Astros owner: Team 'actively pursuing a high-end starter'

As the clock neared midnight on Aug. 31, the Houston Astros struck gold by completing a trade for ace right-hander Justin Verlander. Even after winning it all in 2017, the team is looking to make another big splash.

Astros owner Jim Crane told reporters that the team is "actively pursuing a high-end starter," according to MLB.com's Alyson Footer.

"We don't have anything done yet, and it may not come to be, but we're constantly looking to improve the team," Crane said.

He added that any upgrade would have to be a significant one, and while the defending champs are set-up well heading into 2018, there are no guarantees.

"I've been told, on paper we have the best team in baseball, but paper doesn't win titles," he said.

There are a couple avenues the team could pursue in landing another frontline starter. First, the free-agent market has been cold all offseason and the likes of Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, and Alex Cobb remain unsigned.

But Crane added that the team may not look to free agency as the solution, instead negotiating another blockbuster trade like it did in August with the Verlander acquisition.