If you haven't gotten the memo by now, the Houston Astros will be mostly innocent bystanders this winter. The self-imposed mandate not to exceed the $244 million luxury tax line, combined with the reality of where they stand, having an already bloated payroll, will make it difficult to get anything of substance done.
You'll hear rumors of Zac Gallen and his ilk being perfect fits for the Astros, but it's hard to see how it can work financially. Instead, the moves that will be made won't be of the exciting variety. Think depth options and a new backup catcher rather than a star left-handed slugger or a front-line starter.