. He had been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball since his rookie season, and after losing Yuli Gurriel, Abreu looked like an upgrade.

Instead, he had the worst season of his career, with career lows in batting average (.237), OPS (.680) and OPS+ (87).

In his age-37 season in 2024, things have only gotten worse. Over his first 22 games, Abreu had 77 plate appearances with just one extra-base hit, a double, with a .099 batting average and a .269 OPS. This resulted in him being picked for rookie ball to have a chance to succeed. He played five games with Myrtle Beach before being sent to Triple-A Sugarland.

In his seven games, things seemed to improve, as he hit a home run and two doubles. Since returning to Houston, he is 2 for 10. His OPS+ for the entire season sits at -16, which makes him basically unplayable. With their struggles, it’s hard to justify his addition to the lineup at this point.

In his absence, journeyman Jon Singleton took over first base duties. He returned to the Astros for the first time since 2015 last season, and he’s now getting the majority of playing time, even with Abreu’s return. Singleton has been serviceable and better than Abreu, but a .365 slugging percentage and .680 OPS from first base won’t be enough.

So what can the Astros do? They’re in a tough spot, because even though they’re in third place and just two and a half games behind the second-place Texas Rangers, Houston is eight games under .500. If players like MVP candidate Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez can keep them afloat, the Astros will have to decide whether they want to be buyers or sellers at the deadline.

If they decide to become buyers, there is one obvious name: Pete Alonso. Alonso’s name has been thrown around in trade rumors since last year and with the New York Mets in a downward spiral, it doesn’t appear Alonso will be long for Queens.

The first baseman is in the midst of a rough year by his standards, with an OPS below .800, but he remains a valuable player who hits at least 30 home runs a year and would add a ton of power to the first base position . in Houston.

However, he is a free agent after the season, so he would just be a rental for a potential playoff push. It might not make much sense for Houston to do this, unless they really think Alonso would put them over the top, or they think they can extend him.

If Alonso is indeed made available, Houston could be in the mix. His market will tell if they have the firepower to get him.

There is a less expensive option, however, and that comes in the form of an inside prospect in Joey Loperfido. During his time in the minors, Loperfido has bounced around the diamond defensively, but he has plenty of experience starting out.

In 28 games at Triple-A this season, Loperfido is tied for first in home runs among all PCL hitters with 13 and has an OPS of 1.020. His play earned him promotion to the big leagues where he impressed in his 14 matches. He slashed .333/.381/.436 with a home run and five RBIs. He struggled a bit with strikeouts, however, with 17 against just three walks.

Loperfido provides an immediate option for the Astros and wouldn’t cost prospects as much as Alonso would. He can also play multiple positions, including all outfield positions. In his limited time, he has shown he can play in the big leagues, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets a call-up soon.

The Astros need to step up a gear before they fall, and that starts with good offense, especially at first base.