A.J. Reed, Colin Moran Face Stiff Climb

HOUSTON—Coming into last season, A.J. Reed and Colin Moran were regarded not only as two of the Astros’ best prospects but also two of their closest potential contributors to a team with World Series aspirations.

Both would appear to need a lot to go their way to play a significant role in 2017, a season the Astros are poised to enter with arguably the best lineup in the American League.

The busy offseason of general manager Jeff Luhnow means several young Astros who debuted last season are most likely slated to begin next season back in Triple-A. Reed, as recently as last summer viewed as the organization’s first baseman of the future, and Moran, a third baseman once regarded highly enough to go sixth overall in the 2013 draft, are chief among them.

Both lefthanded-hitting corner infielders are coming off lackluster 2016 campaigns. It would be premature to write off either for the long term, but each would require a big spring and most likely an injury for a realistic chance to crack the Opening Day roster.

Reed is behind Yulieski Gurriel and Marwin Gonzalez on the team’s first base depth chart. The offseason signing of Carlos Beltran to a one-year, $16-million deal and the return of Evan Gattis ensure the DH spot is also blocked for Reed, who batted just .164/.270/.262 in 122 at-bats in the majors after debuting in late June.

Although he debuted in May, Moran, who hit 130/.200/.174 in 23 at-bats, got fewer opportunities than Reed, in part because of the rapid emergence of Alex Bregman. But even in Triple-A Moran batted just .259/.329/.368 in 459 at-bats last season.

Playing time with the Astros figures to be only more difficult to come by in 2017.

SPACE SHOTS

• The Astros signed catcher Juan Centeno to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training. The former Twins, Mets and Brewers backstop will serve as insurance in case of an injury at the major league level. Max Stassi, the third catcher on the team’s 40-man roster, will come into spring training having exhausted his minor league options.

• Minor league reliever Brendan McCurry was suspended 50 games without pay after testing positive for Methamphetamine. McCurry, a 25-year-old righthander, went 3-5, 3.07 in 82 innings last season between Double-A and Triple-A.

— Jake Kaplan covers the Astros for the Houston Chronicle