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Astros owner: 'We've made our big moves' after signing Beltran

Troy Taormina / USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros have built themselves into serious World Series contenders in the early months of the offseason.

Entering the winter with an aggressive mentality and eagerness to compliment a strong core, the Astros inked another high-profile free agent on Saturday after agreeing to a one-year, $16-million deal with veteran slugger Carlos Beltran.

"We always said we'll put the resources to work when we think they'll be effective and we think we have a window with all of these young guys to make a move for the next two, three, four years and really have a good team," Astros owner Jim Crane told Mark Berman of FOX 26. "We're trying to add the pieces we think can get us over the hump and win a championship. That's always been our goal."

Despite adding Beltran, outfielder Josh Reddick, catcher Brian McCann, and starter Charlie Morton, Crane said the club is looking for more and believes he'll be able to do so with Houston becoming an attractive market for free agents.

"Before nobody wanted to come here, now everybody wants to come here," Crane said.

The Astros had been linked to Edwin Encarnacion prior to signing Beltran and continue to monitor the trade market for Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale. Though Crane said the big moves are likely finished, they do have the prospects required to execute a deal for Sale, and the recent additions make some of those younger players more expendable.

"We're going to the meetings still looking for some pitching," Crane said. "I don't think we're done yet but we've made our big moves."

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