It was 1970 when command module pilot Jack Swigert uttered his infamous “Houston, we have a problem” phrase as the Apollo 13 mission and the prospects of solving endless lunar mysteries veered awry.
And some 37 years later, the words “Houston” and “prospects” remain lightyears apart.
While the Houston Astros won’t be booking the cast of Apollo 13 (1995) for the film rendition of their own respective chronicles anytime soon, the team probably has a better chance of finding high-end prospects in outer space than in their own farm system.
Over the course of the past four months, the Astros have been on a mission to dismiss their minor league affiliates of their duties.
And they’ve basically succeeded.
Things got underway with the 2007 installment of the MLB Draft on June 7th—a draft that the Astros weren't too keen on being a part of.
Houston lost its first round pick (No. 17 overall) to the Texas Rangers for the signing of outfielder Carlos Lee, landing an additional supplemental pick (No. 40 overall) for their instate rivals in the process.
While it’s hard to argue against the production that Lee and his .303/.354/.528 vital line created for the Astros, the loss of their second round selection (No. 81 overall) to pick up starting pitcher Woody Williams—who went on to post a 1.43 WHIP, 1.91 K:BB rate, and a bunch of other unpleasant metrics—doesn’t look too hot in hindsight. The team also declined to offer arbitration to starter Andy Pettitte or outfielder Aubrey Huff last offseason, which would have at least landed the Astros a couple of replacement draft selections.
Instead, we hit the fast forward button 10 times, where the average Major League franchise had shelled out an average of $4.4 million per club in the first 10 rounds of this year’s draft. Staying true to form, however, the Astros spent a cool $536,000—the only club to go less than seven figures.
Houston, spending no money and bringing no new prospects to a dwindling farm system is a problem.
With the draft in the books, Houston found other ways to revive a tired farm chain, dealing closer Brad Lidge to Philadelphia for outfielder Michael Bourn and third baseman Mike Costanzo—two prospects who wouldn’t cause too much excitement from baseball’s other 29 franchises, but for the Astros, was a source of much jubilation.
For about 38 days.
After “landing” their new third base prospect for their former all-star closer, the Astros promptly traded Costanzo—and pitchers Troy Patton and Matt Albers—oh, and Luke Scott, too—to Baltimore for shortstop Miguel Tejada.
Houston, trading four talented youngsters for one less than aging wonder is a problem.
And there’s more.
Hours after trading a small country for a shortstop whose slugging percentage had dropped 92 points in four seasons with the Orioles (.534 in ’04 to .442 in ’07), the Astros dealt reliever Chad Qualls, utility man Chris Burke, and starter Juan Gutierrez—arguably the Astros only remaining prospect not named J.R. Towles—to the Diamondbacks for closer Jose Valverde.
To recap these four months of madness, the Astros received three players (a new closer, a shortstop sans steroids, and a speedy outfielder) for a boatload of draft picks and eight players (their old closer, an additional reliever, a utility man, three starting pitching prospects, two power-hitting youngsters, and a partridge in a pear tree—you get the point).
Houston, trading eight players—including every top prospect your organization holds sans Towles—for three players is a problem.
So what’s next?
What happens when 24-year-old “top prospect” Michael Bourn—and his less than imposing career MiLB (.284/.378/.392) and Major League (.268/.340/.362) vital lines—gets 13 more big league at-bats and loses prospect eligibility?
What happens when the one true prospect in their system—Towles and his .324/.425/.551 vital in Double-A in 2007—gets regular playing time with the Astros in 2008 and loses prospect eligibility?
We’re left with the darkness and silence of deep space.
Unless, of course, you’re a fan of 24-year-olds doing well in High-A like outfielder Eli Iorg, a two-catcher system with Towles and Maxwell Sapp, or other prospects you’ve never heard of like starter Felipe Paulino.
The Astros have taken their future and rocketed it off to other franchises that are look to do what Houston apparently isn’t too cool with: building the next generation from within. If that’s the way the Astros want reload, that’s fine, but they did so by basically contracting an already dry farm chain in its totality this offseason.
Houston, having as good of a chance to find your next Top 100 prospect on Neptune as you do in the confines of Corpus Christi is a problem.
And it’s about time to find a solution.
Adam Loberstein is on Neptune excavating away for new Astros prospects. He can be reached at aloberstein@projectprospect.com.