Phenomenal Smith wrote:
The Astros got lucky this year. Unless they really beef up the team, they won't be a playoff team in 2009, so why not trade him and get something for him?
You can say the same thing about the Brewers!

And in fact, the Brewers will lose two Aces, C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets during free agency this winter. That means as it stands now ( assuming the Astros made no major move ), the Mets are practically the only team standing in the way of the Astros possibly winning the 2009 NL wild card and they don't have a reliable closer!

The Astros are in great shape to make the playoffs in 2009.

It would help if they added another top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, because that's the only way they'll compete with the Cubs for the NL Central division title in 2009, but the Astros will be in great shape for the NL wild card race even if they make no earth-shattering additions.

But if you want to see the Astros win the 2009 World Series, then I'll agree that they need to really beef up the team this off-season.

They're practically a playoff team right now ( the Astros ), but as we're seeing from the Cubs and Brewers in the 2008 NLDS... Being a playoff team doesn't mean jack shit if you can't compete in the playoffs!