I don’t expect the Astros to make a huge splashy move or anything, but the reliable people at http://www.mlbrumors.com/ have reported nothing from the rumor mill AT ALL for the space city sluggers.

A few possible reasons:

1. Ed Wade’s staff is exceptionally good at keeping things under wraps:  If this is the case, I applaud.  If at the end of the week the Astros have made several ‘surprise’ moves, then I will assume this reason to be correct, and publicly approve.
2. The pending sale of the club has put the kibosh on anything from happening at all, a la the 2009-2010 Dodgers under the dark cloud of divorce.  Gosh, I hope this isn’t the case.
3. Media bias:  Not in a negative, “we hate everybody not on the coasts” type of way.  But let’s face reality.  National media outlets headquarter in New York, Chicago, and LA.  Everything else in the flyover areas are bound to get less attention than the coasts and Chicago.  Here are the teams we have heard the MOST about this offseason:  New York (Yankees), New York (Mets), Chicago (White Sox), Chicago (Cubs), Baltimore, Washington, Boston, Los Angeles (Dodgers), Pittsburgh (why??), Philadelphia.  Arizona and San Diego have been mentioned only in the context of the massive trades they pulled off on Day 1 of the Winter meetings.  What do these cities have in common?  They have in common the 250-mile radii around New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.  St. Louis picked up a perennial all-star (albeit with a recently tarnished rep) and the media barely warrants a mention.

Speaking of Hot Stove, here’s my suggestions, Astros:

1. Get J.J. Hardy.  He won’t be expensive, and as tarnished as his reputation is, he’s an upgrade over everything you rolled out at short in 2010.  Barmes at 2nd, Hardy at Short.  It’s not a long-term solution, but it’s an improvement.
2. Kick the tires on Russell Martin.  Why not?  See what the price is, it’s a high-reward gamble.  He can move around other positions, and Castro’s bat just isn’t potent.
3. Get in on the Brandon Webb/Justin Duchscherer/Rich Harden sweepstakes.  They won’t be expensive, but any of them can help your team if healthy.  They know how to pitch and how to excel – is it any worse than the gamble taken on Myers?  Cheap lightning in that bottle.  Do it.
4. Andrew Miller.  Too much potential and talent there to not inquire.  If he can’t cut it as a starter, he’s a lot better middle relief option than anything you have.  Pay him like a 6th starter with incentives and see what happens.
5. Don’t sign Matt Diaz.  Please?   Instead, inquire about Jeremy Hermida, Bill Hall, Josh Willingham, or somebody else with at least one year of substantive success.  If you aren’t going to spend, go with the high-reward players even if the risk is high.  Got anything to lose? It’s not like you’ll be doing a long-term deal with them.  Don’t get so hung up on a left-handed bat.  Take a good player, regardless of their handedness.  
6. Lastings Milledge.  He’s 25 or 26.  Top-50 prospect.  Why not?  Or Elijah Dukes.  I bet he’s cheap.