Astros GM hopes to 'light a match' after starting free agency slow

With the Houston Astros expected to be busy this offseason, general manager Jeff Luhnow confirmed Tuesday he could be on the cusp of making moves.

When asked about his slow start to free agency, Luhnow said, "We’re hoping to light a match to it at some point here in the next week or so," according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

"We are in our competitive window. We are going to be competing for the division title I hope every year for next five years."

The Astros' payroll has remained below the $100-million mark since 2009 as the team built from the bottom up. Now following back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2005-06, the organization wants to be buyers.

"The reality is, we need to add somebody to our lineup," Luhnow told Jon Morosi of FOX Sports last week. "We're losing a couple good players through free agency. We've got the wherewithal with the prospects and money to potentially add an impact piece. We're certainly going to be looking at it."