How the Astros pulled off the biggest tank in MLB history and built a World Series contender

Thanks to the Astros' narrow win over the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, Houston is back in the World Series for the first time since 2005.

The Astros' success began with an unprecedented tanking operation. The team's brain trust built two of the worst teams in MLB history in their first years on the job. The result was a bushel of high draft picks and a farm system that produced many of their current players.

What's more, while the Astros are known for hoarding their top prospects, they won't hesitate to pay a high price if it yields an impact player through trades.

Below, we take a look at how the team was assembled.

Now check out how the Dodgers built their roster

The Dodgers used $277 million and a series of smart trades to build one of the best teams ever

See Also:

• The Dodgers and Astros have had remarkably similar seasons

• The story behind the mocked 2014 Sports Illustrated cover that predicted the woeful Astros would be in the 2017 World Series

• The Dodgers used $277 million and a series of smart trades to build one of the best teams ever