The Houston Astros missed the postseason entirely this season, a shocking absence especially after the blockbuster move to reacquire Carlos Correa at the trade deadline. Correa’s return to the Astros saw him man third base. With Jeremy Pena as the everyday shortstop and Jose Altuve playing more second base again toward the end of the year, the Astros boasted a star-studded infield.
Altuve, Pena, and Correa are all everyday players, which meant there were limited opportunities off the bench for depth pieces. One such piece was veteran shortstop Zack Short. Short was designated for assignment after the Astros acquired Correa and was subsequently sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land. However, on October 2, he elected free agency.
Short likely saw limited chances to carve out a meaningful role on the Astros’ big league roster with Correa back in the mix. With five seasons of major league experience under his belt, Short has also played for the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves.
A versatile infielder, Short can play shortstop, second base, and third base. He has even logged limited innings in the outfield. Given his versatility, he should be able to find a role with another organization where he may contribute at the major league level.
This past season, Short appeared in 56 games for the Astros. He slashed .220/.291/.380 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Now, he will test his chances in free agency and look for a new opportunity to continue his big league career.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/astros-lose-veteran-infielder-to-free-agency-after-just-1-season-10850152
