*It is five days until Pitchers & Catchers report.
*Jose Altuve is "the epitome of everything that's right around the Astros."
*A.J. Hinch said he'll likely use over 150 different lineups in 2017.
*The Astros and Marwin Gonzalez avoided an arbitration hearing with a $3.725m deal for 2017 and a club option for 2018 worth $5.125m.
*You'll be able to watch eight Astros play on various World Baseball Classic rosters: Jose Altuve (Venezuela), Carlos Correa (Puerto Rico), Alex Bregman (USA), Carlos Beltran (Puerto Rico), Luke Gregerson (USA), Nori Aoki (Japan), and Kevin Chapman (Canada). Minor-league signee Dayan Diaz will play for Colombia.
*The Astros are buying an empty office building in West Palm Beach to turn into a hotel for Spring Training, and to turn into $$$$$ from April-January.
*Mike Lupica wrote about the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
*MLB is going to try out - in the Gulf Coast League and Arizona League - starting extra innings with a runner on 2nd base. Yep, you heard that right. An American League executive:
This is something that was discussed in the big group at the GM Meetings. It got more support than the strike zone change.
