Though he had asserted a desire to remain with the Astros, Beltrán signed a long-term contract with the New York Mets on January 9, 2005.

On October 31, the Astros declined a contract option on Jeff Bagwell for 2007, ending his 15-year Astros career and leading to his retirement.

On April 28, 2007, the Astros purchased the contract of top minor league prospect Hunter Pence.

Ryan signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Houston Astros after the 1979 season.

He pitched for three teams from to ( the Cleveland Indians from 1998 – 1999 and the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000 ) and was unconditionally released twice before signing a minor-league contract with the Yankees.

The Houston Astros purchased Niekro's contract from the Braves for $ 35, 000 in 1975.

After the season, he was signed by the Houston Astros to a minor league contract, but after being cut, he retired at age 40.

After the 2001 season, the Astros did not offer Alou a new contract, making him a free agent.

On September 5, 2008, the ValleyCats extended their PDC ( player development contract ) with the Houston Astros through the 2010 season.

On November 22, 2007, Perez signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Houston Astros.

In January 2007, the Astros signed him again, this time to a minor league contract.

On January 31, 2012, Hernández signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros with an invitation to attend spring training.

He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros in January.

His baseball contract was purchased by the Astros on June 2, 1996, and Wagner was then assigned exclusively as a short-relief pitcher by the Astros manager.

On June 22, 2008, Majewski signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros and was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi.

Tyner signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros in January.

On January 17,, Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.

Capellán signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros on January 14,, and was invited to spring training.

After signing a minor league contract with the Houston Astros during the 07-08 off-season, Dejean was released before appearing in a game.

On January 11, 2008, Diaz signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros, but was released on May 2, 2008.

On October 11, Richard signed a four-year contract with the Astros.

Others theorized that Richard was egotistical and could not handle the pressure of pitching for the Astros, while others suggested he was jealous of Ryan's $ 4. 5 million contract.

The team also traded relief pitcher Jose Valverde, who led the major leagues in saves in 2007 with 47, to the Houston Astros for reliever Chad Qualls, RHP Juan Gutiérrez and IF / OF Chris Burke.

Selig has made some decisions involving the Houston Astros that were unpopular with their supporters.

In, he hired former Indian Mike Hargrove to manage and traded catcher Eddie Taubensee to the Houston Astros who, with a surplus of outfielders, were willing to part with Kenny Lofton.

They led the Wild Card by 1. 5 games over San Francisco and Houston on September 25, and both of those teams lost that day, giving the Cubs a chance at increasing the lead to a commanding 2. 5 games with only eight games remaining in the season, but reliever LaTroy Hawkins blew a save to the Mets, and the Cubs lost the game in extra innings, a defeat that seemingly deflated the team, as they proceeded to drop 6 of their last 8 games as the Astros won the Wild Card.

Pitcher Darryl Kile ( who died in 2002 ) signed as a free agent in the offseason, struggled in Colorado, going 13 – 17 with a 5. 20 ERA — a far cry from his numbers the prior year as a member of the Houston Astros, when he went 19 – 7 with a 2. 57 ERA.

alt = A baseball player standing at first base with his glove, wearing a red jersey with the word " Astros " in front

As the season came to a close, the Astros found themselves again in ninth place and with a winning percentage below. 500.

Morgan had 15 homers and stole 49 bases while Menke led the Astros with 90 RBIs.

The uniforms became popular with fans, but would last only until 1975, when the Astros would shock baseball and the fashion world.

Cesar Cedeno led the club with 81 RBIs and the league with 40 doubles, but batted just. 264 and had 102 strikeouts in his second season with the Astros.

In November 1971 the Astros and Cincinnati Reds made one of the most blockbuster trades in the history of the sport, and helped create The Big Red Machine of the 1970s, with the Reds getting the better end of the deal.

Cedeno also led the Astros with a. 320 batting average, 55 stolen bases and made spectacular plays on the field.

Lee May led the Astros with 28 home runs and Cesar Cedeno batted. 320 with 25 home runs.

Houston Astros logo with their former home, The Astrodome Stadium 1975 – 1993

With Virdon as the manager the Astros improved greatly in 1976 finishing in third place with a 80 – 82 record.

The Astros finished in third place again in 1977 with a record of 81 – 81.

Now with an investor in charge, the Astros would be more likely to compete in the free agent market.

Joe Sambito came into his own with 22 saves as the Astros closer.

The Astros finished with their best record to that point at 89 – 73 and 1½ games behind the NL winner Reds.