HOUSTON ASTROS 2012
For 2011 Opening Day roster, click HERE. For End-of-Season roster, click HERE.
*Players on the 40-man roster: BOLD.
*Players who are injured: +
*Players who are Out of Options: ##
*Baseball America '12 pre-season prospect rankings: BLUE #
*Baseball Prospectus '12 pre-season prospect rankings: GREEN #
'MLBDepthCharts Magazine' includes this roster projection feature but includes additional info, such as player age, 2011 level and stats, 2012 salary and contract info in an easy-to-read, printer-friendly pdf file and excel spreadsheet.
*40-man roster total (38)
*Projected 2012 Payroll: est. $60,000,000, according to MLBDC Magazine
Minor League Free Agents Position Players C J.R. Towles(12/15: signed w/MIN)
1B Koby Clemens (2/9: signed w/TOR)
IF Anderson Hernandez**(12/21: signed w/PIT)
IF Oswaldo Navarro
IF Wladimir Sutil (12/2: signed w/ARI) OF Luis Durango** (11/22: signed w/ATL)
OF Andrew Locke
Pitchers
RHP Samuel Gervacio LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith(2/2: signed w/CHC)
LHP Andy Van Hekken (12/9: signed w/Nexen-Korea)
The Astros are a very young team and only have two potential free agents (Clint Barmes, Jason Michaels) at the end of the season. Considering that shortstop might be the most obvious need for this team, Barmes (.243 BA, 9 HR, 23 2B, 36 BB in 104 G) is a candidate to return. The young players in the lineup have shown enough here in the 2nd half to give the 'stros some hope for the future. Whether the lone veteran, Carlos Lee, will play 1B or LF could come down to a Spring Training battle between first baseman Brett Wallace and outfielder Brian Bogusevic, who has been impressive with regular playing time over the past month. There are currently five players, all 24 years old or younger, projected to be in the 2012 Opening Day Lineup that weren't on the active roster at the start of the season.
Wandy Rodriguez: Still in Houston next year?
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.
Trade rumors were swirling around staff ace Wandy Rodriguez(pictured) at the trade deadline and he was later claimed by the Rockies in August but a post-deadline deal could not be worked out. That might not be the end of it, though. The Astros can try and get multiple teams bidding on the left-hander to try and boost the return or they can just go into 2012 knowing they have a reliable veteran at the top of their rotation. After Rodriguez, the rotation appears set but Lucas Harrell and Henry Sosacould enter the picture if the team does end up trading Rodriguez or another starter. RHP Jarred Cosart will probably go into 2012 as the team's top pitching prospect, although he's probably at least another half-season away from reaching the big leagues.
One of the biggest question marks of the offseason could be the back of the bullpen. The return of Brandon Lyon is uncertain after he underwent surgery to repair a detached biceps and torn labrum back in June. Mark Melancon has done a decent job as the closer but the Astros could probably use another veteran or two to throw in the mix. I believe they have enough options to put together a solid middle of the bullpen but they are far from a bullpen that is going to strike fear into opponents.
•UPDATE 12/14 - They had to give up their closer, Melancon, but they acquired switch-hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie from the Red Sox, along with starting pitcher Kyle Weiland. Fernando Rodriguez, Wilton Lopez, and Juan Abreu could all get a shot to close out games.
trade both rodriguez and myers.. starting rotation look like this: norris, j.a. happ, lyles, sosa, and oberholtzer get jose reyes in free agency.. lineup look like this: reyes ss altuve 2nd martinez lf lee 1st bogosevic rf paredes 3rd jb shuck cf castro c
bench: chris johnson humberto matt downs angel sanchez jason bioguios brett wallace
bullpin: cl- juan abreu- straight gas su- melancon- su- lyons mid- carpenter mid- arias mid- abad lr- farrell
I find it hard to believe Downs making the team over Sanchez. Downs is not a competent backup SS. If Downs makes the club then I see Johnson starting at 3rd and Paredas in AAA.
I hear you. They do need a capable backup at SS. Especially since Lowrie isn't considered a good defensive SS. However, it's hard to leave Downs off the roster after the season he had in 2011. I love Bourgeois' speed off the bench. I think they'll give Johnson a shot to see if he can bounce back, but if Paredes beats him out at 3B, he may be the odd man out. For now, I think they have some coverage with Downs and Paredes capable of playing SS. But it will be very important to have a SS ready to play everyday if Lowrie gets hurt, which has been often.
I think Jordan Schafer get a legitimate shot to leadoff and play CF. He was one of the main players acquired for Michael Bourn and he was a big-time prospect a few years back. They need to find out what they have. Bourgeois could be in the mix, though.
Don't know if they think highly enough of Sanchez to give him a spot just because he's out of options. They do need a backup SS, though. so I think I'll add him over Chris Johnson. Matt Downs had a very good year so I think he'll be in.
Did you not include Jonathan Singleton as a "player on the outside looking in" because he is too low in the minors to consider? It seems that you have included some 2011 high A players at times (Colome of the Rays, for example), and Singleton is probably at least as highly regarded as a 1B prospect as Colome is a pitcher.
Robert, I've included all 40-man players and any players who have either been invited to Spring Training or I think may get an invite to Spring Training. It should be pretty solid in the next week or two. Some teams do invite their top prospects, regardless of how far away from the big leagues so Singleton is an option to end up on the list despite him being at least another year away from the big leagues.
If there's any team that should be trying to keep two Rule V picks, it's the Astros. Not sure an NL team can get by with a 4-man bench for too long, though.
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15 comments:
Other - Trade Rodriguez or Myers. continue to drop payroll and gather prospects
trade both rodriguez and myers.. starting rotation look like this: norris, j.a. happ, lyles, sosa, and oberholtzer
get jose reyes in free agency..
lineup look like this:
reyes ss
altuve 2nd
martinez lf
lee 1st
bogosevic rf
paredes 3rd
jb shuck cf
castro c
bench:
chris johnson
humberto
matt downs
angel sanchez
jason bioguios
brett wallace
bullpin:
cl- juan abreu- straight gas
su- melancon-
su- lyons
mid- carpenter
mid- arias
mid- abad
lr- farrell
I find it hard to believe Downs making the team over Sanchez. Downs is not a competent backup SS. If Downs makes the club then I see Johnson starting at 3rd and Paredas in AAA.
I hear you. They do need a capable backup at SS. Especially since Lowrie isn't considered a good defensive SS. However, it's hard to leave Downs off the roster after the season he had in 2011. I love Bourgeois' speed off the bench. I think they'll give Johnson a shot to see if he can bounce back, but if Paredes beats him out at 3B, he may be the odd man out. For now, I think they have some coverage with Downs and Paredes capable of playing SS. But it will be very important to have a SS ready to play everyday if Lowrie gets hurt, which has been often.
This rotation is not bad at all, the rest of the team is well in rebuilding mode. Hope Jose Altuve has a big season.
Why not Bourgeois leading off? He looks to be their best hitter besides Carlos Lee.
I think Jordan Schafer get a legitimate shot to leadoff and play CF. He was one of the main players acquired for Michael Bourn and he was a big-time prospect a few years back. They need to find out what they have. Bourgeois could be in the mix, though.
Sanchez is out of options, have to believe he is a frontrunner for a bench spot.
Don't know if they think highly enough of Sanchez to give him a spot just because he's out of options. They do need a backup SS, though. so I think I'll add him over Chris Johnson. Matt Downs had a very good year so I think he'll be in.
Did you not include Jonathan Singleton as a "player on the outside looking in" because he is too low in the minors to consider? It seems that you have included some 2011 high A players at times (Colome of the Rays, for example), and Singleton is probably at least as highly regarded as a 1B prospect as Colome is a pitcher.
Robert, I've included all 40-man players and any players who have either been invited to Spring Training or I think may get an invite to Spring Training. It should be pretty solid in the next week or two. Some teams do invite their top prospects, regardless of how far away from the big leagues so Singleton is an option to end up on the list despite him being at least another year away from the big leagues.
They just named Brett Myers their closer. Idk why but they did
Creates one extra spot for a lot of starting candidates (Weiland, Sosa, Lyles, Duke, Harrell). Not a bad idea in a re-building year.
I think they should keep Cruz and cut Cust. A 4 man bench wouldn't be so bad, would it?
If there's any team that should be trying to keep two Rule V picks, it's the Astros. Not sure an NL team can get by with a 4-man bench for too long, though.
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