Lee's on first so Wallace a part of who's on third

As Carlos Lee has the first base position almost locked down, the Astros have tried to salvage the career of one-time top prospect Brett Wallace with a move back to his original position of third base.

Wallace has been taking ground balls at the hot corner for roughly a month and will continue to get time in spring training.

The Californian came to Minute Maid Park early to work with first base coach Bobby Meacham, and Chris Johnson, who started for much of 2011 before losing his spot to Jimmy Paredes.

Johnson and Paredes will be candidates for the starting job as well this spring.

The Cardinals and specifically Jeff Luhnow, then head of Cardinals scouting and now Astros general manager, drafted Wallace as a third baseman. He moved to first upon being traded for a second time, to the Toronto Blue Jays, and has played only first base for the Astros.

"(They were) saying having options and being able to do multiple things to help the team makes you more valuable to us and for your career," Wallace said. "They approached me about it to see how I felt and if I'd be willing to try it, and I told them I'd be willing to do anything that really would help the team and be beneficial for me and the team."

Wallace was unlikely to see much time at first base, barring injury to Lee or in the outfield, which could create a domino effect.

The success of J.D. Martinez in his rookie season makes Luhnow and Brad Mills comfortable making him the presumed starter in left and Lee at first base, where he is a better defender than in left.

"I just want to be able to help the team any way I can," Wallace said. "If that's playing multiple positions, playing back and forth being able to back up multiple positions, I just want to keep my options open."

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