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Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Image 2 of 17 <b>2. SS Jed Lowrie</b> The trade acquisition from Boston might start the season on the DL with a thumb injury. <b>2. SS Jed Lowrie</b> The trade acquisition from Boston might start the season on the DL with a thumb injury. Photo: Doug Benc / Getty Images Image 3 of 17 3. LF J.D. Martinez He found himself hitting this high in the order in a two-month introduction to the big leagues. A poor September hasn't dampened the Astros' enthusiasm about the big righty bat. He found himself hitting this high in the order in a two-month introduction to the big leagues. A poor September hasn't dampened the Astros' enthusiasm about the big righty bat. less 3. LF J.D. Martinez He found himself hitting this high in the order in a two-month introduction to the big leagues. A poor September hasn't dampened the Astros' enthusiasm about the big righty He found himself hitting this high in the order in a two-month introduction to the big leagues. A poor September hasn't dampened the Astros' enthusiasm about the big righty ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 17 <b>4. 1B Carlos Lee</b> Management has said that Lee is presumed the starter at first base, pushing Brett Wallace into a tryout for third. <b>4. 1B Carlos Lee</b> Management has said that Lee is presumed the starter at first base, pushing Brett Wallace into a tryout for third. Photo: Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle Image 5 of 17 Image 6 of 17 5. RF Brian Bogusevic Last year, the Astros were reluctant to play him against lefthanded pitching, so this might not be an everyday role. He is the favorite right now for the majority of the starts after a good finish and good winter. Last year, the Astros were reluctant to play him against lefthanded pitching, so this might not be an everyday role. He is the favorite right now for the majority of the starts after a good finish and good winter. less 5. RF Brian Bogusevic Last year, the Astros were reluctant to play him against lefthanded pitching, so this might not be an everyday role. He is the favorite right now for the majority of the starts Last year, the Astros were reluctant to play him against lefthanded pitching, so this might not be an everyday role. He is the favorite right now for the majority of the starts ... more Photo: Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle Image 7 of 17 <strong>6. 3B Chris Johnson</strong> After losing his spot to Jimmy Paredes last July, he's back with a great spring. <strong>6. 3B Chris Johnson</strong> After losing his spot to Jimmy Paredes last July, he's back with a great spring. Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 17 <b>7. C Jason Castro</b> He's beaten the timetable for recovery from foot surgery, so he should be good to go as the No. 1 catcher again with Chris Snyder backing up. <b>7. C Jason Castro</b> He's beaten the timetable for recovery from foot surgery, so he should be good to go as the No. 1 catcher again with Chris Snyder backing up. Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 9 of 17 <b>8. 2B Jose Altuve</b> This position is subject to change. If he gets his on-base percentage up, he could creep upward in the lineup. <b>8. 2B Jose Altuve</b> This position is subject to change. If he gets his on-base percentage up, he could creep upward in the lineup. Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 10 of 17 Image 11 of 17 <b>ROTATION</b> <b>1. LHP Wandy Rodriguez</b> If based on last year's performance, the lefty should be in line for his first opening day start in eight years on the club. <b>ROTATION</b> <b>1. LHP Wandy Rodriguez</b> If based on last year's performance, the lefty should be in line for his first opening day start in eight years on the club. Photo: Scott Boehm / Getty Image 12 of 17 <b>2. RHP Bud Norris</b> Entering the age of a ballplayer's typical prime, Norris is the favorite to be the No. 1 a year or two down the road. <b>2. RHP Bud Norris</b> Entering the age of a ballplayer's typical prime, Norris is the favorite to be the No. 1 a year or two down the road. Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 13 of 17 3. RHP Lucas Harrell He threw six scoreless innings against Corpus Christi on Monday to finish off a solid spring. He will start the second game of the season, since a triceps injury pushed Bud Norris back to third in the rotation. He threw six scoreless innings against Corpus Christi on Monday to finish off a solid spring. He will start the second game of the season, since a triceps injury pushed Bud Norris back to third in the rotation. less 3. RHP Lucas Harrell He threw six scoreless innings against Corpus Christi on Monday to finish off a solid spring. He will start the second game of the season, since a triceps injury pushed He threw six scoreless innings against Corpus Christi on Monday to finish off a solid spring. He will start the second game of the season, since a triceps injury pushed ... more Image 14 of 17 4. LHP J.A. Happ He struggled quite a bit last year, and the Astros were given the chance to non-tender him, rather than guarantee a contract, which turned out to be more than $2 million. He'll get another chance. He struggled quite a bit last year, and the Astros were given the chance to non-tender him, rather than guarantee a contract, which turned out to be more than $2 million. He'll get another chance. less 4. LHP J.A. Happ He struggled quite a bit last year, and the Astros were given the chance to non-tender him, rather than guarantee a contract, which turned out to be more than $2 million. He'll get He struggled quite a bit last year, and the Astros were given the chance to non-tender him, rather than guarantee a contract, which turned out to be more than $2 million. He'll get ... more Photo: Melissa Phillip / Chronicle Image 15 of 17 Image 16 of 17 <strong>5. RHP Kyle Weiland</strong> A product of the Mark Melancon trade, Weiland threw four no-hit innings against the Yankees as part of a breakout spring. <strong>5. RHP Kyle Weiland</strong> A product of the Mark Melancon trade, Weiland threw four no-hit innings against the Yankees as part of a breakout spring. Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 17 of 17 Astros enter camp with possibly every position up for grabs 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

With spring training starting Monday, the Astros begin a six-week collision course toward an opening day the likes of which the 50-year-old franchise never has seen.

One reflective of the sort of reboot of the recently decrepit franchise going on from Union Station to the sprawling practice fields of Kissimmee, Fla.

There is a likely scenario under which the Astros could have a different starter on the field at every position on opening day 2012 than they did in 2011.

“That’s strange,” manager Brad Mills said. “But you look at every position, and everybody’s going to be battling. Nobody’s going to have anything really locked down. But that’s a neat thing.”

That is the reality on a roster that has lost four key veterans at the last two trade deadlines and had somewhat of a false start with the rookie class of 2010, which lost Jason Castro to injury for all of 2011 and saw Brett Wallace and Chris Johnson sent down at midseason.

Wallace and Johnson will battle for time at third base. And while Mills is stressing competition, Carlos Lee has the first-base job all but locked up barring injury or the Astros making a deal with a team willing to take on Lee’s remaining contract year at $19 million.

Lee’s move to first base after opening last season in left field is part of what caused the turnover at every position.

The other eight positions will be different from opening day last year if lefthander Wandy Rodriguez takes over for Brett Myers after winning the team’s pitcher of the year award in 2011 with a 3.49 ERA.

A franchise first in the offing

Mills said Friday he will determine his opening-day starter during spring training. (The Astros usually make this announcement in mid-March.)

Should it be anyone but Myers, the Astros will be breaking new ground. Twice they have turned over eight positions. Bob Aspromonte, at third base, was the only constant between the team’s inaugural game in 1962 and opening day the following year, and Doug Rader at third was the only position unchanged from the 1968 season to 1969.

Dating to the end of World War I, 17 of the 30 teams never have had a year of total turnover like this.

One place that will be mostly unchanged, though, is the starting rotation, where Myers, Rodriguez and Bud Norris are penciled in at the top, same as it was.

The No. 4 spot belongs to J.A. Happ if he can show that last September was no fluke after an April-to-August run that was a disaster.

There could be real competition for the No. 5 spot after what was a sham of token competition between Jordan Lyles and the victorious Nelson Figueroa last year.

The vet across from Lyles this time is Livan Hernandez, 36, who signed a minor league contract and will report Monday along with the rest of the pitchers and catchers.

Lyles to get full consideration

And what are the prospects for Lyles, 21, who struggled and had a 5.36 ERA in his major league debut as baseball’s youngest player?

“There’s a guy who last year threw the ball so well, but we stuck with Figueroa because of what he had done the year before,” Mills said. “We’re looking forward to Jordan coming through. If he can have anywhere close to the spring he had last year, you’re going to have to move him to the top of the list for that spot.”

The other big mound competition, which will begin before the full squad reports Feb. 26, is for the closer’s role.

Brandon Lyon is the default candidate, having ended 2010 as the closer and opened 2011 with a nightmarish stint in that role before landing on the disabled list for biceps surgery. But righties like Wilton Lopez and David Carpenter also are candidates if the Astros want to go young and bring the overhaul to one more place on a new-look roster.

zachary.levine@chron.com



