Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Altuve will spend most of spring training working exclusively at second base, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve was the Astros' Opening Day left fielder last season and wound up splitting his time pretty evenly between left field, second base and designated hitter. This season, however, he appears slated to return to his natural second base position on an everyday basis. Zach Cole looks like the favorite to see most of the reps in left field for Houston.

Altuve (foot) is healthy to start spring training and is expected to serve as the Astros' primary second baseman this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve dealt with a rocky transition to left field to start the 2025 campaign and finished the year with a nagging foot injury, resulting in a .265 batting average, the lowest of his career apart from the 2020 shortened season. Now healthy and back at second base, Altuve will look to rebound in 2026. Manager Joe Espada emphasized the 35-year-old Altuve's health earlier in the offseason, stating that he needs to "help Jose have the right amount of time to be off his feet." With Houston's current surplus of infielders, it seems likely that Altuve will at least play fewer than the 155 games he did in 2025.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Altuve (foot) has resumed workouts, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve underwent a minor procedure last month to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot, an injury he played through down the stretch of the regular season. The 35-year-old is not expected to have any limitations at the start of spring training.

Altuve underwent a procedure to remove fluid between the fourth and fifth toes on his right foot Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve played through the issue for the final few weeks of the regular season after suffering the injury Sept. 13 against Atlanta. McTaggart described the procedure as a minor skin aspiration, and the expectation is that the 35-year-old will be ready for the start of spring training.

Altuve said during the final weekend of the regular season that he played through a "pretty painful" right foot injury and would visit with doctors in the offseason before determining a treatment plan, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve injured his foot in mid-September and missed one game before gutting it out over the final two weeks of the regular season. It's unclear whether Altuve has met with doctors yet to have the foot examined. Altuve finished the 2025 season with a .265/.329/.442 batting line, 26 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 155 games. The 35-year-old split his time fairly evenly between second base, left field and designated hitter, and it's uncertain where the Astros will have Altuve slotted in in 2026.

Altuve is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

With Houston having been officially eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's action, Altuve and other key regulars will sit for the season finale. Brice Matthews will step in at second base in place of Altuve, who has hit .265 with 26 home runs, 10 stolen bases, 77 RBI and 80 runs over 155 games on the campaign.

Altuve went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored during the Astros' 11-5 win over the Athletics on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve was one of four Astros players to record two RBI or more in Thursday's series finale. He has tallied at least two hits in three of his last five games, going 7-for-17 (.412) with one steal and three RBI over that span.

Altuve went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, one RBI and one stolen base in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

This was Altuve's second multi-hit effort in a row but just his fourth such game in all of September. The 35-year-old is batting just .203 (13-for-64) over 18 games this month, adding three home runs and 10 RBI in that span. For the season, he's posted a .265/.327/.444 slash line with 26 homers, 75 RBI, 78 runs scored and 10 steals across 150 contests.

Altuve went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Wednesday in a 5-2 victory against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve's lone hit was a two-run homer off Jacob deGrom in the third inning that snapped a 2-2 tie. The veteran second baseman hasn't hit well in September -- he's at a .170 batting average through 15 games -- but he has gone deep three times and racked up nine RBI. With 26 homers on the campaign, Altuve has long surpassed the 20 home runs he swatted across 153 regular-season contests last year.

Altuve went 1-for-2 with two RBI on Tuesday against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Altuve started his second consecutive game since returning from a foot injury. He tallied a sacrifice fly in the first inning before delivering an RBI single three frames later. While this was a positive performance, Altuve has gone only 8-for-49 (.163) with seven RBI and five runs scored across 14 games in September.