"This year's first-tier luxury threshold lands at $244MM. Per RosterResource, the Astros are currently about $25MM shy of that mark. Their DFA of Ramon Urias and last night's trade of fellow utilityman Mauricio Dubón (for lower-priced utility option ) trimmed a net $8.7MM off that payroll projection, which uses MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz's projected arbitration salaries. Houston's current $218.9MM luxury tax projection could - and very likely will - dip further over the next 36 hours."
"The Astros are known to be in the market for rotation help - they already took a cheap one-year flier on former top prospect Nate Pearson, guaranteeing him $1.35MM - and have been working to balance out a heavily right-handed lineup for the better part of the past calendar year. Framber Valdez is a free agent, leaving Hunter Brown atop a starting staff with more question marks than reliable contributors."
Astros owner Jim Crane is wary of exceeding the first-tier luxury tax threshold set at $244MM. The team's current luxury tax projection sits at $218.9MM, about $25MM under the threshold. Recent moves, including DFAing Ramon Urias and trading Mauricio Dubón, trimmed roughly $8.7MM, and potential non-tenders could cut an additional $7.15MM before the arbitration tender deadline. Houston signed Nate Pearson to a one-year, $1.35MM guarantee while seeking rotation help. Framber Valdez is a free agent, leaving Hunter Brown as the top starter on a staff with notable injury and performance uncertainties.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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