Phillies Front Office Eyes Trade for Astros Shortstop Jeremy Peña

The Philadelphia Phillies front office is advised to make Jeremy Peña a priority target this winter.

Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies should remember Peña well. As a rookie in 2022, he hit .400 against them in the World Series. He led both teams with 10 hits and became the first rookie position player to win World Series MVP. He recorded a hit in all six games and homered in Game 5 to help end the Phillies' October run.

Peña offers skills the current Phillies lineup lacks. He hits fastballs, runs well, and bats right-handed. He has led off for Houston for the last two seasons. The Phillies have acknowledged that their long-term shortstop arrangement is no longer certain. There is no indication the Astros have made the 29-year-old available, but uncertainty surrounding his future makes him a logical first call.

Recent World Series winners relied on speed and contact. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay both played strong defense and forced opponents to complete plays. The Phillies struggled against fastballs last season. Their average in plate appearances ending with fastballs fell to .261, ranking 17th in the majors. Peña addresses this decline directly. Among 149 hitters with at least 500 such plate appearances over the last two seasons, none produced a higher batting average than Peña's .348. He also recorded a .953 OPS in those situations.

Peña's career metrics show consistent production without flashy underlying data. He did not lead the league in exit velocity, hard-hit rate, or walks. He followed an All-Star 2025 season, when he hit .304 with an .840 OPS, 17 home runs, and 20 stolen bases, by batting .277 with an .802 OPS and 22 homers in 112 games last year. Injuries limited him, but he matched his career home run high. His sprint speed ranked in the 93rd percentile. He stole 12 bases last season after stealing 20 in each of the previous two years.

Manager Don Mattingly wants the team to play faster. He specifically mentioned wanting Trea Turner and Bryson Stott to become more aggressive on the bases. Peña provides a traditional leadoff option. Houston moved him to the top of the lineup in 2025, where he posted an .873 OPS in 96 games. They returned him to that spot for nearly all of 2026. Acquiring him would force the Phillies to address their infield before Turner's defense becomes a daily discussion in spring training.

Dombrowski said Turner must show he can remain at shortstop. Turner finished with minus-10 Outs Above Average and tied for the major-league lead with 21 errors last season. Dombrowski stated, "If he plays shortstop like he did in ’25, he can play shortstop. But if he plays it like he did in ’26, he can’t." Peña is four years younger than Turner and remains one of baseball's fastest players. This gives him a stronger chance of staying at shortstop through his next contract.

Peña is entering his final year of arbitration after earning $9.475 million in 2026. Projections suggest he will earn approximately $13.1 million next season. He becomes a free agent after the 2027 World Series. Houston and Peña held extension talks during the 2025 season, discussing a five-year deal worth more than $105 million. Those negotiations stalled after Peña changed representation to Scott Boras. New Astros general manager Randy Flores inherited three options: try another extension, let him play out his final year, or trade him.

The Astros traded Kyle Tucker two winters ago to avoid losing him after his final year of control. They received Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith. Houston faces a similar decision with Peña. They have a crowded infield with Paredes, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Christian Walker. Trading Paredes could resolve congestion, but Peña would likely bring a stronger return. The Astros are trying to remain competitive while replenishing a farm system that has not produced at previous levels.

The Phillies should not include prospect Aidan Miller for one guaranteed season of Peña. He remains their best position-player prospect. Bryan Rincon would be the more logical centerpiece. The 22-year-old switch-hitter broke out at Double-A Reading by hitting .267 with a .410 on-base percentage, 26 home runs, and 30 stolen bases. He won the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies' top minor-league position player. Houston would likely seek major-league help as well. Brandon Marsh could address an outfield weakness. Orion Kerkering would provide inexpensive pitching depth. The Phillies would enter camp with several ways to arrange their infield if they acquire Peña.