Where Did These Guys Come From: Houston Astros

One of my favorite annual series is the Where Did These Guys Come From, in which we tell you how every player on the full-season minor-league teams (Quad Cities to Oklahoma City) came to be a part of the Astros' organization. While we wait for those rosters to be released, we can at least start with the Astros' 40-Man roster (which is at 39, with the release of Tyler Greene)

Pitchers

Hector Ambriz - signed as a free agent on June 21, 2012
Xavier Cedeno - signed as a free agent on December 23, 2010
Jose Cisnero - signed as an amateur free agent prior to 2008 season
Paul Clemens - acquired in Michael Bourn trade from Atlanta on July 31, 2011
Jarred Cosart - acquired in Hunter Pence trade from Philadelphia on July 30, 2011
Rhiner Cruz - acquired in Rule 5 draft from New York Mets on December 8, 2011
Sam Demel - selected off waivers from Arizona on November 1, 2012
John Ely - acquired in Rob Rasmussen trade from Los Angeles Dodgers on December 19, 2012
Josh Fields - acquired in Rule 5 draft from Boston Red Sox on December 6, 2012
Lucas Harrell - selected off waivers from Chicago White Sox on July 8, 2011
Philip Humber - selected off waivers from Chicago White Sox on November 30, 2012
Dallas Keuchel - drafted in 7th Round of 2009 amateur draft
Chia-Jen Lo - signed out of Taiwan in November 2008
Jordan Lyles - drafted in 1st Round of 2008 amateur draft
Bud Norris - drafted in 6th Round of 2006 amateur draft
Brett Oberholtzer - acquired in Michael Bourn trade from Atlanta on July 31, 2011
Rudy Owens - acquired in Wandy Rodriguez trade from Pittsburgh on July 24, 2012
Brad Peacock - acquired in Jed Lowrie trade from Oakland on February 4, 2013
Ross Seaton - drafted in 3rd Round of 2008 amateur draft
Jose Veras - signed as free agent on December 21, 2012
Alex White - acquired in Wilton Lopez trade from Colorado on December 4, 2012
Wesley Wright - acquired in Rule 5 draft from Los Angeles Dodgers on December 6, 2007

Catchers

Jason Castro - drafted in 1st Round of 2008 amateur draft
Carlos Corporan - signed as free agent on November 11, 2010

Infielders

Jose Altuve - signed as an amateur free agent on March 6, 2007
Chris Carter - acquired in Jed Lowrie trade from Oakland on February 4, 2013
Ronny Cedeno - signed as free agent on March 24, 2013
Matt Dominguez - acquired in Carlos Lee trade from Miami on July 4, 2012
Jake Elmore - selected off waivers from Arizona on November 1, 2012
Marwin Gonzalez - acquired in Marco Duarte trade from Boston on December 8, 2011

Carlos Pena - signed as free agent on December 17, 2012
Jonathan Villar - acquired in Roy Oswalt trade from Philadelphia on July 29, 2010
Brett Wallace - acquired in Anthony Gose trade from Toronto on July 29, 2010

Outfielders

Brandon Barnes - drafted in 6th Round of 2005 amateur draft
Robbie Grossman - acquired in Wandy Rodriguez trade from Pittsburgh on July 24, 2012
Fernando Martinez - selected off waivers from New York Mets on January 11, 2012
J.D. Martinez - drafted in 20th Round of 2009 amateur draft
Justin Maxwell - selected off waivers from New York Yankees on April 8, 2012
Jimmy Paredes - acquired in Lance Berkman trade from New York Yankees on July 31, 2010

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Let's break this down, shall we? How about players...

Who signed as free agents: 9
Acquired in trades: 14
Acquired in Rule 5 drafts: 3
Selected off waivers: 6
Drafted by Houston: 7

Players acquired in...
2005: 1
2006: 1
2007: 2
2008: 5
2009: 2
2010: 5
2011: 6
2012: 14
2013: 3