Houston Astros Currently Have The Lowest Payroll For 2013 Season

The Houston Astros will enter the 2013 season with one of the lowest, if not overall lowest, payroll in all of baseball. It seems the switch to the American League changed their spending habits even more than originally thought.

The Astros entered the 2012 season with a payroll of just over $60 million. Management looked to make a cost cutting decision for the 2013 season, as they're currently projected to enter the year with a payroll of roughly $32 million. That's nearly a 50% cut from year to year.

The 2013 season will be the Astros first in the American League as they will join the Texas Rangers, Oakland A's, Seattle Mariners, and the Los Angeles Angels in the West.

Here's a breakdown of the estimated payroll spending by team in the AL West.

Los Angeles Angels: $152,000,000
Texas Rangers: $120,000,000
Seattle Mariners: $71,000,000
Oakland A's: $60,000,000
Houston Astros: $32,000,000

Even though the Astros spent nearly double in payroll last year, they finished the 2012 season with a league worst 55-107 record. Could this be a second straight year league worst record for Houston?

Things could change though as the Astros will have time to make moves and sign players. Don't expect any blockbuster deals to get done for Houston between now and the beginning of the season though.