Triple-A season to influence September callups

ANAHEIM -- Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager Bo Porter have begun talking about players who could be called up to the Major Leagues when rosters can be expanded to 40 on Sept. 1. There will be an initial handful of players coming up, but the majority of promotions won't happen until Triple-A Oklahoma City's season is over.

"We've started preliminary conversations about it," Porter said. "But with the Triple-A team fighting for a playoff spot, you want to be sensitive to the fact they actually have an opportunity to win that league. As their season winds down, we will get more in detail with the guys that will come from the first of September and who will leave there, that will come when the playoffs are over and still gives them the best opportunity to win the league."

Among the players we could see in Houston next month are outfielder Trevor Crowe, infielder Brandon Laird, outfielder/infielder Jimmy Paredes and pitchers Jose Cisnero, Paul Clemens, Rhiner Cruz and Jorge DeLeon -- all of whom have spent some time with the Astros this year. Outfielder J.D. Martinez, who's on a Minor League rehab assignment, will return if healthy.

Luhnow said Friday No. 3 prospect George Springer, an outfielder who leads the Minor Leagues with 34 home runs, would remain with the RedHawks until their season is over. He's currently not on the 40-man roster.

Luhnow was in Oklahoma City on Saturday and planned to talk to manager Tony DeFrancesco about possible callups.

"I think anybody who's been here already will get a first chance," he said. "We're going to have to figure out how to get reinforcements up here while at the same time not decimating the team there. They're having a good season, and we hope they finish strong and go deep in the playoffs. There's enough players to do that."