Skip to content

How the AL-winning Astros were built

Thomas B. Shea / USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros aren't simply a product of losing.

Sure, back-to-back-to-back 100-plus loss seasons were by design and allowed them to stock their cupboards with an enviable list of prospects, but general manager Jeff Luhnow and the rest of the front office have done a remarkable job at complimenting their homegrown core through trades and free agency.

Ahead of Game 1 of the World Series, here's a breakdown of how these American League pennant-winning Astros were built:

Method Players
Homegrown 7
Free Agent 6
Trade 9
Waivers 3

Homegrown

Jose Altuve (March 6, 2007): The Astros originally cut Altuve after a tryout in Venezuela because he was too short. His persistence, however, eventually resulted in a contract, with Altuve landing a $15,000 signing bonus. He'd make his way through the minors before eventually inking a four-year, $12.5-million extension in 2013, making the second basemen one of the biggest bargains in baseball.

Dallas Keuchel (June 9, 2009): Keuchel didn't hear his name called in the 2009 draft until the 221st pick. The left-hander was the Astros' seventh selection that year, and is the only member of his draft class to win the Cy Young award.

George Springer (June 6, 2011): Springer was selected in the 48th round by the Minnesota Twins in 2008, but did not sign with the team. The Astros landed him three years later with the 11th pick. Springer's class was loaded, with Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, Francisco Lindor, and Javier Baez all going ahead of him.

Carlos Correa (June 4, 2012): Correa was the top pick of the 2012 draft - a direct result of Houston's first 100-plus loss season. No player from that draft has gone on to produce more WAR than Correa.

Lance McCullers Jr. (June 4, 2012): One season of Clint Barmes turned into McCullers, as the right-hander was selected with the 41st pick as compensation for the veteran infielder signing in Pittsburgh. McCullers is one of only two pitchers from that draft class to be named an All-Star.

Derek Fisher (June 5, 2014): A benefit of being a low-revenue club, the Astros landed Fisher in the Competitive Balance Round with the 37th overall pick. The 24-year-old was Houston's fourth-best prospect entering this season.

Alex Bregman (June 8, 2015): After failing to sign 2014 No. 1 pick Brady Aiken, the Astros were awarded the No. 2 pick the following year and selected Bregman. The 23-year-old is one of only five players from that draft to have reached the MLB, and leads all of those players in WAR.

Free Agents

Luke Gregerson (Dec. 12, 2014): In need of bullpen help, the Astros inked Gregerson to a three-year, $18.5-million deal. The right-hander was a nice bullpen piece for the first two seasons, but struggled in 2017.

Yuli Gurriel (July 16, 2016): The Astros made a major roll of the dice when signing the 32-year-old Cuban free agent to a five-year, $47.5-million deal. Gurriel appears worth the risk, as he was excellent in his first full season in the majors, and would have likely garnered some Rookie of the Year consideration had it not been for Aaron Judge.

Charlie Morton (Nov. 16, 2016): Plenty snickered when the Astros signed Morton to a two-year, $14-million deal last winter. The right-hander was coming off a season in which he threw just 17 1/3 innings. Morton has been excellent in Houston, though, and even picked up the win in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Josh Reddick (Nov. 23, 2016): It was somewhat of a surprise when the Astros handed Reddick a four-year, $52-million deal. The move quickly paid off, however, as Reddick had an excellent first season in Houston, finishing 12th among AL outfielders in WAR.

Carlos Beltran (Dec 5, 2016): In search of a veteran presence in the clubhouse, Beltran was brought in to help the Astros' young players. His production at the plate hasn't lived up to his one-year, $16-million deal, though the DH has been lauded for his work with the team's younger members.

Juan Centeno (Dec. 15, 2016): Centeno agreed to a minor-league deal with Houston last winter and appeared in 22 games this season.

Trades

Marwin Gonzalez (Dec. 8, 2011): The Boston Red Sox selected Gonzalez in the Rule 5 draft and flipped him to the Astros for Marco Duarte. Gonzalez has gone on to play in 650 games for Houston, and led the club with 90 RBIs this season.

Joe Musgrove (July 20, 2012): The Astros made a move for the future by acquiring Musgrove along with Francisco Cordero, Ben Francisco, Carlos Perez, David Rollins, Kevin Comer, and Asher Wojciechowski from the Toronto Blue Jays for David Carpenter, J.A. Happ, and Brandon Lyon.

Chris Devenski (Aug. 3, 2012): Devenski was the player to be named later that the Astros received in a deal with the Chicago White Sox. Chicago originally traded Matt Heidenreich and Blair Walters to Houston for Brett Myers and cash.

Brad Peacock (Feb. 4, 2013): In a move geared toward the future, the Astros traded Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez to the Oakland Athletics for prospects Chris Carter, Peacock, and Max Stassi. Peacock broke out this season, winning a career-high 13 games.

Evan Gattis (Jan. 14, 2015): Coming out on the other side of a team in transition, the Astros landed Gattis and James Hoyt from the rebuilding Atlanta Braves for Andrew Thurman, Mike Foltynewicz, and Rio Ruiz. Over three seasons in Houston, Gattis has hit 71 home runs.

Ken Giles (Dec. 12, 2015): Luhnow pulled off a major blockbuster in order to land his coveted closer. Houston acquired Giles and Jonathan Arauz from the Philadelphia Phillies for 2013 No.1 pick Mark Appel, Harold Arauz, Thomas Eshelman, Brett Oberholtzer, and Vince Velasquez.

Brian McCann (Nov. 17, 2016): With the emergence of Gary Sanchez behind the plate in New York, the Yankees shipped McCann to Houston for pitching prospects Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman. McCann would plate the game-winning run of the ALCS, helping the Astros eliminate the Yankees, 11 months after he was traded.

Francisco Liriano (July 31, 2017): In need of additional left-handed help in the bullpen, the Astros landed Liriano from the Blue Jays for Nori Aoki and Teoscar Hernandez.

Justin Verlander (Aug. 31, 2017): The Astros acquired Verlander just seconds before the deadline, thus acquiring his services for this postseason run in a trade with the Detroit Tigers for Daz Cameron, Franklin Perez, Jake Rogers, and Juan Ramirez. The right-hander is 9-0 in nine appearances with Houston, and just won the ALCS MVP.

Waivers

Collin McHugh (Dec. 18, 2013): Following a brief stint in Colorado, McHugh was plucked off waivers after the Rockies designated him for assignment. The right-hander has since posted a 3.70 ERA in 102 starts for Houston.

Will Harris (Nov. 3, 2014): Luhnow landed one of his most dependable relievers over the last three years off waivers from the Diamondbacks. Harris was an All-Star in 2016 and owns a 2.30 ERA over 180 appearances in Houston.

Cameron Maybin (Aug. 31, 2017): Looking to inject some additional speed and outfield depth to the roster, Maybin was added from the Los Angeles Angels.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox