When will Jason Castro be able to show what he can really do in the major leagues? Who will be the Astros regular shortstop in 2012? Among many other questions those are two signficant queries in the minds of fans.
Castro has a broken bone in his foot that has been surgically repaired. Similar to the injury that started Jeff Keppinger's season late in 2011 Castro hopes to be cleared to play before spring training is over. In the meantime the club has re-signed Humberto Quintero. The latter was a good move. "Q" proved his worth in 2011. Whether he starts four games a week or fewer once Castro can play, Quintero works well with pitchers and is not an automatic out at the plate.
Castro has the biggest upside if he ever gets a chance to prove it. Playing in the Arizona Instructional League--where he suffered his foot injury-- he had a good mini-season at the plate by hitting in the .280s with a .400+ on base percentage.
As for shortstop put your money on Angel Sanchez taking the starting job into spring training unless the Astros so something their current "plan" does not call for--signing a moderately priced free agent. Obviously some payroll flexibility would arise if the club can deal all/any of the "Big Dollar Three"-- Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers or Carlos Lee.
Of that trio Lee would be the toughest to deal due to his contract and ability to decline any deals. Myers might be the most desireable for the Astros to trade for reasons not only financial, but Rodriguez would be the most desireable by others to acquire.
All three of those players are fully capable of helping the Astros win games now and would leave some shoes to fill. Yet, if GM Jeff Luhnow can engineer moves to clear salary and acquire potential major league players in return those empty shoes would be worth it. Fans have to remember the Astros want to be better than in 2011, but they don't want to mortgage long term success just to win ten or 15 more games.
The process of building a long term successful club simply takes time. It takes numbers. It takes many minor league prospects fighting for playing time. It takes competition on both the major league and minor league level to find the players who can handle the job and succeed in the major leagues.
There is a decent chance that a number of players will come and go in the next few years. At some point--if the depth in the system is strong enough--real major league players, some of them potential stars-- will surface.
Sticking with "the plan" is the key. Not being bothered by what the Cubs or Cards or Brewers are doing (or starting in 2013 the Rangers, Angels or Mariners) but sticking with the building process is the key.
No one knows how long it will take for the Astros to be a contender again. No one knows how soon or which crop of young players will be the one to do it. Astros management and fans just have to have faith in "the plan."
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i heard Lee has a limited no clause and his 10-5 rights are replaced by it with his contract
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