The Houston Astros made their big move this offseason when they signed Tatsuya Imai, but how much more they can actually afford to do now is debatable. The biggest factor is owner Jim Crane and whether or not he is willing to exceed the luxury tax again, but another consideration is the sheer number of players that the Astros have in arbitration in 2026.
The big names are going to get most of the attention. Isaac Paredes was predicted to be Houston's most expensive arbitration figure with Jeremy Peña hot on his heels. In terms of total impact on the Astros' payroll at the end of the day, those two, along with Hunter Brown and Jake Meyers, are going to be what moves the needle one way or the other.