The Astros are next in our arbitration eligibles series.
- First time: J.A. Happ, Alberto Arias
- Second time: None
- Third time: None
- Fourth time: Humberto Quintero
Having traded Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, and Jeff Keppinger in July, the Astros are left with few arbitration concerns. Arias has missed the last two seasons due to shoulder issues, and is likely to be cut loose.
Happ will be tendered a contract, and should land around $2.3MM. Quintero has at least been a consistent backup catcher, and it'd cost $1.2MM to retain him.
Add $3.5MM for Happ and Quintero to the team's $47.25MM in 2012 commitments, and the Astros are around $51MM before accounting for minimum salary players. They entered this season with a $77MM payroll, so there's room to tinker on the free agent market and perhaps add some veteran placeholders.
