The Astros made another appearance in the ALCS this past season. We might as well rename it “The Astros Invitational” since they've appeared in the last seven. While the dynasty talk has been ongoing for a couple of years, so has the talk of said dynasty being over. People are wondering if the window is still open. Fans are left speculating what moves the team will make to keep the window open.

One of the biggest needs was addressed last week when the team signed reliever Josh Hader to a record-setting five year, $95 million dollar deal. What was once a question mark is now a strength. The frown was turned upside down, so to speak. With Hader in the fold, adding him to the mix with Ryan Pressly, Rafael Montero, and Bryan Abreu gives them options and weapons. They still have an embarrassment of riches at starter. So much so, I think they can (and should) use them to fetch other needs in trades. More on that later. So after shoring up the bullpen, what's next?

One of the first things some will say is extending some of their own guys. Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve are the names brought up most, followed by Kyle Tucker. Bregman and Altuve are set to hit free agency since their contracts are both expiring after this season. I'm just about willing to bet my house that Altuve will be re-signed. He's the face of the franchise and on the Houston Sports Mount Rushmore. Bregman is a fan favorite, but let's be honest, he hasn't lived up to his own lofty expectations from past seasons. If I could single any one thing out, it's been his batting average. If he can get it back up to around .280 or above, I'd feel much better about bringing him back on the type of deal he may command.

Tucker is a different case. He has one more year of arbitration left before hitting true free agency. A left-handed outfielder with a full tool shed at only 27 years old could command upwards of $25-30 million a year on the open market. It'll cost the Astros $12 million this year from the arbitration. Next year, if no extension is reached, that could easily hit $15 million or more. It would behoove them to sign him to an extension before he keeps upping his price.

Extending Tucker is two-fold. They already need another bat in the outfield. Losing Tucker would be even harder to recover from. Yordan Alvarez should be their designated hitter and play limited outfield. In a perfect world, he could learn to play first base, but Jose Abreu is signed for this season and next. I'm willing to stand on business and say extending Tucker would be my priority over Bregman if it came down to the two of them. If they believe one of the guys on the roster currently, or in the minors, can step up and take that other spot, I'd be okay with that as well.

Some may look at the starting rotation and think they need to add a guy there. I'm of the opposite opinion. Not only am I fine with the starters, I'd be okay if they used some of them as trade bait to improve the lineup. Too many times this team couldn't score enough runs and come up with key hits last season. The starters were snake bitten by injuries over the last couple of seasons. Banking on guys returning healthy is a crapshoot, but that's a gamble I'm willing to take. This isn't MLB The Show where you can just make a starter a bullpen guy and he transitions easily. Dangling one of the starters, or more, out there for another bat would be ideal. You turn an abundance/strength in one area into the same thing in another area of need. It makes too much sense.

The Hader signing was something I wasn't expecting. We've heard so much about Dana Brown being the GM that spends wisely. We've also heard about Jim Crane wanting to stay under the luxury tax threshold. Signing Hader to that type of deal kind of broke the mold for both of those narratives. Is this the end of the big spending? I hope not. Would I be okay if it was? Yes, I would be. Why? Because this team was already good enough to make another ALCS run as constructed last season. They could stand pat and make yet another run this season with the moves they've made so far. But I want more! “Greed is good!”