Brass evaluating potential offseason directions

ARLINGTON -- Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, assistant general manager David Stearns and manager Bo Porter have been meeting frequently the past few days to talk about roster composition for next year. Those conversations will ramp up as the team gets deeper into the offseason and free agency gets closer.

The Astros face numerous key decisions this winter regarding the 40-man roster, and will be trying to acquire bullpen help, an outfield bat and a veteran starting pitcher to blend with their youngsters.

"There's a lot of directions we can go," Luhnow said. "We've got a lot of decisions to make and a lot of players this year put themselves in a good spot for next year. We're also talking about where we want to add. We're definitely going to add from the outside. We know the bullpen is a priority, we know that another bat in the lineup is a priority. How does it fit in with the guys we have? That's the big puzzle of the offseason."

Luhnow consults Porter about every roster decision.

"We have to have it that way," Porter said. "At the end of the day, he has a job to do as a general manager and I have a job to do as the manager, but at the same time we have to work as one unit to put a team together we believe is going to give us the best opportunity to win ballgames."