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Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Image 2 of 9 CATCHER

Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might finally get a chance to secure a regular spot in the 25-man roster now that Hank Conger has been traded. Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might finally get a chance to secure a regular spot in the 25-man roster now that Hank Conger has been traded. less CATCHER

Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 9 OUTFIELD

Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick can excel defensively throughout the outfield, and left fielder Preston Tucker can provide lefthanded pop off the bench. Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick can excel defensively throughout the outfield, and left fielder Preston Tucker can provide lefthanded pop off the bench. less OUTFIELD

Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 9 STARTING ROTATION

Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing righthander Lance McCullers could be a front-line starter soon. Mike Fiers, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers last year, is a solid starter at the back end of the rotation.

The Astros are still searching for another starter. Scott Feldman was one of the top pitchers in the AL last August, but his season was derailed by a right shoulder injury. Feldman’s health status is a major reason the Astros are trying to add a starting pitcher this winter. Michael Feliz might get a chance to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation if the Astros somehow don't add a starter. Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing righthander Lance McCullers could be a front-line starter soon. Mike Fiers, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers last year, is a solid starter at the back end of the rotation.The Astros are still searching for another starter. Scott Feldman was one of the top pitchers in the AL last August, but his season was derailed by a right shoulder injury. Feldman’s health status is a major reason the Astros are trying to add a starting pitcher this winter. Michael Feliz might get a chance to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation if the Astros somehow don't add a starter. less STARTING ROTATION

Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle Image 5 of 9 Image 6 of 9 BULLPEN

Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge was traded to the Phillies and the first to consistently hit 100 mph since Billy Wagner in 2003. Lidge and Wagner were both dealt to the Phillies, and now Philadelphia has returned the favor, so to speak. With Giles closing.

Former closer Luke Gregerson will give manager A.J. Hinch a stud setup man who can close. Will Harris, Pat Neshek , Tony Sipp and Josh Fields round out what could be a dominant bullpen. Michael Feliz could be an option in the bullpen as well, but the Astros still believe he can start consistently. LHP Kevin Chapman could challenge for a spot as a second lefty. Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge was traded to the Phillies and the first to consistently hit 100 mph since Billy Wagner in 2003. Lidge and Wagner were both dealt to the Phillies, and now Philadelphia has returned the favor, so to speak. With Giles closing.Former closer Luke Gregerson will give manager A.J. Hinch a stud setup man who can close. Will Harris, Pat Neshek , Tony Sipp and Josh Fields round out what could be a dominant bullpen. Michael Feliz could be an option in the bullpen as well, but the Astros still believe he can start consistently. LHP Kevin Chapman could challenge for a spot as a second lefty. less BULLPEN

Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge ... more Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images Image 7 of 9 DEPARTED

1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. Hoes. 1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. Hoes. less DEPARTED

1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. 1B Chris Carter, RHP Chad Qualls, C Hank Conger, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Vince Velasquez, SS Jonathan Villar, SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Oliver Perez, OF Robbie Grossman, OF L.J. ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle Image 8 of 9 <b>ADDED</b> <br> RHP Ken Giles, RHP Brendan McCurry, RHP Cy Sneed. <b>ADDED</b> <br> RHP Ken Giles, RHP Brendan McCurry, RHP Cy Sneed. Photo: Hunter Martin / Getty Images Image 9 of 9 Jon Singleton uses offseason to clear mind 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Jon Singleton, 24 now, will have competition to become the Astros starting first baseman. But there are circumstances in his favor.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said this winter the first base job was Jon Singleton’s to lose, “but he’s got to keep it.”

Luhnow has also said that ideally, top prospect A.J. Reed would get time at Class AAA.

Tyler White, however, could be a more reasonable alternative out of camp if Singleton struggles, because White’s been to Class AAA. Matt Duffy’s in the picture too.

“Honestly, no,” Singleton said Monday when asked if he was thinking about the impending competition. “I’m just going to go into spring and just continue to play my game to the best of my ability. I’m not really too concerned with my surroundings, I guess you could say. I’m just going to go out and just perform the best I could.”

Singleton and Marwin Gonzalez signed autographs at a Houston sporting goods store Monday afternoon as part of the Astros’ winter caravan.

One of the things Singleton’s been faced with more than most in the last couple years are outside opinions and pressures, and he said he’s learned how to cope with those. He’s a top prospect, one who confessed to having a substance abuse problem in 2014 and then months later signed in a guaranteed $10 million major league contract, before playing a day in the majors.

Time moves quickly, though.

Singleton this season will cross the two-year mark since he inked that deal, which was controversial at the time because it could’ve been a steal for the Astros — although it has proven to be only to his benefit thus far. Singleton remains a good prospect, although hype can come and go quickly when a player struggles with his first chances in the big leagues.

Singleton’s lifetime average in the majors is .171 in 420 plate appearances, although he did get on-base at a .328 clip in the limited opportunities he had in 2015 in the bigs (58 PA).

One question that lingers is whether the Astros would be best off platooning Singleton. A lefthanded hitter, he crushed righties in Class AAA last year, with a .312/.432/.652 line against them in 221 regular-season at-bats. Southpaws mystified him, though, with a .172/.249/.299 line in 157 at-bats.

“I think it kind of comes with, the more righthanded pitching you see, the better you’re going to do,” Singleton said of the discrepancy. “And the less lefthanders you see, there’s going to be a disparity. Honestly, I mean, if I see more lefthanders, more than likely I’m going to hit better against them. That’s just what I believe in.”

Singleton had a .309/.390/.529 line against lefties in 2014 at Class AAA, although that was in just 68 at-bats.

Singleton has a home in Houston but spent some time this offseason in California, where he grew up, including most of December, celebrating the holidays.

“Just trying to clear my mind,” Singleton said of his offseason plan, “and kind of collect my thoughts and kind of build a plan towards what I need to do and where I need to put myself in spring training.”