Astros turning future promise to present day production

For the last almost half decade the Houston Astros have been a complete and utter laughing stock of the MLB and have been the poster child for on-field incompetence across most majors sports leagues. But while the major league product meanders their way through the regular season, hope was being in the minor league created through savvy trades and quality draft choices by Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow. By building a building a quality farm system most MLB teams would envy, Luhnow was able to pull of a trade for Atlanta Braves slugger Evan Gattis for right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, third baseman Rio Ruiz and right-hander Andrew Thurman. Gattis' position is yet to be determined, but his power bat that includes 43 HRs over the past two seasons with the Braves is not in question. Beyond the on-field production that the  Gattis trade brings it also dawns a new era in Astros baseball that involves less hope for the future and more present day results.

Astros mantra for the awhile has seemed to be "wait 'til next year" or "wait 'til these prospects reach the majors, " but this mindset combined with a major local TV negotiation feud that left the majority of the Houston area without Astros games for a number of seasons has lead to waning fan interest. Now with some of the promised young talent actually reaching the majors, George Springer in particular, along with trades have resulted in what looks to be in a major league lineup that can actually compete in the American League. The days of hoping and wishing for the Astros to be produce are replaced with real expectations of winning and competing for a playoff wildcard spot this season. All that's left now is to wait and see if all of these moves result in something for Astros other than the comedy of errors the team has made famous over the past several seasons.