As has been customary in recent years, Houston Astros owner Jim Crane isn't looking to exceed the luxury tax threshold, which comes in at $244 million for the upcoming season. Entering the offseason, that didn't leave the club with much wiggle room, and now that the non-tender deadline has passed, the opportunity to shed salary the easy way has gone by the wayside.
Shipping Mauricio Dubón off to the Atlanta Braves and cutting ties with fellow utility man Ramon Urias opened up a little flexibility, but the club didn't make any more non-tender waves, surprisingly hanging onto disappointing trade deadline acquisition Jesús Sanchez (projected arbitration salary of $6.