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Astros Bold Predictions: Team Adds Encarnacion and McCann

By Eric Huysman

Jun 5, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) batting against Houston Astros in the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) batting against Houston Astros in the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Predicting two big splashes this offseason by the Houston Astros.

Nov 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow during the MLB general managers meeting at the Omni Scottsdale Resort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow during the MLB general managers meeting at the Omni Scottsdale Resort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Here we go, Houston Astros fans. It is time to get aggressive. Jim Crane has given Astros GM Jeff Luhnow the go ahead to increase the payroll from 2016. Some may disagree, but we are a few players away from becoming more than just competitive. The Cubs had the young talent that Houston has, but they also supplemented in some veterans that led to the World Series.

Before the 2015 season, Luhnow added some veterans in Luis Valbuena, Colby Rasmus, Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, and Evan Gattis. While we had several young players on the team, they were balanced out by some veteran presence. The Jose Altuve led Stros came within six outs of reaching the ALDS that year. Except for Gattis and Neshek, these players took a step back in 2016.

The lineup has a great core in Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Alex Bregman, and Yulieski Gurriel. However, what they are missing is the veteran presence batting third. Yes, Altuve beefed up his power numbers, but he is more of a Craig Biggio hitter who leads off. Altuve and Correa both finished shy of 100 RBI’s in 2016, but what if you added a 125 RBI type of guys to this lineup?

Via Jake Kaplan, Jeff Luhnow hinted they could add a player or two before the Winter Meetings in December. Let me take this statement too literally and predict the two players they will sign and trade for.

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