As the Houston Astros desperately fight to keep their contention window open, they're left staring down the possibility of a bleak future. With an aging roster, a barren farm system, and few young big leaguers who can be counted on to make an impact, it becomes clear that the house of cards will soon collapse.
In the short-term, things could use a boost as well. After missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, it's reasonable enough to question whether or not the Astros truly did enough over the winter to improve the club, and perhaps more importantly, to stave off the declining performance of some of their aging cornerstones.