MLB Hot Stove: Houston Astros preview
By Jason Evans
The Astros surprised last season. Can they do it again?
The long Houston Astros rebuilding plan began to bear fruit during the 2015. It may have been earlier than even the Astros thought, but they made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. It was the first time since 2008 that the team won more than 80 games.
The Astros got off to a great start which helped propel them the rest of the way in order to make the playoffs. The Texas Rangers overtook them in September for the division, but the Astros managed to win the second Wild Card spot.
The team used some of their chips in their farm system to be buyers at the trade deadline for the first time in years. They got Scott Kazmir for the rotation. They added Oliver Perez in the bullpen. When the New York Mets deal for Carlos Gomez fell through, the Astros jumped in and got not only Gomez, but Mike Fiers as well.
They also used that farm system to add pieces on the major league club. None bigger than AL Rookie of the Year and former number one pick Carlos Correa. Correa in just 99 games hit 22 homers and drove in 68 runs. They called up Preston Tucker to help supplement the outfield.
On the mound, Lance McCullers Jr and Vincent Velasquez gave the club some power arms to help AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and Colin McHugh.
Can the Astros take that next step and win a playoff series in 2016, or will they take a step back? What they do in the off-season will go a long way into telling that story.
Next: Starting Rotation