Last summer, the franchise spent $3 million to sign 16 foreign-born players. Ten of the 16 are Dominicans, but there was at least one signing from South Korea, Italy, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua. By comparison, the club spent $5.5 million to sign 36 American-born draft picks, with the top three getting 40 percent of that ($2.2 million). That's 52 new players in the organization in a year. When the Astros won the 2005 National League pennant, seven of eight everyday spots were filled by players who'd been originally signed by the franchise or acquired as minor leaguers. On opening day this season, only four of the eight likely starters will be homegrown.