The Atlanta Braves have bolstered their roster by trading for Houston Astros infielder Mauricio Dubon in exchange for Nick Allen. This news was initially reported by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Dubon, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, solidifies the Braves’ shortstop situation as they face the departure of Ha-Seong Kim to free agency. In 2023 and 2025, he was recognized with the AL Gold Glove for utility players, playing a pivotal role in the Astros’ 2022 World Series victory.
At 31 years old, Dubon contributed limited appearances at shortstop—in just 33 games during 2025—but ranked seventh in MLB for Outs Above Average at that position. He also led all shortstops with at least 50 attempts in success rate added, showcasing his defensive capabilities.
This trade strategically allows the Astros to manage payroll more effectively beneath the competitive balance tax threshold, having carried a payroll of $232.1 million in 2025, according to Spotrac. Dubon is on the verge of his final year of arbitration eligibility this offseason, projected to earn $5.8 million, while Allen, entering his first arbitration year, is expected to make around $1.5 million in 2026.
The Astros have Carlos Correa, a three-time All-Star, signed to a long-term contract with the Minnesota Twins, which has implications for Dubon’s role given Correa’s injury history. With only two seasons where he played more than 140 games out of nine non-pandemic seasons, Dubon has become a backup the Astros deemed too costly to retain.
Nick Allen, who is 27 years old, has struggled at the plate, posting a career batting line of .213/.265/.272 over 382 games with the Oakland Athletics and Braves.
Despite being considered a contact hitter rather than a power threat—evidenced by his 39 career home runs in 664 games—Dubon’s low strikeout rate of 11.7 percent since the beginning of the 2024 season highlights his ability to make consistent contact, ranking him among the top hitters in that metric.
This trade offers the Braves a promising addition while providing the Astros financial flexibility, setting the stage for intriguing developments in the upcoming season.