HOUSTON — One day after they designated utility infielder Ramón Urías for assignment, the Astros traded veteran Gold Glove utility infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubón to the Braves in exchange for infielder Nick Allen on Wednesday night.

The moves give the Astros some payroll flexibility in their pursuit of pitching, which is their biggest need this winter. Urías and Dubón, both of whom were in their third year of arbitration, had one year of control remaining and were likely to get non-tendered by the Astros prior to Friday’s deadline. Allen has three years of team control remaining and is arbitration-eligible for the first time.

“We’re trying to get creative in getting some pitching, and in doing so, pitching is going to cost, which is why people think [the trade] is a financial move,” Astros general manager Dana Brown said. “[Owner] Jim Crane has always been dedicated and focused on spending money to make the team better.”

Allen, 27, slashed .221/.284/.251 with 11 doubles, 32 runs, 22 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 135 games with the Braves last season. He was a finalist for the National League Gold Glove Award at shortstop after ranking fourth in outs above average (17) in the NL. He’s also played second base and shortstop in the big leagues.

“I think it’s a potential upside play,” Brown said. “You’re getting a little bit younger in your utility role. It’s a former high pick, he’s the speed package, he’s a really good defender on the infield. In the outfield, I don’t think we were going to need Dubón to play as much outfield next year. I think we’re a little stacked on the infield, as people already know.”

Dubón, a versatile player who helped the Astros win the World Series in 2022, won his second utility Gold Glove in three seasons this year. He made 104 starts and played seven different positions in 2025 while posting a .644 OPS. He hit .256 with 24 homers and a .659 OPS over four seasons after coming to the Astros from the Giants on May 14, 2022.

“I thought Dubón had an outstanding career here,” Brown said. “This organization was an organization where he really flourished. I feel like this is an opportunity to get a little bit younger. And maybe Nick Allen comes here and you get the bat going a little bit more and get around this culture and potentially turn the corner.”

The Astros have a glut of infielders after trading for Carlos Correa on July 31 to play third base, where Isaac Paredes became an All-Star before missing two months with a right hamstring strain. The Astros also have an All-Star at shortstop in Jeremy Peña, so Paredes might move around the diamond more in 2026 if he’s not traded.

Brown said at last week’s General Managers Meetings that he hadn’t talked about trading veteran first baseman Christian Walker, who posted a .718 OPS with 27 homers and 88 RBIs in 154 games in his first season in Houston. Walker will be in the second year of a three-year, $60 million deal that he signed last December. Brown said Paredes will see some time at first base next season, too.

With 13 arbitration-eligible players remaining, the Astros could be looking to trim more payroll prior to Friday’s deadline to tender those players a contract for 2026. Among their trade candidates is center fielder Jake Meyers, who’s coming off his best offensive season.

Meyers, who made $2.3 million last season, is arbitration-eligible for the second time and has value because of his elite defense and the .727 OPS that he posted last season. The Astros could trade him and open next season with either Jacob Melton or Zach Cole as their starting center fielder, with Cam Smith and Jesús Sánchez as options to start in right. Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve will be the primary options in left field.