The Houston Astros' 2025 campaign did not end the way the club envisioned. Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016 has the Astros at a major crossroads, and the path forward is still very much up in the air.
However, there's a belief that the bones of a contender are still present on the roster. Houston tried an intriguing and ultimately frustrating rebuild-on-the-fly strategy in 2025, and with the gains made, it is possible to squint and see that the window isn't completely shut.
That's exactly the position that Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) took when he ranked the Astros as the team that missed the playoffs in 2025 with the best chance to return to contention in 2026.