Trade Deadline For Houston Astros Fans

The Houston Astros will be moving to the American League West in 2013. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow won’t be taking a lot of old “furniture” (players) with him.

The Astros are 34-63, 22.5 games behind the central division leading Cincinnati Reds. Obviously, there are some consequences and sacrifices that have to be made with this kind of a roster turnover.

The Astros have won just two games in their last 23, and allowed 33 runs in their weekend series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a season-high for three-game set. The Astros are 10-41 on the road this season. It won’t be getting better soon, but it will be getting better.

For the Astros, there is no time like the present to unshackle themselves from the past, and look forward to the future. As hard as it may be for Astros fans to stay on board with the plan, the fact that the Astros and Luhnow have a plan is significant.

While the teams in contention get most of the press during the time leading up to the trade deadline, the Astros have plans of their own, and have been one of the most active teams in the major leagues during this trade season.

• On July 4th the Astros acquired INF Matt Dominguez and LHP Rob Rasmussen from Miami for 1B Carlos Lee.
• On July 20th the Astros acquired RHP Francisco Cordero, OF Ben Francisco, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Asher Wojciechowski, LHP David Rollins, C Carlos Perez and a player to be named for RHP Brandon Lyon, LHP J.A. Happ and RHP David Carpenter going to Toronto
• On July 21st the Astros  sent Brett Myers and cash to the the White Sox for minor league prospects right-hander Matt Heidenreich, left-hander Blair Walters and a player to be named later.

As anyone can see by this short list of transactions, the Astros are going young, very young. Teams that employ this strategy are often subject to growing pains. Coupled with moving to the American League, the Astros may find themselves in that position.

However, young players can often surprise. It doesn’t seem that long ago that everyone was talking about how bad the Pittsburgh Pirates were. The Pirates have had 19 consecutive losing seasons.

Luhnow obviously wants no part of that, nor does he think that will be the case.

“We’re not putting all of our eggs in one basket and hoping that one guy makes it. We think all these guys have a chance to make it.” — Luhnow, on acquiring 10 prospects in trades for veterans this month.

He is optimistic and Astros fans should be as well. Luhnow has a plan, and the Astros are following his plan.