After rallying from a poor start, the Houston Astros secured another AL West title and appeared in the postseason for the eighth year in a row. Many people thought this battle-tested Astros squad would go on another run in the postseason. However, they would be swept in the Wild Card round at home by the surging underdog Detroit Tigers. Given how the season went, an aging core, players soon to be free agents, and a dry farm system; this could be the end of the Houston Astros’ run.
An Early Postseason Exit
This season, the Houston Astros got off to an uncharacteristically rough start. However, Houston got hot in June and never looked back. They were able to secure their fourth AL West title in a row along with the third postseason seed. Upon reaching the postseason, many thought that the Astros were old hands in October and another run was imminent. However, Houston would be swept at home in the Wild Card round by the underdog Detroit Tigers. The Astros hadn’t been eliminated in an early postseason round since 2015. It would also be the first time since 2016 that Houston wouldn’t be playing in the ALCS ending a six-season streak.
Jim Crane And Jeff Bagwell Are Ruining The Team
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Dana Brown may be the general manager, the team is run by their mercurial owner Jim Crane. He and aide Jeff Bagwell have the final say on the roster and Brown faces the media when a move fails. Crane and Bagwell were responsible for signing free agent busts Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero. Owners who think they know it all destroy teams. Given how Crane is becoming baseball’s Jerry Jones, it wouldn’t be a shock if he and Bagwell prevented Houston from having more success by making more careless moves.
An Aging Roster
Embed from Getty ImagesEntering the 2024 season, the Houston Astros had the fifth-oldest roster in baseball. The only teams older than them are the Braves, Dodgers, Mets, and Padres. Attrition is going to catch up to this team. Jose Altuve isn’t getting any younger, Josh Hader appears to be exiting his prime, Framber Valdez will be 31 next season and has had consistency issues, Lance McCullers is now 31 and hasn’t pitched in two years due to injuries, and who knows if Ronel Blanco was only a one-year wonder. The First base position has also been a revolving door for years.
Key Departing Free Agents
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter this season, key players like Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Ryan Pressly, Yusei Kikuchi, Kendall Graveman, and Hector Neris are all going to be free agents. Houston probably won’t be able to re-sign them all. Bregman’s situation is particularly precarious given that his agent is Scott Boras. There are only so many key free-agent losses a team can withstand before the effects are felt. While the team has seen key players, losing Bregman is going to be way different. Besides Jose Altuve, he is one of the last original players still on the team who was used to build Houston’s successful nucleus. If Bregman leaves, the Astros will feel the effects of his absence much more than they realize.
Talent Development Struggles
Embed from Getty ImagesDue to the team still trying to keep their successful run going, Houston’s farm system has been emptied. It currently ranks 30th in all of baseball with no prospects ranked in the top 100. For a team to keep its winning window open, it always must have young cheap talent coming up. Star players eventually lose their skills, and free agency isn’t always the answer. The lack of talent coming up in the Houston Astros farm system will eventually hurt them badly.
Besides their farm system being the worst in baseball, the Astros’ young talent has been struggling as well. Jeremy Pena is becoming only an average player, Spencer Arrighetti had a rough rookie year, Jake Meyers is becoming a lost cause, Chas McCormick hasn’t been able to become a lineup regular, and Cristian Javier has only had one good season, and Luis Garcia and Jose Urquidy have both seen their ERA’s go up every season. It should be noted that Javier, Garcia, and Urquidy all missed the entire season due to injuries. The Astros used to be a model organization when it came to talent development, but now Houston seems to have lost the edge they once had.
No Team Stays On Top Forever
Embed from Getty ImagesUnlike what Astros fans may think, no team stays on top forever. Every team’s success eventually ends, and lean seasons are inevitable. General attrition, free agent losses, poor trades, and promising young players who don’t pan out always happen. While the Astros were able to keep their postseason streak alive this season, it’ll be much harder to keep their run going next year. Given their meddling owner, weak farm system, struggles in player development, and an aging core; the end of the Astros’ successful run is near.
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