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In another sign that the Houston Astros are trying to lessen their infield surplus, the team had serious discussions about a three-way trade in which they would have sent Isaac Paredes to Boston and acquired utilityman Brendan Donovan.
Donovan ultimately went from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Astros’ American League West rivals, the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox, too, were shut out. Not only did they fail to land Paredes in the three-team deal, but a parallel attempt to acquire Donovan also sputtered, people familiar with the conversations said.
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Boston remains in need of an infielder, and the Astros are still shopping both Paredes and first baseman Christian Walker before Wednesday’s first day of spring training workouts. Multiple league sources have indicated Paredes is more likely to be dealt than Walker, whose cumbersome contract and limited no-trade clause make it more difficult to move him.
Boston remains one of at least five teams engaged with the Astros about Paredes, according to multiple league sources. Another is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who need an upgrade at third base and tried unsuccessfully to sign free agent Eugenio Suárez before his agreement with the Cincinnati Reds.
Based on the needs of both teams, Boston remains Houston’s most straightforward trade partner. The Red Sox have a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders, any of whom would help to strengthen Houston’s most unsettled position group.
Team sources indicated the Astros prefer cost-controlled right fielder Wilyer Abreu, their former farmhand, over Jarren Duran, who will make $7.7 million next season. The Red Sox have not shown a willingness to move Abreu, but either he or Duran would be an obvious upgrade to a Houston roster without an obvious left fielder and a right fielder, Cam Smith, who does not have a guaranteed roster spot entering spring training.
It is unclear what other players were in the proposed three-way trade, which could’ve solved glaring issues for both Boston and Houston. The deal that brought Donovan to Seattle sent two Mariners first-round picks — pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfielder Tai Peete — to St. Louis. The Cardinals also received two draft picks: one from Tampa and another from Seattle.
Tampa also acquired utilityman Ben Williamson from the Mariners in the three-team deal.
The Red Sox are still in search of a right-handed hitting infielder in the wake of third baseman Alex Bregman’s departure to the Chicago Cubs. For that reason, Paredes seemed a more logical fit than Donovan, but the Red Sox liked both players.
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The Astros’ interest in Donovan stretches back to last August’s trade deadline. Donovan, a left-handed hitter, would have brought balance to a Houston lineup in desperate need of it. It stands to reason the Astros would’ve played him primarily in left field, where he’s made 139 major-league starts, and used him to occasionally spell Jose Altuve at second base.
Instead, Donovan will sit atop a Seattle order intent on winning its second consecutive AL West title over an Astros team that coveted him.