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Houston Astros: The Curious Case of Jeff Luhnow

By Manny Gómez

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 17: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow addresses the media prior to the Game Four of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on October 17, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 17: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow addresses the media prior to the Game Four of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on October 17, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Jim Crane Drives a Wrecking Ball Through the Astros Organization

Drayton McClane sale of the Astros to Jim Crane made official.
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

When Jim Crane bought the Astros for $680 million from Drayton McLane in 2011, his intentions were to gut the team and build up the farm system.

That 2011 season, the Astros finished with a 56-106 record, the worst in all of MLB. Their total payroll, according to spotrac, added up to approximately $85.5 million.

That winter, the Astros turned to Jeff Luhnow, who’s time with the Cardinals showed he had an eye for young talent.

Following orders from Crane, Luhnow and the Astros delivered their worst season in franchise history with a 55-107 record. Their payroll that 2012 season dropped to approximately $54.4 million.

In 2013, the Astros finished 51-111. They were considered one of the worst teams in baseball history. Their total payroll? $35.5 million.

The rebuild was in full effect and the genius of it all is that, according to a Dan Alexander piece in Forbes from 2013:

"“The Astros are on pace to rake in an estimated $99 million in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) this season. That is nearly as much as the estimated operating income of the previous six World Series championship teams — combined.”"

Meanwhile, Jeff Luhnow is building a juggernaut from the bottom by drafting the likes of Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr.

2014 would mark an official new beginning for the Houston Astros, and the real Jeff Luhnow is about to make his debut.

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