José Altuve is embracing any role with the Houston Astros in pursuit of one goal: winning a championship. The former American League MVP was thrown into left field for a handful of games in 2025 to help the team out.
What happened?
The Astros brought in reinforcements for the 2026 season, but one consistent remains: José Altuve is still an impactful player for the franchise.
Why it matters for José Altuve
Astros manager Joe Espada said Altuve will be primarily positioned at second base this season, but he may still get starts in left field. Altuve just wants to win it all one more time.
What comes next?
Altuve is nearing the end of his career, going into his 16th season in the MLB, and these years mean more to him as a player and as a leader. He doesn't become a free agent until 2030, so the Astros are banking on him to withstand the rest of his contract.
The Astros got their spring training exhibition games underway, dropping the opener to the Washington Nationals 2-1 on a recent date. Houston hosts the St. Louis Cardinals in its spring training home opener, as the franchise looks to get its first win of 2026 under its belt.
José Altuve wants to win and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team. He told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that everybody is working hard to stay on the field and to stay healthy, and that's the team's number one goal.
If the whole team stays healthy, Altuve thinks they have a good chance of making it to the playoffs again. He said he doesn't care where he plays as long as he has an impact on the outcome for his team.
Altuve told Joe Espada that whatever they need him to do, he wants to win and get that championship. The Astros are counting on him to lead the team to victory in 2026.
Dominic Minchella, a 2024 Eastern Michigan University graduate, covers Major League Baseball for On SI and reported on Altuve's comments. Minchella said the Astros have a great team and need to be productive in both defense and offense to succeed.
The Astros dropped the opener to the Nationals, but they are looking to bounce back in their spring training home opener against the Cardinals. José Altuve will be a key player in the team's pursuit of a championship in 2026.