Hinch, Luhnow offer thoughts on 2018 Astros season

HOUSTON – The Astros season is officially over after the team lost in the American League Championship Series to the Red Sox.

On the eve of the World Series between Boston and Los Angeles, the Astros were disappointed, but happy with what was accomplished in 2018.

"I appreciated how guys brought it every day, faced it head on (and were) only couple of wins away from having a special season," manager A.J. Hinch said.

"We were able to make the playoffs three out of four years. Our goal is to win another championship and we have the core to do it,” said Jeff Luhnow, general manager Jeff Luhnow.

"The season was successful from a win total. How we got there losing (Jose) Altuve, (George) Springer and (Carlos) Correa and the other injuries; the fact of what we were able to do makes me proud of the group we have and our resolve to do it the right way,” Hinch said.

Now, it’s time to look ahead to the 2019 season and the months ahead will bring change to the Astros roster.

Free agency is looming once the World Series comes to an end, and for guys like Dallas Keuchel, Marwin Gonzalez, Charlie Morton and others, the future is unknown.

Keuchel, who has been on the team for seven years, is likely going to receive lucrative offers elsewhere that could end his time in Houston.

“Having the most wins and reaching final four was (a) great accomplishment. We are set up very well for the future,” Luhnow said.

“Sitting in this chair, you have to find balance of being proud but unsatisfied and that’s where I sit,” Hinch said.

“With two of our rotation guys going to free agency, we will have to look around and we will, internally and externally. We have top two guys back (Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole) but the question is how do you fill out the rest of the rotation? This is a championship-caliber team and we will have a championship-caliber rotation,”
Luhnow said.