They've been historically bad during the past three seasons. They are headed into expansion Mets territory in terms of long-term haplessness. This is year six of their slide and they might not have hit bottom yet (because their pitching is a dog's breakfast). The notion that this team is going to do anything positive in the near-term future strikes me as wishful thinking. Looks like a franchise with a slog ahead of it to me.
As for why spend, so you aren't a 106+ loss team. This franchise is cratering. If I were a Houston fan it would take a minimum of a new owner to get me to see that team. Seriously, my summer sports spend in that city would be directed 100% to the Dynamo (which gets better attendance and local TV ratings).