One of the most fascinating things to watch this offseason with respect to the Astros is how they manage their ballooning payroll. It’s going to be tight even if they stay away from the free agent market entirely. Of course, doing so may not be possible.
They have plenty of holes to fill, most notably behind the plate and on the mound. They are already projected to be over the luxury tax threshold of $208 million, though there is room for some cuts. Still, it’s going to be a difficult balancing act for Jeff Luhnow.