| Player | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Justin Verlander | $33.0m | $33.0m | FA | - |
| Jose Altuve | $29.0m | $29.0m | $29.0m | $29.0m |
| Zack Greinke | ~$22.0m | ~$22.0m | FA | - |
| Michael Brantley | $16.0m | FA | - | - |
| Alex Bregman | $13.0m | $13.0m | $13.0m | $30.5m |
| Josh Reddick | $13.0m | FA | - | - |
| Ryan Pressly | $8.75m | $8.75m | FA | - |
| Yuli Gurriel | $8.4m | ARB | ARB | FA |
| Total | $143.15m | $83.75m | $42.0m | $59.5m |
Arbitration-Eligible after 2019: George Springer, Roberto Osuna, Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers, Aledmys Diaz, Brad Peacock, Jake Marisnick, Chris Devenski. 2019 Salary: $36.44m.
Free Agents after 2019: Gerrit Cole, Joe Smith, Hector Rondon, Collin McHugh, Robinson Chirinos, Wade Miley, Will Harris. 2019 Salary: $46.27m
B-Ref Post-2019 Payroll Estimate: $171.2m
2020 Payroll Notes: The Astros are going to pay significantly for Springer's last arbitration year. Osuna will get a raise, as will Correa, Diaz, Peacock, and Marisnick. Those arbitration guys might match, or slightly exceed, the amount of money cleared by free agent departures. I don't see anyone just getting non-tendered from that arbitration list. Who do the Astros try to keep from the Free Agent list? Gerrit Cole, sure. Miley, maybe. Harris, I'm okay with that.
Arbitration-Eligible after 2020: Yuli Gurriel, Chris Devenski, Roberto Osuna, Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers, Aledmys Diaz.
Free Agents after 2020: Michael Brantley, Josh Reddick, George Springer, Brad Peacock, Jake Marisnick. 2020 Salary: $29m, but we don't know what Springer/Peacock/Marisnick will make in arbitration.
Post-2020 B-Ref Salary Estimate: $142.8m
2021: It's hard to project too far out what the Astros will do with future trades, extensions, free agents, etc. So I'll just give you the Post-2021 B-Ref Salary Estimate: $128.7m.
2022: Same. $124.1m.
2023: Same. $119.8m.
If the Astros are trying to stay under $200m, there are ways they can do that. Extending Springer AND Cole is not necessarily out of the question.
