It has been six long years of losing. which included three straight 100-plus loss seasons, but it looks like the tide may finally turn in the favor of the Houston Astros. Such prospects as Colin Marin, along with recently acquired slugger Evan Gattis, give the Astros belief that they are ready to step out into contender status.
Harvest on the Farm
Houston has long boasted one of the best farm systems in the game and it is looking like they will harvest a bumper crop of players ready to step into meaningful roles for the 2015 season. The horror of those losing seasons meant high draft picks for the Astros and they have taken advantage of those top prospects both in development and in trades for more experienced players. Houston has now gotten into position where they can plan for the present instead of the future.
Gattis arrived from Atlanta along with minor league pitcher James Hoyt for Astros prospects Rio Ruiz, Mike Foltynewicz, and Andrew Thurman. Gattis is expected to be a 30 home run man playing at Minute Maid Park.
Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow explained his formula. “It’s always a challenge to give up on talent, but in any good deal, in order to get a good player, you’re going to have to give up a good player. In this particular case, in order to get an established Major League power hitter, we had to give up three players that we really liked. Our focus over the past three or four years has been to build a farm system and to get to the point where we could do a move like this.”
More Pieces
In addition to the acquisition of Gattis, the Astros added relief pitchers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshak along with shortstop Jed Lowrie. Houston also acquired catching prospect Hank Conger from the Los Angeles Angels.
“I said from the beginning of this offseason, our focus was on 2015,” said Luhnow. “We’re looking to improve this team and build on the progress we had last year and take this team to the point we’re a winning team and competing for division titles, and we’re getting closer with every move we make.”
More to Do
Houston still needs to move a catcher or two from their current surplus and have extra outfielders that could be moved in deals as well.
For the first time in a decade the Astros are talking playoffs and have generated some interest in a market that has given up on them. While a post season berth may not be this year the future indeed looks promising.
