The Houston Astros finished the 2011 season with the worst record in Major League Baseball at 56-106. 2012 may be worse. Houston is clearly in rebuilding mode as shown by the team’s trades of outfielders Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence prior to last season’s trade deadline. I expect the rebuilding to continue in 2012 as the four highest paid players on the team, Carlos Lee ($18.5 million), Brett Myers ($11 million), Wandy Rodriguez ($10 million), and to a lesser extent, Brandon Lyon ($5.5 million) all seem to be trade candidates (*). The only remaining players on the roster making at least $1 million this season are J.A. Happ, Jed Lowrie and Humberto Quintero. Luckily for the organization it does not have long-term commitments holding it back. Continue reading →