Aggressive Astros Have New Mindset

HOUSTON—After spending their first three years rebuilding the farm system, Astros owner Jim Crane and general manager Jeff Luhnow are now clearly willing to give up prime prospects for proven major leaguers in hopes of returning to the playoffs in 2016.

Less than five months after giving the Brewers their 2014 minor league pitcher and player of the year—outfielder Brett Phillips and lefty Josh Hader—the Astros unloaded 2013 first overall pick Mark Appel, Vince Velasquez, lefthander Brett Oberholtzer and minor league righthanders Harold Arauz and Thomas Eshelman to the Phillies for closer Ken Giles and 17-year-old shortstop Jonathan Arauz.

After reaching the postseason for the first time in a decade, Crane is clearly eager to make another run at it with proven big leaguers.

“Mark was one of our best prospects,” Crane said. “Certainly would have liked to have seen him make it up here. I think it was a good trade for everybody.”

Although they have definitely given more than they’ve received in prospects this winter, the Astros have added a couple of prospects in trades this winter. Righthander Brendan McCurry, who was acquired from the Athletics for shortstop Jed Lowrie, might help the big league bullpen this year.

Righthanded starter Cy Sneed, who arrived from the Brewers in exchange for Jonthan Villar, is likely to start the season at Double-A Corpus Christi. McCurry appears headed to Triple-A Fresno. Arauz, 17, will probably be assigned to a short-season club.

“Sneed has three major-league average pitches—fastball, curveball, split-finger,” Astros farm director Allen Rowin said. “He pitched in high A and low A and dominated both leagues.

“The other kid, McCurry, is interesting. He throws from two different angles, three-quarters or sidearm. He’s a fastball, curveball, changeup guy.”

SPACE SHOTS

• Righthander Kyle Smith, who had Tommy John surgery in April, was throwing bullpen sessions already at the Astros’ spring training facility.

• Rowin, who was promoted to his post in October, moved to Florida to work out of the Astros’ spring training home in Kissimmee. He’ll be the first Astros farm director in recent memory to be based at the team’s spring training facility.