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4 creative ways the Astros can plug second base with Mauricio Dubón moving on

There was never any shot that the Houston Astros carried both Mauricio Dubón and Ramon Urias on the 2026 roster. The pair overlapped a great deal, and their combined salary would've made the budget to attack other needs tight.

However, Jose Altuve will likely spend a decent amount of time in left field, meaning a "part-time" starter at second is needed. Nick Allen, the player the Astros acquired for Dubón, replaces the defensive prowess Houston lost in the deal, but his career 53 wRC+ shows his bat isn't up to snuff for regular playing time.