Ryan Gaydos’s 2012 Houston Astros Preview
The Houston Astros are in a deep rebuilding process and after recording Major League Baseball’s worst record last year finishing with a 56-106 record. The Astros will have a chance to turn their future around with the first pick of the 2012 MLB Draft.
There was also some front office changes this offseason too.
The Astros were officially sold to local businessman Jim Crane. Crane is planning to move the team to the American League for the 2013 season, an agreement that brought upon a $70 million concession from commissioner Bud Selig.
With the move, some feared that the Houston Astros name would be changed but Crane reaffirmed that the only change that may come to the Astros is a change in uniforms.
When the offseason came, the Astros only made one big move and that was with their bullpen.
The team gave of on closer Mark Melancon. Melancon was traded to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Jed Lowrie and starting pitcher Kyle Weiland.
The Astros attempted to add to their rotation by signing Livan Hernandez to a minor league deal. Houston also signed catcher Chris Snyder to a one-year deal which would give Jason Castro more time to get back in action after under going foot surgery in December.
All in all, the Astros are still a young team and are not really expected to move out from the basement any time soon. I really do not see them doing that much better than last year.
If you’re lucky, Wandy Rodriguez and Bud Norris will get 10+ wins but other than that, nothing spectacular will come from this Astros team. Expect another last place finish for this team.
Prediction: Sixth NL Central
Breakout Player: J.D. Martinez, OF
Key Addition: Jed Lowrie, SS
Starters
CA: Chris Snyder
1B: Carlos Lee
2B: Jose Altuve
3B: Jimmy Paredes
SS: Jed Lowrie
OF: Jordan Schafer
OF: J.D. Martinez
OF: Brian Bogusevic
Pitching Rotation
SP: Wandy Rodriguez
SP: Bud Norris
SP: J.A. Happ
SP: Livan Hernandez
SP: Jordan Lyles
RP: Lucas Harrell
RP: Wesley Wright
RP: Henry Sosa
RP: David Carpenter
RP: Wilton Lopez
RP: Brandon Lyon
CP: Brett Myers
Bench
CA: Humberto Quintero
IF: Matt Downs
IF: Marwin Gonzalez
OF: Jack Cust
UTL: Jason Bourgeois
Follow Ryan Gaydos on Twitter @RyanGaydos
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