The Houston Astros’ owner is facing criticism since the team hasn’t made many significant signings throughout the winter.

By 2024, the Houston Astros still have a championship-caliber roster that is ready-made.

When everyone is healthy, they should have enough pitching to contend for another World Series championship. Their lineup is expected to rank among the best in baseball once more.

However, after being eliminated by the free-spending Texas Rangers in the ALCS last season, many were clamoring for the Astros to be aggressive over the winter to add more pieces.

Yet, despite being worth over a billion dollars, owner Jim Crane decided he doesn’t want to go over the luxury tax threshold and has limited what his general manager, Dana Brown, can do in free agency.

Many fans find this attitude dubious at best, therefore this has angered them.

“It’s unfortunate that Jim Crane is unaware of the MLB’s salary cap exception. It’s even more concerning that a billionaire in Houston, Texas—a reasonably priced city—is too terrified of a luxury tax. Fans have seen a lot of potential Astros who could truly help cover our huge deficiencies sign elsewhere this winter, according to his complacency, writes Jeremy Gretzer of Climbing Tal’s Hill.

On the surface, it’s hard not to agree with that sentiment.

Houston has built themselves into one of the best teams in American League history during this “Golden Era” as they’ve made seven-straight ALCS appearances and won two World Series titles.

But financial frugality has caused the Astros to allow some of their superstar players walk out of the building with more potentially coming the next couple years.

And while they have been able to find and develop talent, selecting lower in the draft and trading away their top pieces have emptied their farm system to the point of being considered the worst in Major League Baseball.

To compete, they have to spend money.Yet, they aren’t.

“Once more, no one should be advocating that Crane spend his whole fortune to maintain this dynasty, but the clubs the Astros have defeated throughout the years are doing a tremendous job improving right in front of our eyes. It would be reasonable to react in line with that. It’s hilarious that he would attribute the lack of action on money he lost on a recent local Houston TV agreement, Gretzer says.That is also accurate.

The Rangers have spent aggressively to improve their roster immediately. The New York Yankees traded for Juan Soto and are pursuing other major upgrades. The Los Angeles Dodgers rewrote what an offseason looks like in the MLB. The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed their top priority and almost landed a coveted future superstar.

The Astros have done nothing except add a depth piece at catcher and made a bullpen addition.

Is that sufficient to contend for a World Series championship?Perhaps it is.

Ultimately, regardless of the players on their roster or their starting lineup and rotation, Houston has consistently proven capable of rising to the occasion.

However, there is serious concern that this “Golden Era” may be coming to an end due to their owner as they go into a time when more talent may be leaving if Crane doesn’t spend more money.

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