I just looked up Pena..

He hit at a .197 clip, but still had a .330 OBP. If he goes up to .230, that'd be awesome for 2.9 mil.

Well, ESPN's projected lineup seems to think we'll be DH-ing Brett Wallace and not Carlos Pena even though the Astros signed him to be their full-time DH. If Pena can play first base then he can add more value to the team and "bang for the buck." As numone mentioned, Pena's defense would be a plus.

And considering Jonathan Singleton was suspended the first 50 games of 2013 for smoking marijuana it makes it less likely he will make the team out of this spring training. He should be our starting first baseman on opening day of 2014.

Lowrie, Norris, Wright agree; Astros avoid arbitration

HOUSTON (January 18, 2013) -- As the Astros prepare to hit the field in less than a month in new blue and orange uniforms, the club checked off one of the final items on its offseason to-do list Friday by reaching one-year contract agreements with shortstop Jed Lowrie and pitchers Bud Norris and Wesley Wright, avoiding arbitration.

Norris becomes the highest-paid player on the club, as it moves to the American League in 2013, by agreeing to a $3 million deal, which is nearly six times higher than his 2012 salary. Lowrie more than doubled his salary, agreeing to sign for $2.4 million. Terms of the Wright deal weren't known.

2013 opening day projected lineup

1. Jose Altuve – 2B
2. Jed Lowrie – SS
3. Brett Wallace – DH
4. Carlos Pena – 1B
5. Justin Maxwell – CF
6. Matt Dominguez – 3B
7. J.D. Martinez – LF
8. Fernando Martinez – RF
9. Jason Castro – C

Projected rotation and closer

1. Bud Norris
2. Lucas Harrell
3. Phillip Humber
4. Jordan Lyles
5. Dallas Keuchel or Alex White

Closer - Jose Veras - his job to win or lose in spring training

Overall, we should be a better team than last year but I'll be surprised if we can avoid another 100-loss season.

We need to buy more time for some of our exciting prospects to be called up over the next few years. 1st baseman Jonathan Singleton, shortstop Carlos Correa, third baseman Rio Ruiz, second baseman Delino DeShields Jr. (may have to trade with Altuve here long term), right fielder Domingo Santana, left fielder Ariel Ovando and center fielder George Springer. And also pitchers Jarred Cosart, Paul Clemens, Lance McCullers and Mike Foltynewicz.

We're so loaded at third base throughout the entire ogranization it's not even funny. I think Matt Dominguez is a fine young player but Rio Ruiz may be a future superstar. And I kept thinking DeShields Jr. would make a quick leap but there is no room for him at second or third base. He's the fastest player in the Astros organization so perhaps we may use DeShields Jr. as a pinch runner, utility infielder when he's called up.

The Astros have a ton of talent in the minors. Three of their minor league teams made the playoffs last year.

We also pick first overall in the 2013 MLB Draft on June 6

I can stomach another bad season in 2013 if we clinch the 1st overall pick for the third straight year in 2014. More talent, nothing wrong with that. But some time in the next two or three years, I want to see an exciting team making progress towards contention in that very tough AL West. If things go well we should be a good team by 2016.

When you consider Nate Schierholtz who was signed this offseason too got around the same amount....you'll guys come to appreciate Pena more.
/e: PS, if its not obvious enough, Im just jealous, I would have loved him to play for the Jays, ship out Lind and get some yummy Pena

This post was edited by Wine on Jan 19 2013 08:41am

Finally it's February. It all starts up this month for the 2013 Astros. Here are the key dates this month.

Monday: February 11
Pitchers and catchers report

Friday: February 15
Full squad reports

Saturday: February 23
Spring Training opener - Astros at Phillies - 1:05 PM Eastern

Ten more days until pitchers and catchers report. I'm glad to see hometown guy Philip Humber back in Houston. He's 30 years old already. It doesn't seem like that long ago when he was beasting for the Rice Owls. He's going to likely be our number three or four starter this season.

I'm hoping that top pitching prospect Jared Cossart can win a starting job in the rotation this spring. He has a bright future and I'd rather see him in the rotation to start the season instead of guys like Jordan Lyles, Dallas Keuchel or Alex White.

We also have two other intriguing pitching prospects, Mike Foltynewicz and Lance McCullers Jr. who may both turn some heads this spring.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Feb 1 2013 08:24am

One week away until pitchers and catchers report for the Astros. I think our starting rotation will be decent this season.

Aren't most of the AL West stadiums deemed pitcher parks? Oakland and Seattle anyways? We'll get spanked by the Angels and Rangers -- those top-heavy lineups. But I think Lucas Harrell is primed for another big year and Bud Norris is much better than people give him credit for.

56-106 in 2011
55-107 in 2012

I just don't see how we can do any worse in 2013. The American League adjustment will be a challenge but at least we'll be able to utilize the DH. I'm ready for our 1st overall pick for the second straight year in this June's draft.

But sigh, where are the Stephen Strasburgs and Bryce Harpers in these drafts? Don't get me wrong, I love the Carlos Correa pick last year but a lot of people still have doubts on him being a future superstar even though I'm fairly confident he will be. I'd like there to be a "can't miss" superstar being picked number one overall. The type of guy that nobody has any doubts about.

Never heard of this Brett Wallace guy and he's batting 3rd in the lineup?

He's been mostly a bust since being a highly-touted prospect. He did hit 9 homers last year in limited at-bats and 66 games played. Most of them came in the second half of the season. I'm hoping he can hit for more power with a full season but the problem is he doesn't seem to hit for high average.

I think he's mostly a stop gap at first base until Jonathan Singleton takes over full time in 2014. Singleton's chances to make the team this spring are unlikely, especially with his suspension for marijuana use. We may play Carlos Pena more at first base and Brett Wallace at DH or a pinch hitter if needed.

jed lowrie to the a's in a 5 player trade



wtf dont the a's have like 3 SS in the majors already?

don't really see why Houston made this deal.
Sure they have an up-and-coming SS, but Lowrie was under team control for a few more years and they get Carter/Peacock/catching prospect in return for Lowrie/Fernando Rodriguez. That better be a decent catching prospect, because it seems like the Stros are just trying to replenish their farm system with anyone they can get their hands on, at whatever expense.

This is alright for us long term. Carlos Correa is our shortstop of the future but he's only 18 years old right now and at least another year or two away. I expect him to make the fast leap to the pros just like an 18-year-old A-Rod did for Seattle back in 1994. He was closer to 19 at the time if I recall correctly. That was ages ago, back when Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball was the most popular game out there on Super Nintendo.

Jed Lowrie is a good hitter and offers some pop and decent defense but his health is always a question mark.

We can start Marwin Gonzalez at shortstop until Correa takes over down the road. Possibly even call up our top second base prospect Delino DeShields Jr. if he's able to make the position switch from second base to shortstop. There is no room for him at second with Jose Altuve being an all-star and long-term fixture for us.

The Astros have an exciting infield of the future with Jonathan Singleton at 1st, Jose Altuve at 2nd, Carlos Correa at shortstop and Matt Dominguez at third base. We've got another slugging prospect named Rio Ruiz who can play third base or DH at some point when he's called up.

Some really good young players the Astros have in their system. That is why three of their minor league teams made the playoffs last year. Hopefully some of the prospects we landed from Oakland can help refresh our system once a lot of the guys we have doing well in the minors are called up to the pros.