HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros knew they werent going to win much this season, so with an eye toward the future they cast off their few pricey veterans before the trade deadline, slashing payroll and restocking their depleted farm system. Cheap Jerseys . It wasnt a blueprint to win now. Still, new owner Jim Crane didnt think it would be this bad. The Astros have shed almost $40 million from their opening day roster and have a payroll of just $21.3 million as of last week. Nine players on other teams will make more than that by themselves this season, led by Alex Rodriguez ($30 million). Francisco Cordero and Jed Lowrie, two of Houstons three highest-paid players, are on the disabled list. That leaves Ben Francisco as the only active player making more than $750,000. Houston has had the worst record in baseball for most of the season. But things devolved rapidly since the Astros rebuilding effort began in earnest when general manager Jeff Luhnow traded Carlos Lee on July 4. Monday nights 7-1 loss at Chicago left them 6-36 since the Lee trade, including a franchise-worst 12-game losing skid. Houston is the first National League team to lose 34 games in a 38-game span since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, according to STATS LLC, a skid that ended last Friday. "We made a lot of trades and once we made that decision -- Jeff started moving some of the talent -- we knew we might slide back a little bit, but we didnt think it would be this bad," Crane said. After Lee, Houston shed pitchers J.A. Happ, Brandon Lyon, David Carpenter, Brett Myers and Wandy Rodriguez before wrapping up a busy month by sending third baseman Chris Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Some of them, had they gone beyond the trade deadline, we wouldnt have gotten much of anything," Crane said. "I think (Luhnow) got as much as he possibly could. (He) traded hard, and we did pick up a lot of great prospects." Houston received 15 players in the recent trades. Its talent that has improved a minor league system many believed was among the worst in baseball heading into the season. "Our objective is to be competitive consistently as soon as possible," Luhnow said. "And being able to infuse as many prospects into our system as we were able to at the A and Double-A level, you dont have an opportunity to do that in the draft. You get a lot of new prospects in the draft, but theyre usually at the rookie-ball level." Of course, Houstons focus on the future didnt just begin this season. Stars including Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn all have been dealt in the last two seasons. Of Houstons top 20 minor league prospects, 10 are a product of this years deals along with the Bourn and Pence trades. Right-hander Jarred Cosart and third baseman Matt Dominguez, both acquired in trades and playing at Triple-A, are considered Houstons second- and fourth-best prospects. Their greatest area of need was pitching and the recent deals brought several new arms. The moves will also give the Astros some flexibility to add talent in the off-season. "Next year with a lot of those salaries gone, well have some room to fill in some players when we see what we ended up with," Crane said. "Youll see some more players coming up at the end of the year, and we will continue to see who can play at the big league level." Luhnow said he knows its difficult for fans to get excited about the team as it stands now, but he believes it was the only way for Houston to be successful later. "Trading our veteran players was the most effective way to (gain talent)," Luhnow said. "While short-term its certainly a loss in terms of what they were able to do on the field, I think in the medium- and long-term its going to be a real benefit for us. So that was the objective going into it and with every trade, we had that in mind." Houstons struggles this season, which include the leagues worst road mark along with the worst overall record, have been hard on everyone in the organization, perhaps none more manager Brad Mills. "When we first got here it was kind of a slow transition, now all of the sudden with the new regime changes and things we decided: Lets do the whole thing now," said Mills, who is in his third season in Houston. "It definitely puts things in a situation where wins are tougher because youre dealing with a lot of inexperienced individuals." In managing the youngest team in the National League, Mills has struggled to help his team find consistency. He has tried to teach the players that doing all the little things right will eventually add up to more wins. He has found he doesnt have to say anything different as the losses piled up. "They understand where were going and what were getting to and its easy to see and they want to put themselves in a position to be aboard when we move forward," Mills said. "And I think thats a big, motivating factor in itself. To be with the ballclub when it moves forward." Indeed, a number of players on the roster are likely to be part of Houstons future as the Astros move to the AL West next season. A key piece is second baseman Jose Altuve, who was named to his first All-Star team this season. The diminutive 22-year-old entered Monday hitting .299 with 128 hits, 30 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Brett Wallace is another player the Astros believe will help turn things around. He has alternated between Triple-A and Houston this season, but looks to be up for good now and is hitting .307. Houston also has seen improvement from young starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel, Jordan Lyles and Lucas Harrell. Luhnows hope is that fans will learn about the up-and-coming players and enjoy watching them develop as major leaguers. "The next generation of stars are in our minor league system and theyre starting to get here to the big leagues, guys like Altuve," Luhnow said. "And those are the guys that were going to build around and hopefully increase the connection between the fans and those players, so that when we are back in a position to compete for titles, that they feel they know those players and have an affiliation with them." The Astros nabbed Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa, whom they believe can become the face of the franchise, with the top pick in the draft and right-hander Lance McCullers with a first-round compensation pick. Theyll almost certainly have the No. 1 pick again as they head for their second-straight 100-loss season after finishing a franchise-worst 56-106 last year. Houston hasnt had a winning season since 2008. Crane, a former athlete turned shipping magnate, hopes things turn around soon. "Were certainly optimistic that speed can come into the program," he said. "When you look at Oakland, they werent supposed to be able to compete for a few years, and they are running after a wild card, with a similar situation. ... The good thing about our situation is well have a lot more money than they will at the end of the day, so we should be able to build." Wholesale Jerseys From China .C. -- Canadas Chris Spring earned a bronze medal in four-man bobsled at a World Cup stop Saturday. Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . Westbrook returned from the wound to finish with 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, Kevin Durant scored 30 points and the Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 114-96 win over the Phoenix Suns. "When you see blood, you dont know what to do," Durant said of Westbrook. http://www.wholesalejerseysusaonline.com/ . He returned to the sideline in the second quarter in street clothes with his left arm in a sling. Locker injured the same shoulder in Tennessees season-opening loss against New England. NFL Jerseys Cheap . The Roughriders (4-10) have already been eliminated from post-season contention in the CFLs West Division. The only way they could qualify for the playoffs would be to finish ahead of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who are 7-7 in the East. Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale . Swiss Tennis spokeswoman Sandra Perez tells The Associated Press that Federer is scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam on Wednesday and will play in the opening singles matches on Friday.MIDLAND, Texas -- Luke Guthrie rallied to win the WNB Golf Classic on Sunday for his second straight Web.com Tour title, holing a 12-foot par putt on the final hole for a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke victory. Guthrie, the 22-year-old former University of Illinois player who turned professional this year after the NCAA tournament, had a 17-under 271 total at Midland Country Club. Coming off a victory last week in the Boise Open, he earned $99,000 to jump from fourth to first on the money list with $382,463. The final top 25 on the list will earn 2013 PGA Tour cards. Guthrie has six top-10 finishes in seven starts on the developmental tour, losing a playoff to Ben Kohles in Columbus, Ohio, and tying for third in Omaha, Neb. The two-time Big Ten champion also has earned $284,672 in three PGA Tour starts, all top-20 finishes. He tied for fifth in the John Deere Classic in July. "Im just trying to ride it out," said Guthrie, who plans to attend the Ryder Cup next weekend. "As a golfer you go through these runs where the hole gets bigger, your mind slows down and it seems easy. The trick in golf is have more days like this than the bad ones." New Zealands Danny Lee and Australias Cameron& Percy tied for second. Cheap Jerseys From China. Lee, the third-round leader, finished with a 72, and Percy shot a 70. Playing in the third-to-last group, Guthrie saved par on the 470-yard finishing hole after his tee shot went through the fairway and settled among some trees that guard the left side. "I probably should have pulled a 3-wood off the tee," he said. "And not hit driver." Guthrie had 146 yards to hole and punched an 8-iron under the trees. The ball bounced in, then out of the front, greenside bunker and nestled in the rough. His pitch came up short, setting up the 12-footer. "Biggest clutch putt as a professional," Guthrie said. "I misjudged the chip. Even if I hit it perfect it was going to wind up a good 5 feet short. Theres a little ridge there and I had inside left edge. It wiggled a little bit right just before the hole, but snuck in the right side." Hes juggling golf with school, finishing up 13 credits for his business degree. "I missed my flight home, so it looks like Ill miss class again tomorrow," Guthrie said. "Im going to meet with the teacher and catch up on my homework but then head to Chicago for the weekend." ' ' '