"When it became obvious that Jim Crane would get MLB's approval as the Astros' new owner, rumors spread that he would cut payroll dramatically, even below the already-reduced 2011 payroll. First it was $60 million, then $50 million.

Now that new GM Jeff Luhnow seems "comfortable with the group" that will head to spring training soon, the payroll seems destined to end up just a little north of those projections. Either that, or the Astros are destined to pare the bottom line a bit more through a trade or two. If any of the big three are moved, the Astros could have their lowest payroll since 2000 and roughly half of the organization high in 2009 ($102 million).

Similar to a stock market correction, the restructure, reshuffling and recontruction are unavoidable after the organization spiraled downward to its worst season in history."