The Houston Astros have officially been sold to Jim Crane, as the owners unanimously approved the sale. Jerry Crasnick had the quickest thumbs on Twitter, so he gets credit for the scoop. The bigger news, of course, is that sale means that after 50+ years in the National League, the Houston Astros will move to the American League.
From Brian McTaggart:
MLB commissioner Bud Selig has announced sale of Astros to Jim Crane is approved, and team will move to AL in 2013
The Astros' sale will lead to the team playing in the AL West, with each league having 15 teams. The odd number in each league will require far more interleague play, to which Selig said:
"I don't think any schedule is perfect, but this will be very good."
Look at Selig, doing Madison Avenue's work for them. "Major League Baseball: Imperfect, But Still Very Good" is a slogan worthy of a t-shirt. Well done.
The Astros are expected to move to the American League before the 2013 season. This is the second time that a team has switched leagues in baseball history, following the Milwaukee Brewers, who moved to the National League in 1998 to make room for the expansion Rays and Diamondbacks.