The New York Yankees are not playing like World Series contenders, and that has turned their third-base search into one of the early questions of the 2026 MLB season. Isaac Paredes, long viewed as a trade candidate in Houston, is suddenly the kind of bat that could draw more attention as the deadline approaches.
Ryan McMahon has struggled to hit the ball for the Yankees, and that has left them looking for help at a spot where production has been thin. Paredes, meanwhile, has two home runs and RBIs this year while slashing.221/.329/.368 in 68 at-bats, a step down from the four previous seasons in which he averaged 22.5 home runs and 69 RBIs while hitting.239/.341/.442 and drawing 228 walks.
The trade market does not truly open until Monday, Aug. 3, but the speculation has already started because the Yankees have not consistently looked like a club built for October. Houston’s side of the equation matters too. The Astros opened the season 9-15, worst in the American League West, and a slow start can make every roster decision feel more urgent when the standings tighten this early.
Paredes has been in the rumor mill since the offseason, when a logjam in the Astros’ infield left him as a possible trade piece. Over the weekend, Houston sent right-handed pitcher Wilmy Sanchez to the Yankees, another reminder that the two clubs have already begun dealing with each other as the season takes shape.
If the Yankees keep searching for offense at third base and the Astros keep hovering near the bottom of the division, Paredes will remain one of the names to watch. His track record says he can help. His current numbers say Houston may not be able to ignore the phone for long.
