Owner Jim Crane: Astros 'have the wherewithal to' match 2024 spending

Since the league suspended luxury tax payments for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, 2024 technically marked the first time the Astros exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax threshold.

Houstons team-record $244M payroll came with an approximate tax number of $262M, thus putting the Astros over the second tier ($257M) of tax penalties.

The increased price tag could be viewed as the cost of keeping together a perpetual contender, and sure enough, the Astros again won the AL West in 2024 before being upset by the Tigers in the wild-card round.

The Astros enter the offseason with a lot of money still on the books.

RosterResource s projections have Houston at roughly a $215M payroll and a $233.7M tax number for 2025, putting the Astros under the $241M CBT threshold.

A few million could be shaved off via non-tenders, yet a bigger move like re-signing Alex Bregman could bring Houston close to its 2024 figures, even before the Astros addressed other roster needs.

Owner Jim Crane at least left the door open to spending at the same level and paying another tax bill, telling The Athletics Chandler Rome and other reporters, "We have the wherewithal to do it if we need to do it.

However, Crane added caveats by noting, It just depends on what players are available.

Its pretty evident what needs we have.

We want to try and field the best team we can without going crazy...We run it like a business, and we make good decisions.

Even these measured comments might relieve Astros fans who are worried about how aggressive the team plans to be this winter.

GM Dana Brown said last month that we may have to get a little bit creative in the roster plans, and it should be noted that Cranes remarks dont contradict Browns statement in any way naturally, every team wants to be as efficient as possible in its spending.

Crane mentioned that we have some money coming off the payroll next year, which could hint at Houstons longer-term plans.

Ryan Tucker , Framber Valdez , Ryan Pressly , and Victor Caratini are all slated to hit free agency next offseason, and the Astros will also be free of the dead-money commitments still owed to Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero .

While retaining Tucker or Valdez is certainly on Houstons radar, the Astros could conceivably be willing to re-sign Bregman or make another splashy move or two this offseason and take the one-year CBT hit to perhaps reset its tax status next winter once they get more salary relief.

Speaking of Bregman, Crane reiterated the teams desire to retain the longtime third baseman.

The teams strategy is to let Brown handle the talks with Bregmans agent, Scott Boras, though Crane noted that he spoke with Boras once early in the offseason.

Crane acknowledged that the Astros were also looking at potential Plan B options if Bregman did sign elsewhere, though that is common due diligence for any front office.

This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission..

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