Crane open to upping team-record payroll
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Astros’ projected opening-day payroll of more than $120 million will mark only the second time the franchise has exceeded even $100 million. Since bottoming out with their laughable $24 million payroll in 2013, the Astros under Jim Crane’s ownership group have gradually increased spending each of the last four years.
“We can continue to improve on that as we increase the production on the team. It kind of goes hand in hand,” Crane said in an interview with the Chronicle on Wednesday.
“When we bought the team, it was in pretty bad shape. We were at the bottom, and the farm system (was) at the bottom. I think right now the team’s ranked pretty high, the expectations are high, and the farm system’s really solid. So you add that to some of the facilities and all that, we’ve made a lot of improvements over the years.
“But we want to win. We haven’t won anything yet, so we’re still working hard.”
Since last July, the Astros have acquired infielder Yuli Gurriel ($47.5 million over five years), outfielder Josh Reddick ($52 million over four years), catcher Brian McCann ($23 million of the $34 million owed to him by the Yankees over the next two seasons plus the potential for $15 million in 2019) and outfielder/ designated hitter Carlos Beltran ($16 million for one year).
The payroll increase leads to this question: How much room do the Astros have to add to the 2017 payroll during the season? After not landing a front-line starter in the offseason, they will be connected to every starting pitcher available on the trade market in the months, weeks and days leading to the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
“I don’t think there’s a ton there, but if we need to add one or two more key guys and it’s the right trade, I leave that up to (general manager Jeff Luhnow),” Crane said. “We have to create value for the team, and he’s very good about that. We’re not saying that’s it. If we get in the strike zone, we’ll open up the checkbook.”
Wednesday morning’s Astros workout was the first Crane attended since spring training began last week. He stopped by one of the two major league practice fields toward the end of batting practice and was spotted chatting with manager A.J. Hinch and former Astros ace Roy Oswalt, who’s in camp as a guest instructor.
Crane was set to host about 80 Astros players, coaches and front-office members at his nearby Floridian National Golf Club for dinner on Wednesday night.
“I think this team’s poised to perform,” he said. “We’ve worked hard to get to this spot over the last five years, and we want to stay in this spot. I think the plan’s working, and I think we’ve got a good team.
“And I think the chemistry’s really good with A.J. and the players. Everybody’s comfortable. They know each other. The additions have been great, some senior guys that can add a dimension that we probably didn’t have before. So I’m very happy (with) where we’re at. We certainly want to win.” Peacock to start Grapefruit opener
Righthander Brad Peacock will start the Astros’ Grapefruit League opener Saturday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday.
Righthander Brady Rodgers will start Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves in Lake Buena Vista. Righthanders Joe Musgrove, Mike Fiers and Chris Devenski are scheduled to make their spring debuts Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
The Astros’ starters will be limited to one or two innings in their first Grapefruit League starts as they gradually build up their arms for the season.
“We’ll see how efficient the guys are,” Hinch said. “These guys are on their individual plans, so it would be a couple innings for a couple of them, maybe one inning for some of the guys we’re going to be cautious with (regarding) their workload early.
“But we want to leave open the idea if a guy has a quick first inning, we might send him out for a second.”
Peacock, a long shot to the make the Astros’ roster, spent most of last season in Class AAA, where he had a 4.23 ERA in 22 appearances (21 starts) that spanned 117 innings. He logged 312⁄3 innings with the Astros late last season, recording a 3.69 ERA over 10 appearances, five of which were starts.
Peacock, 29, is out of minor league options, so if he does not make the Astros’ opening-day roster, he will need to pass through waivers before returning to the organization’s Class AAA affiliate as upper-level pitching depth. His best chance to make the team is as a long reliever, though even in that role he faces long odds.
“I’ve been working hard this offseason trying to get ready, and to get that first one out of the way is going to be nice,” he said.
Saturday’s game begins at 12:05 p.m. Three righthanders, James Hoyt, Jandel Gustave and Cy Sneed, and two lefthanders, Kevin Chapman and Brian Holmes, are scheduled to pitch after Peacock.
Correa takes part in full workout
Carlos Correa participated fully in the Astros’ full-squad workout for the first time this spring. The shortstop was limited the previous four days after undergoing a procedure last Thursday to have all four of his wisdom teeth removed.
Correa took infield with the Astros’ other infielders and batting practice in a group with Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Marwin Gonzalez. Wednesday’s was the team’s shortest workout to date, which was planned even before rain entered the forecast.
“He’s full go,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Correa. “This is a really light day, which is a perfect day for him to get up and running.”
Odds and ends
Evan Gattis (shoulder soreness) won’t catch in spring training games “for another 10 days or so” as a precaution, manager A.J. Hinch said. When Gattis plays in that span, it will be as a designated hitter. …
Astros players will go through their annual halfhour media training session on Thursday morning before their workout.